Instructing a group

What have we got here?

Establishing a learning architecture is a self-paced, online course that you can start, finish or just dip into at any time. It's one of a growing catalogue of Skills Journey courses for learning professionals. You can buy this course on its own or subscribe to the whole catalogue.

Is this course right for me?

The course is aimed at anyone with a responsibility for group instruction, whether in the classroom or online. The course is also suitable for those whose responsibilities are primarily for presenting content or for facilitating a group, who are looking to incorporate instructional elements within their sessions.

What will I learn?

This course will enable you to:

• distinguish between instruction, facilitation and presentation;
• recognise opportunities for using an instructional approach;
• clarify the need you are aiming to satisfy, the characteristics of the target population and the constraints that you will be working within;
• prepare a task analysis;
• organise your sessions into manageable chunks;
• establish objectives for each session;
• structure your instructional sessions;
• engage learners and set the scene at the opening of a session;
• provide essential supporting knowledge;
• demonstrate the task effectively;
• provide opportunities for practice;
• provide helpful feedback to learners;
• debrief practice sessions;
• encourage learners to act upon the the skills and knowledge they have gained.

How long will it take?

Well, it all depends.

• If you’re curious about something or you need to know urgently how to carry out a task, you could get in, get what you want and get out again in less than 10 minutes.
• If what you need is a quick appreciation of the subject matter covered by the course, you could watch all the lesson videos in an hour, give or take. You’d be better off spreading this over a few days, but if an hour is all you’ve got, then go ahead and binge.
• Our courses are roughly equivalent in scope to a one or two day classroom event. If you were to spend a whole day on one of our courses, perhaps spread over a week or two, you’d be able to complete all the activities and begin applying your new skills to your work.

How does it all work?

The course is comprised of ten lessons, each of which includes a short video, in many cases including dramatised demonstrations of instruction in action. Many of the lessons also incorporate optional activities to help you build your skills and confidence. We will also provide you with resources that you can use for on-going reference, including a short handbook and an infographic. Throughout the course you will opportunities to engage with others taking the course.

If you complete the course, you'll receive a Skills Journey certificate. Optionally, you can complete an assignment to help you put what you have learned into practice and demonstrate your skills to others.

Download the course info sheet.