When you think about creating effective training, the usual suspects pop up—ADDIE, Bloom’s Taxonomy, maybe the SAM model. But what about Action Mapping in instructional design? If you've been hearing this buzzword but aren’t quite sure how it translates to real-world learning, you’re not alone.
Here’s the deal: most people want training that sticks. But more often than not, they end up with fancy slides and a quiz at the end. Does that change behavior? Nope.
If you're here, you’re probably frustrated with seeing training that doesn’t make a dent in performance. You want to close that skill gap. You need learning experiences that drive business goals and lead to behavior change.
So, what is Action Mapping? And how does it help you build training programs that actually work?
What is Action Mapping in Instructional Design?
Action Mapping is a process created by Cathy Moore that’s designed to focus your training on specific, measurable business outcomes. Instead of building long-winded courses stuffed with irrelevant information, it maps training directly to the actions your learners need to take.
This isn’t about designing courses for the sake of learning; it’s about performance improvement.
Action Mapping involves four main steps:
- Identify Business Goals: What measurable goal are you trying to achieve?
- Map Actions to Reach the Goal: What do learners need to do on the job to meet that goal?
- Design Realistic Challenges: Instead of dumping content, you design challenges that require learners to practice those actions.
- Create Necessary Resources: Finally, you add the resources or materials learners need to complete the challenge.
It’s simple, but revolutionary. Action Mapping helps shift your focus from dumping content to designing training that leads to real change.
Why Action Mapping Works for Performance-Focused Training
Here’s the thing—training often fails because it doesn’t target the root problem. If you create training that’s focused on delivering content, you’ll end up with a well-organized library of knowledge that doesn’t make a difference.
Action Mapping flips that.
It makes training a tool for change instead of just a checkbox.
Why does this work?
- Focus on actions, not information: You’re not there to teach everything about a subject. Instead, you're training people to perform specific actions that help meet business objectives.
- Cut the fluff: Instead of generic courses, Action Mapping only includes what’s necessary for learners to practice and perform on the job.
- Scenario-based learning: You build challenges that feel real. Learners practice by making decisions that reflect the complexities of their jobs. No endless clicking through slides.
Think of Action Mapping like a GPS for instructional design—it gets you to where you want to go faster and more efficiently.
How Action Mapping Compares to Other Instructional Design Models
You might be wondering how Action Mapping fits in with other instructional design models you know, like ADDIE or Bloom’s Taxonomy.
Here’s the breakdown:
- ADDIE is a general process for course development: Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, and Evaluation. While it’s great for a systematic approach, it doesn’t focus solely on performance outcomes. That’s where Action Mapping differs—it's about aligning everything with business needs.
- Bloom’s Taxonomy helps define learning objectives, but Action Mapping focuses on behavioral outcomes rather than cognitive levels.
By adding Action Mapping into your toolkit, you blend the best of both worlds: a structured process like ADDIE, combined with a focus on action-driven learning.
Want to learn more about using ADDIE effectively? Check out this guide on the ADDIE Model for Instructional Design.
Practical Example of Action Mapping in Employee Training
Let’s take a real-world scenario. Say you’re designing a training for a customer service team.
The company’s business goal is to increase customer satisfaction by 20% in six months.
How would you use Action Mapping here?
- Identify the goal: Increase customer satisfaction scores.
- Map the actions: What do customer service reps need to do to hit this goal? Maybe they need to handle complaints more effectively, respond faster, or resolve issues in one call.
- Design challenges: Create scenario-based training where reps face common complaints and have to decide how to respond. You’d simulate real-world situations that challenge them to practice the exact behaviors that lead to better satisfaction scores.
- Resources: You might include job aids, such as quick-reference guides on how to handle tricky customer situations or a flowchart to resolve problems.
This training model isn’t about sitting through lectures or passively learning. It’s all about practicing real-world situations that employees will face on the job.
How to Get Started with Action Mapping
If you’re ready to dive into Action Mapping, here’s how to get started:
- Define your business goal: What specific, measurable change are you trying to achieve? Maybe it's reducing errors, boosting sales, or increasing compliance.
- Identify the behaviors: What actions do learners need to take to meet the goal? Be specific. Think of behaviors that can be measured.
- Design your training: Build scenarios or challenges where learners can practice those behaviors in a safe environment.
- Measure effectiveness: Once your training is out there, keep an eye on performance metrics. Did the training lead to measurable improvements?
Looking for more insights on how to design effective training strategies? Read more on Bloom’s Taxonomy.
FAQs
What is Action Mapping in instructional design?
Action Mapping is a performance-focused instructional design process that links training to specific actions and behaviors learners need to perform on the job, ultimately helping achieve business goals.How does Action Mapping differ from ADDIE?
While ADDIE is a process-driven model, Action Mapping centers around behavior change. It cuts out unnecessary content and focuses on creating actionable learning experiences that drive performance.Can I combine Action Mapping with other instructional design models?
Absolutely! You can use Action Mapping alongside models like ADDIE or SAM to create a streamlined process that’s still focused on performance outcomes.Is Action Mapping only for corporate training?
No. While it’s often used in corporate settings, Action Mapping can be applied to any learning experience where behavioral change is the goal.What are the benefits of using Action Mapping?
It keeps training lean and focused on specific actions, reduces the amount of unnecessary information, and leads to better performance improvement.Where can I learn more about designing action-based learning?
You can dive deeper into rapid design methodologies like SAM in this article about the SAM model.Conclusion
In summary, Action Mapping in instructional design is a game-changer for those who want training that makes a real impact. Whether you're designing employee training programs or e-learning modules, this method ensures that your learners aren't just absorbing information—they're practicing the exact actions that lead to real-world success.