Add-Ins to Caffeinate Your Next Course Design

Walk into a coffee shop on any morning and you can hear baristas shouting out “vanilla latte for Kayleigh,” caramel macchiato for Trey,’’ or “peppermint mocha for Marco!” Starbucks claims to have over 87,000 unique drinks that can be made with their assortment of add-ins. Visit a Starbucks in Japan and find a Coffee and White Tiramisu Frappuccino. Pop into a Starbucks in the United Kingdom and order a Crème Brulee Macchiato. Gone are the days when all that was available was hot coffee with cream or sugar. Customization and variety are the new normal.
 
When we want caffeinated training and learning, we need to consider the add-ins that allow us to customize the learning experience. I have curated nine add-ins that represent essential elements of learning, all supported by research and known to increase learner engagement. 
 ​ E​​ach add-in prompts me to choose one of several engagement strategies I can use in my session. The goal is to use all nine add-ins in every training session or presentation – especially those over thirty minutes in length. For very brief presentations it is still possible to address most of these essential elements by choosing strategiess that blend three or four together.

The add-ins are color-coded so that instructional designers can quickly evaluate their course map to determine missing elements. Here is an example for a beginner level session on designing and conducting  training. 

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Want more information on my Caffeinated Training Design approach? Attend my session at ATD ICE 2019 in Washington, D.C. or check out my newest book here.
 
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