In the world of instructional design, the learner needs to take center stage. Without accounting for the learner experience – including how the resulting coursework aligns with their needs and preferences – knowledge retention and skill-building suffer.
Often, the easiest way to include the learner during the design phase is to learn about common behavioral archetypes and how they impact the experience. That creates opportunities to empathize with the learner, which can yield better results.
Here’s a look at how to identify behavioral archetypes and leverage them to improve the learner experience.
Identifying Relevant Behavioral Archetypes
There are several existing models that feature an array of behavioral archetypes, each with its own features. Some are based on the 12 Jungian archetypes, which outline some of the more common personalities among people at large, while others head in unique directions. Personality archetypes typically require refinement when you’re focusing on instructional design. For example, two counterpoint archetypes that commonly play a role are the independent learner and the collaborative learner. You may also have to factor in realists and visionaries, innovators and defenders, and specialists and jacks of all trades. Often, the best way is to assess your learner personas. Essentially, this involves identifying key characteristics that allow you to determine the type of person you’re developing coursework for and their general needs. Whether they’re a visual, auditory, or hands-on learner is one example, though you should also factor in their existing knowledge base, available time, tech-savviness, job descriptions, and more. With the persona process, you can identify similar learners whose core needs align. Additionally, you can find any outliers who have unique needs not present among the other learners. Then, you can create coursework that offers enough of what they all require, ensuring the experience is beneficial for all.Empathizing with Different Behavioral Archetypes
Being empathetic involves putting yourself in the shoes of another person, essentially working to understand an issue from their perspective instead of your own. By learning about the different behavioral archetypes present in your learners, you have the ability to understand their needs and preferences to a greater level. Most learning and development (L&D) professionals know that what works best for one learner may be a poor choice for another. That’s one of the primary drivers for diverse but cooperative learning experiences. For instance, coupling text with infographics, simulations, and videos lets you reach more learners with a single course. Learners can choose the informational resources that best meet their needs, leading to a more engaging experience while boosting skill-building and knowledge retention. Ultimately, you want to consider how each learner will view the coursework. Then, you can ensure it meets everyone’s needs.Do You Want to Factor in Archetypes as Part of Your Instructional Design Strategy?
At Clarity, we have nearly 30 years of experience in L&D, giving us the knowledge and expertise to factor in behavioral archetypes and ensure instructional designers achieve success. Plus, if you’re trying to expand your internal L&D team, Clarity can be your candidate search ally, connecting you with top talent right when you need them. If you want to partner with leading L&D professionals, Clarity Consultants is here. Contact us today.
