We design sticky learning

1. Know your crowd
Understanding your audience is the cornerstone of effective instructional design. Begin by conducting thorough research into your learners’ roles, skills, and challenges—whether they are nurses juggling shifts, FIFO workers in remote mining locations, or office administrators handling Medicare claims.

Utilize surveys, focus groups, or interviews to gather insights into their specific needs. Tailoring content to these needs enhances engagement, particularly in Australian contexts where scenarios like mining site hazard drills or hospital privacy breaches under the Privacy Act resonate. Practical steps include creating detailed learner personas, such as “Sarah, a rural nurse managing Indigenous patient care,” and aligning training materials with real-world tasks like filing a Safe Work Australia incident report.

2. Set clear goals
Establishing clear, actionable goals is essential for effective learning outcomes. Utilize SMART objectives—Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound—to replace vague aims like “understand safety” with precise targets such as “Identify 3 PPE violations in a worksite video by Friday.”

Clear goals ensure training remains focused and measurable, crucial for compliance training where objectives might include achieving a 90% accuracy rate on a GDPR quiz or demonstrating proper hand hygiene steps. Use action verbs like “apply,” “demonstrate,” or “solve” to frame objectives, and provide concrete examples such as simulating the resolution of a My Health Record data breach by the course’s conclusion.

3. Chunk it
Breaking content into digestible segments enhances learning retention. Divide material into 5–7 minute micro-modules to align with cognitive load theory, which posits that shorter, focused sessions improve information absorption. This approach is particularly beneficial for busy professionals such as nurses or tradespeople who need to fit training into short breaks.

Consider delivering updates on NSQHS Standards through snackable videos. Organize related topics together, such as distinguishing between slips and falls in WHS hazard identification, and employ visual aids like infographics illustrating Medicare billing steps or emergency exit routes to reinforce key points.

4. Make it stick
Ensuring long-term retention requires engaging methods that go beyond passive learning. Incorporate spaced repetition, storytelling, and interactive elements like gamified quizzes with instant feedback (e.g., identifying phishing emails) or branching scenarios where learners’ choices impact outcomes, such as managing patient complaints.

These techniques boost retention by up to 80%, as active participation solidifies knowledge. Enhance relevance by embedding relatable Australian examples, such as cultural safety training with Indigenous case studies, and pose challenging questions like “How would you respond to a chemical spill?” to encourage critical thinking.

5. Keep it real
Linking lessons to practical tasks ensures learners can apply knowledge effectively. Whether simulating compliance audits or replicating workplace hazards for safety training, real-world relevance is key.

For example, virtual hospital simulations can help healthcare workers practice infection control protocols. Provide job aids like checklists for OSH incident reporting or Medicare coding guides, and incorporate role-playing exercises where customer service representatives handle mock complaints via simulated calls.

6. Test & tweak
Continuous improvement is vital for successful training programs. Conduct pilot tests with a small group to gather feedback on clarity, relevance, and technical issues. This proactive approach allows you to address problems early, such as simplifying jargon in a mining safety module that confuses FIFO workers.

Utilize surveys asking, “Did this help you do your job better?” and analyze LMS data to identify drop-off points and refine content accordingly.

7. Accessible for all
Designing inclusive training ensures accessibility for all learners, including those with disabilities. Adhere to WCAG 2.1 standards by incorporating captions, alt text, and keyboard navigation. This not only fulfills legal requirements but also accommodates remote workers like farmers or fly-in crews who rely on mobile-friendly courses.

Test accessibility tools like screen readers (e.g., JAWS) and integrate cultural context, such as communication tips for Aboriginal patients or Indigenous language options, to enhance inclusivity.

Why these principles win
These instructional design principles deliver tangible benefits across compliance, engagement, and ROI. They ensure adherence to regulations like the Privacy Act or WHS laws without tedious training sessions, transform passive learning into dynamic experiences that captivate learners, and yield measurable returns through reduced fines, fewer errors, and a more motivated workforce.