Common Mistakes Made by Experienced Instructional Designers
Even experienced instructional designers can sometimes make mistakes that affect the quality and effectiveness of the learning experience. While the design process can be complex and dynamic, being mindful of these common pitfalls can help instructional designers create more impactful and engaging training. Below are some of the most frequent mistakes made by experienced instructional designers and how to avoid them.
1. Neglecting the Learner’s Needs
Mistake
Focusing too much on the content and not enough on the needs, preferences, and learning styles of the audience. Even experienced instructional designers can get caught up in creating high-quality content and forget to tailor the experience for the learners.
How to Avoid It
Conduct a thorough needs analysis at the beginning of the design process. Understand your learners’ current knowledge, skills, learning preferences, and any barriers they might face in learning. This will ensure that the training content is relevant, engaging, and appropriately challenging for the target audience.
Example
Designing a corporate training program for a team of tech experts that assumes they need a basic understanding of tools when they already have advanced proficiency. This could lead to disengagement or frustration from the learners.
2. Overloading Learners with Content (Cognitive Overload)
Mistake
Trying to cover too much material in a single course or session, overwhelming learners with information. This can lead to cognitive overload, where learners struggle to retain and process the content.
How to Avoid It
Use the principle of “less is more.” Break complex content into smaller, manageable chunks, and focus on the most important concepts. Provide opportunities for spaced learning, where learners can revisit content over time. Be mindful of the cognitive load and aim for clarity, simplicity, and focus in each module.
Example
A course that dumps a large amount of information on the learner at once, with little opportunity for breaks, practice, or reflection, leading to frustration and poor retention.
3. Ignoring the Importance of Interactivity
Mistake
Focusing heavily on content delivery and forgetting to include interactive elements that engage learners. Simply presenting information without any interactive activities can make the learning experience passive and less effective.
How to Avoid It
Integrate interactive activities such as quizzes, discussions, simulations, case studies, and hands-on exercises. These activities not only enhance engagement but also reinforce learning by encouraging active participation and application of knowledge.
Example
A course that consists mainly of lengthy video lectures without any interactive components or opportunities for the learner to practice what they’ve learned.
4. Failing to Align Learning Objectives with Assessments
Mistake
Creating assessments or evaluations that do not align with the stated learning objectives of the course. This disconnect can make assessments feel irrelevant or unhelpful, reducing their effectiveness in measuring learner success.
How to Avoid It
Ensure that every assessment, quiz, or project directly measures the learning objectives. For example, if an objective is to “apply a concept in a real-world scenario,” ensure the assessment asks learners to demonstrate their ability to apply that concept in a similar scenario.
Example
An e-learning module on leadership that includes a quiz focusing on theory rather than real-life applications, which could cause learners to feel disconnected from the content and less motivated to apply it.
5. Underestimating the Importance of Feedback
Mistake
Not providing timely or meaningful feedback to learners. Feedback is a critical component of the learning process, and without it, learners may not understand their mistakes or learn how to improve.
How to Avoid It
Provide constructive feedback that is specific, actionable, and encouraging. Ensure that feedback is given at appropriate intervals, not just at the end of the course or training program. Use automated feedback for quizzes, but also incorporate personalized feedback where possible.
Example
A learner completes an online quiz and is only told whether they passed or failed, without receiving any insights into what they did well or areas where they need improvement.
6. Overcomplicating the Design
Mistake
Mistake: Creating overly complex designs with unnecessary features, media, or interactivity that can overwhelm learners and detract from the core learning objectives. This often happens when instructional designers try to be overly ambitious with their design choices.
How to Avoid It
Keep the design simple and focused. Use media and interactivity that directly support the learning objectives, rather than adding them for the sake of novelty. Strive for clarity and user-friendly interfaces that ensure learners can navigate the course easily and focus on the content.
Example
A course that includes complicated navigation, excessive animations, and unnecessary multimedia elements that distract the learner rather than enhance the content.
7. Ignoring Mobile Learning Needs
Mistake
Not considering how learners will access the training materials, especially with the growing use of mobile devices. Many instructional designers may create content that works perfectly on desktops but is hard to navigate or read on smartphones and tablets.
How to Avoid It
Design content with mobile accessibility in mind. Use responsive design to ensure that courses are easily accessible and functional across various devices. Consider how the learner will interact with the material on a smaller screen and adapt the content accordingly.
Example
An e-learning course that requires extensive reading or intricate navigation, which is difficult to engage with on a mobile device, leading to learner frustration or abandonment.
8. Not Considering Accessibility and Inclusivity
Mistake
Overlooking accessibility features for learners with disabilities, such as visual or hearing impairments. Failing to account for accessibility can limit your course’s reach and effectiveness for all learners.
How to Avoid It
Follow WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) and ensure that your design includes accessible features such as screen reader compatibility, alt text for images, color contrast considerations, closed captions for videos, and the ability to navigate with a keyboard. Prioritize inclusivity and make sure all learners have equal access to learning materials.
Example
A course with videos but no subtitles or captions, making it difficult for learners who are deaf or hard of hearing to access the content.
9. Lack of Consistent Evaluation
Mistake
Not continuously evaluating and improving the training program. After course delivery, many instructional designers fail to collect feedback or assess how well the course met the learning objectives and business goals.
How to Avoid It
Implement regular evaluations and gather both learner feedback and performance data. Use tools like surveys, focus groups, and post-training assessments to determine what worked well and what could be improved. Be open to iterating on your design and making adjustments as needed.
Example
After a training program, no follow-up is conducted to measure if employees are applying the learned skills or if the content is still relevant, leading to the course being outdated or ineffective in the future.
10. Overlooking the Importance of Motivation
Mistake
Underestimating the role of motivation in the learning process. Even the most well-designed course can fall flat if learners aren’t motivated to engage with the material.
How to Avoid It
Incorporate motivational strategies into the design, such as clear learning goals, rewards, recognition, or real-world application of skills. Use the ARCS Model (Attention, Relevance, Confidence, Satisfaction) to increase learner motivation by creating engaging, relevant, and confidence-boosting learning experiences.
Example
A course that fails to connect learning content to learners’ personal goals or career advancement, resulting in low engagement and participation.
11. Not Considering the End-User Experience (UX/UI)
Mistake
Focusing solely on the content without considering how the learner will interact with the platform. An overwhelming or poorly designed user interface (UI) can result in a poor user experience (UX), which ultimately impacts the effectiveness of the course.
How to Avoid It
Always consider how learners will interact with the content and the platform. Ensure the design is user-friendly, with intuitive navigation, clear labeling, and simple design elements that enhance the learning experience.
Example
A course with a cluttered and confusing layout, poor navigation, and difficulty accessing certain modules, leading to learner frustration and disengagement.
Conclusion
While experienced instructional designers have honed their skills over time, it’s easy to fall into the trap of making mistakes that can hinder the effectiveness of a course or training program. By remaining mindful of these common mistakes, instructional designers can create more engaging, effective, and impactful learning experiences. Remember, the key is to always focus on the learner, remain flexible, and continuously evaluate and improve your designs.
