5Di

I've become a huge fan of the 5Di model developed by Nick Shackleton-Jones [How People Learn, 2019]. This user-centred approach, often described as an "alternative to ADDIE," perfectly aligns with my strengths and the iterative nature of building digital learning content.

Below, I'll explain how I've used this model to design and deliver effective learning solutions.

define:  Conducting needs assessments

Just like the needs assessment in ADDIE, the "Define" phase is all about understanding the business need. Recently, I created training on generative AI for colleagues across the business. Following the 5Di model, I didn't just take the brief at face value. I dug deeper, asking questions about the expected business outcomes, budget, and timelines.

Next, I set up discovery calls with a range of stakeholders. This helped us create clear learning outcomes that ensured the training addressed critical needs. For example, an outcome might be "Employees can explain the benefits and limitations of generative AI within one month of completing the training." This clarity ensured everyone was on the same page – leadership knew the "what" (outcomes) and I owned the "how" (training solution).

DIscover:  identifying pain points

As you know, any good training resource hinges on truly understanding your audience and their needs. For the generative AI training, I conducted user research across different levels – personal tutors, workshop tutors, and quality improvement coaches – to get a real sense of user goals and pain points. This user-centric approach ensures the content resonates with the target audience(s).

Collaborating with stakeholders this way not only helped me understand my colleagues' daily challenges and concerns, but also sparked ideas for how generative AI could actually benefit them. It also spread awareness of the project, creating hype and enthusiasm for its rollout, ultimately increasing buy-in when it went live.

Design:  crafting with iteration in mind

Whether the target audience cares deeply about the subject or not hugely impacts the design choices I make. For high-engagement topics, resources might be more minimal: checklists, guides, or videos. For less engaging topics, resources might need to be more convincing or inspiring, like stories, simulations, or problem-solving scenarios.

As I meet with stakeholders during discovery calls, my initial design impressions shift significantly. The more I learn about how the training might land, the more my ideas evolve. I also like to collaborate with eager subject matter experts (SMEs) after the discovery stage. This often increases long-term engagement as colleagues from other areas of the business feel they've contributed to the design and content.

Develop:  content creation

Moving from design to development, The difference between a ‘resource’ and traditional ‘learning content’ is that the former is designed to be used in context, whereas the latter is often designed around recall/retention. The 5Di model emphasises an agile approach to content creation; I can build incrementally, allowing for continuous feedback and adjustments based on user testing. This ensures the final product aligns perfectly with user needs.

Sometimes a selection matrix like the one below can be a helpful springboard for kicking off this stage.

Solvd Together (2021) Resource Design Playbook. Available here [Accessed: March 2024].

Deploy: marketing your learning

The "Deploy" phase is all about making the content readily available to the target audience, and it's not as simple as just sending a training-is-live email.

Leveraging my experience at a social media agency, I connect the dots between user experience on social networks and user experience when learning. TikTok culture has evolved in the last few years and is the platform of choice to learn new skills – audiences are opening the app an average of 8 times a day and spending a whopping 95 minutes per day on the platform (Statistics). As eLearning developers, we can borrow marketing tactics to encourage the same level of commitment from our learners. 

iterate: embracing continuous development

The iteration cycle ensures the content remains relevant, effective, and aligned with user needs over time. Continually collecting feedback and data allows me to identify areas for further refinement and make necessary adjustments to the content. Here's where I also refer back to the initial learning outcomes to ensure the training solution is still on track to achieve them through observations and testing.