The Content Dump Problem
TL;DR: When someone dumps a content folder on your desk and says, "make this into eLearning," your first instinct shouldn't be to start developing. Without a high-level design, you'll include too much (or the wrong things), put content in the wrong order, default to the easiest methods instead of the best ones, and waste time on elements that don't help learning. Strategic thinking comes first.
A massive folder of content lands on your desk: PowerPoints, PDFs, policies, procedures. "We need this as eLearning. How long will it take?"
If you're already thinking about which authoring tool to open,
STOP!
You're about to waste weeks
Without a high-level design, your strategic blueprint for what you're building and why, here's what happens:
You'll include everything. That 20-minute course balloons to 90 minutes because you don't have a framework to push back on content that doesn't meet SMART learning objectives.
Content will be in the wrong order. What makes sense to an expert rarely makes sense to a learner. Without deliberately planning the sequence, you present information in whatever order you received it.
You'll default to the easiest method. Designing on the fly means falling back on text slides with narration, not because it's best, but because you don't have time to think about better options while building.
You'll waste time on the wrong elements. You’ll spend three days on an elaborate animation that looks impressive but doesn't help anyone learn, while the critical practice activity gets five minutes.
What is a high-level design?
It's the bridge between your analysis (what learners need) and your development (what you're developing).
A high-level design answers:
- Which content needs to be included (and what gets cut)
- How to sequence it to build understanding
- What instructional methods will work best
- Which media and interactions support learning
When you invest in high-level design, development becomes dramatically easier. You're executing a plan, not inventing one while you build.
Read the full article: Why every eLearning project needs a high-level design
Get the tools you need
📦 Instructional Designer's Starter Pack Includes a high-level design template showing what to include, it’s a framework for making strategic decisions, and guides the complete design process. Get the Starter Pack
🎯 From A to D Program 3 weeks working together on your actual project. Learn to create strategic high-level designs that make development smooth and efficient. Learn about From A to D
Next fortnight: What makes the difference between designs that work and designs that waste everyone's time.
Speak soon
Lisa
P.S. Next project? Don't open your authoring tool first. Open a document. Make the strategic decisions before you commit to building anything.