Addressing Today’s Top Learning Challenges
Designing for Today’s Modern Learner: Insights from Blanchard Experts
Designing impactful learning experiences for today’s diverse and fast-paced environment can be a complex challenge. To address these difficulties, Blanchard’s Design Studio and Innovation Lab have pinpointed some of the top obstacles faced by instructional designers—and strategies to overcome them.
1. Seeing the Complete Picture
One of the most common challenges instructional designers face is creating programs without having all the necessary information.
Many designers jump into program development without fully understanding the environment or the infrastructure needed to support learning.
To address this, O’Malley uses Blanchard’s Five Drivers of Learning Impact to ensure programs are aligned with organizational goals and set learners up for success:
Key Influencer Support: Are executives and supervisors actively sponsoring the program?
Strategic Integration: How does the learning align with organizational objectives?
Effective Design and Delivery: What adjustments will optimize the learning experience?
Follow-Up and Reinforcement: How will behavior change be supported and encouraged post-training?
Demonstrated Tangible Value: What metrics will be used to measure progress and success?
When we understand the bigger picture, we can create learning solutions that are not just events but part of a larger strategy for lasting impact
2. Using Technology with Purpose
The integration of technology into learning programs presents both opportunities and pitfalls.
Many designers feel pressured to use new technologies, like AI, without fully understanding their potential or purpose,” says Dannewitz. “But technology should solve a specific business problem—not be used for its own sake.
Dannewitz also highlights the opposite problem: hesitance to explore technology due to perceived cost or complexity. By challenging assumptions and focusing on the business need, designers can identify high-impact solutions, such as virtual reality for safe, repetitive skills practice.
Her advice: “Start with the problem you need to solve, then evaluate the best technological tools to address it.”
3. Setting Context for Content
“Organizations often provide vast amounts of digital content to address development gaps, but more content doesn’t necessarily mean better solutions.
Her focus is on contextualizing content to meet the specific needs of learners. “Curated learning experiences must align with participants’ roles and challenges to ensure engagement and relevance,” she explains.
By framing solutions using Blanchard’s Five Drivers of Learning Impact, Rollins ensures that programs address both individual and organizational needs, creating efficient and impactful learning experiences.
4. Personalizing Learning through Design Thinking
Too often, organizations jump straight to solutioning—focusing on content and frameworks instead of the people they’re solving for effective learning.
Blanchard’s design thinking approach starts with understanding the audience through techniques like persona development. This helps designers empathize with participants’ challenges and craft solutions tailored to their experiences.
By prioritizing the who before the what, we build programs that resonate deeply, solve real problems, and drive behavior change.
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