SharePoint Design, the ultimate learning by doing
PBT or performance-based learning is an Instructional Design concept centered around” learning by doing. The learner grows by working on the new tasks and concepts in a safe environment while receiving the advice of an instructor. Learning how to scuba dive in a swimming pool is one such example of PBT.
The features of successful PBT are guided observation, guided practice, and demonstration of mastery. These features can exist in a fully online, in-person, or mixed environment. I have experience in all three. In a professional capacity, I have worked as a SharePoint Administrator for the last six years. I create sites, data maps, and other organizational structures for companies. Instructional design has never been listed in any of my job descriptions. That being said, SharePoint isn’t an intuitive software, and most users have never received formal training. Leading me down an interesting path where I am both the subject matter expert, and the instructional designer.
An aspect of “Learning and Performance Support” or LeaPS, is the “empathize and analysis phase” (Instructional Design Course Handbook, p. 24). This is when a Learning Designer takes time to understand the organization and issues they are building for. Many ID’s are short term or project-based staff. In contrast, I have only worked as an FTE. This coupled with the nature of my work building ontologies gives me an advantage in empathizing with my learners. Additionally, since I am the SME and ID I can focus on one particular aspect of my company. I am hoping that this course can help me speed my analysis skills. In the future, I may need to develop learning materials for systems with which I have no experience, in an organization I don’t fully understand.
Figure 2.3 in the Instructional Design Course Handbook shows all of the concentric circles of ID. I get the most out of this figure when I see it not as a process flow to be followed but more like a brainstorming tool. ID has many moving parts, and I don’t want to forget to ask any important questions.
