Instructional Design

Instructional Design Firms Transform Employee Training

Finding the right instructional design consulting firm for your training needs can be challenging, but it doesn’t have to be. At Settology Innovation Solutions, we recognize that employee development is essential for business success. As a leading instructional design company, we offer tailored training solutions that align with your specific requirements.

A solid instructional design strategy is fundamental to fostering an agile learning culture, and effective training enhances both employee performance and engagement. Our approach to learning and development ensures that your training is purposeful and measurable.

We avoid a one-size-fits-all approach to instructional design; instead, we focus on each client’s unique training needs. We create learning experiences that are in sync with your goals and objectives. As instructional design consultants, we understand the importance of developing a customized training program for your organization.

Choosing the Right Instructional Design Company

When searching for the right instructional design consulting firm for your training needs, it’s important to consider various factors, including the firm’s experience, expertise, and training approach. Look for a company with a proven track record and a diverse range of instructional design services. A solid instructional design team should embrace best practices and show their ability to create engaging and effective training materials.

At Settology Innovation Solutions, we pride ourselves on our capacity to dive deep into your business context to create solutions that are not only educational but also transformative. Our team utilizes cutting-edge methodologies and technologies to ensure your training programs are engaging, effective, and directly aligned with your strategic goals. Every training effort must correspond with your organizational objectives, ensuring that each project we undertake enhances your team’s capabilities and drives overall success.

Instructional Design Training Tools

When selecting an instructional design consulting firm, it’s crucial to evaluate their experience, expertise, and training approach. Look for a firm with a proven success record and a diverse range of instructional design services. A strong team should embrace best practices in instructional design and demonstrate their ability to create engaging, effective training materials.

At Settology Innovation Solutions, we take pride in our capacity to deeply understand your business context, tailoring solutions that are not just educational but transformative. Our team employs cutting-edge methodologies and technologies to ensure your training programs are engaging, effective, and aligned with your strategic goals. We focus on ensuring that every project we undertake enhances your team’s capabilities and drives organizational success.

We utilize state-of-the-art instructional design training tools to create engaging, professional, and custom training for our clients. We leverage Articulate 360, specifically Rise and Storyline, to develop high-quality eLearning courses tailored to your organization’s needs.

Rise 360 is an innovative tool that enables us to design responsive, interactive, and visually appealing online courses accessible on any device. In contrast, Storyline 360 allows us to create highly interactive and immersive learning experiences, complete with custom animations, branching scenarios, and multimedia content.

By harnessing the power of these industry-leading tools, our instructional design consultants craft training materials that captivate your learners and boost engagement, effectively delivering the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in their roles.

Ensuring a Customized Training Approach

Every organization is unique, which is why collaborating with an instructional design consultant to develop a customized training program that meets your specific needs is essential.

This process may involve conducting a comprehensive needs analysis, identifying performance gaps, and establishing targeted learning objectives. By investing time in understanding your organization’s goals and challenges, an instructional design firm can create a tailored training program that delivers tangible results.

Exploring the Instructional Design Process

The instructional design process consists of several essential steps.

These steps include conducting a needs assessment, developing a training plan, creating engaging and interactive learning materials, and evaluating the training’s effectiveness.

We adhere to instructional design best practices, current learning theories, and effective learning strategies. Throughout this process, our instructional design consultants will collaborate closely with your organization to ensure that the training program aligns with your specific needs and objectives. This partnership enables you to provide your employees with engaging, timely, and informative learning content.

Training does NOT have to be dull! Many companies and employees have become accustomed to uninspiring and tedious training sessions, but it doesn’t have to be this way. Together, we can elevate training engagement, expectations, and knowledge retention through customized eLearning solutions.

We take pride in the results-oriented training we create for our clients. Our streamlined approach utilizes the PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act) model to enhance process efficiency and ensure comprehensive training outcomes. We are dedicated to planning, developing, validating, and sustaining effective training within your organization.

PDCA: PLAN

CONDUCT A NEEDS ASSESSMENT

A needs assessment is a vital step in creating effective training programs. Unfortunately, it is often overlooked or skipped to save time, leading many to jump straight into curriculum development. However, without a thorough needs assessment, organizations may face budget constraints and schedule overruns, ultimately undermining the goal of effective training.

Our instructional design consulting team evaluates your current training state by asking essential questions:

  • What training initiatives have been successful, and which have not?
  • What are the desired outcomes of your training programs?
  • Where are the gaps in knowledge or skills within the organization?
  • Who is the target audience for the training?
  • What training methods best align with each audience’s needs?
  • How does the training connect to the organization’s overall goals?
  • How does employee development contribute to achieving those goals?

DEVELOP SPECIFICS ON TRAINING ROI

What goals do you aim to achieve with the training? Equally important is how you plan to measure its effectiveness.

Developing the return on investment (ROI) during the planning process is crucial. While most agree that results matter, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to measuring training ROI. Therefore, it is essential to outline measurement methods from the outset.

Several factors should be considered in this process, including:

  • The specific goals of the training.
  • The current knowledge level of employees.
  • Post-training assessments.
  • Performance results following the training.

DEFINE THE TRAINING DEVELOPMENT BUDGET

As an instructional design consulting firm, we assist in outlining the training costs involved. If you already have a budget set, that’s great, as it helps ensure all training is scoped and created within that budget.

We advise against skipping the budget step. Delaying budget discussions until later in the development process can lead to schedule delays and cost overruns, both of which can hinder the training’s overall success.

PDCA: DO

DEVELOP PRE-TRAINING EVALUATION

Conducting a pre-training assessment is crucial for instructional design firms. This step measures both the training’s potential effectiveness and the current knowledge levels of employees. By pinpointing existing skills and knowledge, our instructional design team can tailor the training to meet the specific needs of your organization. During this phase, we outline the assessment approach and identify any tasks that need to be completed before the training begins.

DEVELOP TASK ANALYSIS

Task analysis is a comprehensive breakdown of each step involved in a task or job. This process captures the detailed actions that employees in various roles must take to perform their duties effectively.

Our instructional designers meticulously highlight each task that will be covered in the training. The team documents each step from start to finish, ensuring no assumptions are made about common knowledge. Clearly outlining every step is essential for effective learning and understanding.

DEVELOP TRAINING CURRICULUM

The nature of the training required directly influences the development of the curriculum. Examples of training types include:

  • Product or service training
  • Compliance training
  • Safety training
  • Technical skills development
  • Soft skills (often referred to as power skills)
  • Cybersecurity training
  • Employee orientation and onboarding

Instructional designers tailor the training based on its intended delivery method. For instance, will the training be deployed via a Learning Management System (LMS) as an eLearning module? Will it be instructor-led, or will it incorporate a blend of both formats? Many organizations have also adopted virtual instructor-led training due to the Covid pandemic.

In our instructional design consulting approach, we collaborate with clients to determine the most suitable learning types for their organization. This may include blended learning, virtual-led training, gamification, mobile learning, augmented reality (AR)/virtual reality (VR), and microlearning.

DEVELOP SCORM COMPLIANCE REQUIREMENTS

If your training is in an e-learning format hosted on your organization’s LMS, our instructional design team will ensure that the training meets SCORM (Sharable Content Object Reference Model) compliance requirements. SCORM-compliant training modules adhere to established standards, ensuring compatibility with any LMS. This compliance is particularly beneficial if your organization plans to switch LMS platforms in the future, as SCORM-compliant training will seamlessly function on the new system.

PDCA: CHECK

PERFORM SCORM COMPLIANCE TESTING

Verifying that each learner receives the eLearning training is essential. Our instructional design team conducts thorough SCORM compliance testing to ensure that training materials function correctly within the Learning Management System (LMS). During this process, we track training results and confirm compatibility with the LMS, ensuring a smooth learning experience for all employees. This step is critical to maintaining the integrity and effectiveness of your training programs.

VALIDATE TRAINING ADOPTION

The approach to measuring the effectiveness of training largely depends on the type of training provided. Employee adoption is a key indicator of success, as the ultimate goal is for employees to understand and embrace the knowledge and skills imparted during training. To evaluate this, we utilize both quantitative and qualitative methods to assess performance. Our training team analyzes how well employees support and engage with the training content. Ultimately, the effectiveness of the training is closely tied to the rate of adoption among employees.

PERFORM TRAINING SURVEYS

Gathering honest feedback from employees is a valuable component of our training evaluation process. Training surveys provide crucial insights into how employees perceive the training experience. By encouraging employees to share their thoughts, we can gain important information about what works well and what can be improved. Additionally, employees appreciate that their opinions are valued, which fosters a culture of open communication and continuous improvement.

MONITOR, ADJUST, AND CONTINUOUSLY IMPROVE TRAINING CONTENT

The development of training materials does not signify the end of our work. Establishing a culture of continuous improvement is vital to ensure that training programs remain effective and relevant. Our instructional design team regularly reviews and refines training content and delivery methods. For example, we assess how adjustments can be made to enhance training adoption rates and improve overall learning outcomes. There are always opportunities to enhance training efforts, and we are committed to identifying and implementing these improvements to ensure the ongoing success of your training programs.

PDCA: ACT

PERFORM LMS MAINTENANCE

Like any software-based system, your organization’s Learning Management System (LMS) requires regular maintenance to function effectively. This includes performing software updates and ensuring that the LMS is equipped with current eLearning training strategies. As part of our instructional design consulting efforts, we collaborate closely with your LMS administrator or vendor to verify that all new curriculum materials are operating correctly. If your organization is considering implementing a new LMS or does not currently have one, we can assist with that implementation process to ensure a smooth transition.

RUN LEARNING KPI REPORTS

Our instructional design team runs Key Performance Indicator (KPI) reports as outlined during the development phase. These KPIs should align with your organization’s goals and evaluate several critical metrics, including:

  • Activity pass/fail rate
  • Average test score
  • Training completion percentage rate
  • Job role competency rate
  • Compliance and certification percentage rate
  • Average time to completion
  • Knowledge retention and application
  • Operational effectiveness measures
  • Employee performance
  • Number of learners trained
  • Learner satisfaction

By monitoring these metrics, we can assess the effectiveness of your training programs and identify areas for improvement.

MEASURE TRAINING ROI ACTUALS

During the planning phase, our instructional design team identified the anticipated Return on Investment (ROI) for the training project. Now, it’s time to compare the cost of the training against the actual ROI data results. This analysis allows us to evaluate the financial effectiveness of the training program and ensure that it meets the organization’s strategic objectives.

CONDUCT POST-TRAINING EVALUATION

Surveys are invaluable for evaluating training from the learners’ perspective. In addition to assessing learner satisfaction, it’s crucial to gauge the overall success of the training project. Key questions to consider include:

  • Did the training meet the desired outcomes?
  • Did it effectively address the knowledge and skill gaps?
  • How effective was the ROI?
  • Did the training engage learners?
  • How well did the training connect to the organization’s goals and objectives?

These data points are essential for conducting a thorough post-training evaluation.

REVIEW AND UPDATE TRAINING AS NEEDED

As your organization evolves, it’s vital to ensure that your training materials remain relevant and current. Periodically reviewing and updating training content is necessary to align with changes in organizational goals, industry standards, or employee needs. Partnering with an instructional design firm ensures that your training materials are continuously refined and effective in meeting the needs of your workforce.

INVESTING IN YOUR EMPLOYEES’ SUCCESS

Ultimately, investing in an instructional design consulting firm is an investment in your employees’ success. By collaborating with a company specializing in creating engaging and effective training materials, you can equip your employees with the skills and knowledge they need to excel in their roles. This, in turn, contributes to your organization’s overall success and helps foster a culture of continuous improvement and learning.

Conclusion

There are numerous instructional design companies available for your organization to partner with, but we believe that our strategic approach sets us apart. At Settology Innovation Solutions, we focus on developing measurable, results-driven, and impactful employee training programs.

We take pride in delivering customized training solutions tailored to your organization’s unique needs, ensuring that your employees are equipped with the skills and knowledge they need to excel in their roles.

Contact us today to start crafting an effective employee training strategy that will drive success and foster a culture of continuous improvement within your organization!