Handbook-First Approach to Interactive Learning

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On this page

• Handbook-First Interactive Learning Examples
  • Field Enablement
  • Learning and Development
• Interactivity in E-learning
• Course Development Workflow
• Documenting learning content in the handbook
• Building handbook first learning content in the EdCast LXP
  • Handbook first course example
  • Examples of what is not considered handbook first
  • Identified challenges with handbook first learning

All elearning courses at GitLab to the will utilize the Handbook as the Single Source of Truth (SSOT).

Handbook-First Interactive Learning Examples

Field Enablement

The GitLab Field Enablement team uses a handbook-first approach to learning in their Field Certification Program

For example, in order to learn more about a particular topic tied to the Field Certification, learners will be able to refer to the Handbook within the elearning course instead of having to open a new browser tab and manually navigating to the Handbook.

The Field Enablement team will utilize the Articulate 360 Storyline Suite as the main course authoring tool. In Storyline, a Handbook-first approach is achieved by adding a web object on a slide so learners can access the Handbook on that particular topic.

Learning and Development

The L&D team hosts Mini and Extended Challanges to engage team members in bite sized learning about a specific topic. Participants in the challenge collaborate on issues and are driven to the handbook to review learning content.

Interactivity in E-learning

Interactivity such as games, drag-and-drop, matching, and other interactive components in a published elearning course will not be accessible via the Handbook; however, all information conveyed to learners through the elearning course will have an associated Handbook page as needed. This will make sure that despite the interactivity of the elearning course, learners will have access to all topics covered in the Field Certification program via the Handbook.

Course Development Workflow

Instructional designers will use the ADDIE instructional systems design (ISD) framework to design and develop Field Certification courses using Articulate 360. The workflow of course development will be as follows:

1. Create learning objectives
2. Design storyboard and get SME buy in
3. Outline course Handbook page
4. Develop elearning
5. Conduct a course Alpha
6. Incorporate feedback
7. Conduct a course Beta (as needed)
8. Publish course in LXP
9. Announce course launch
10. Enroll learners (as needed)

Documenting learning content in the handbook

Our goal is that each course will have an associated Handbook page including learning objectives, static learning content, quizzes, and applicable links.

Consider the following when documenting course content in the handbook:

1. Outline clear learning objectives
2. Make content discoverable. For example, leadership content should not live in the Learning and Development handbook, but instead in the Leadership handbook
3. Emebed relevant YouTube videos in the handbook
4. Link to knowledge assessments
5. Cross reference any additional handbook content with links

Building handbook first learning content in the EdCast LXP

Content in the EdCast LXP at GitLab will adopt this handbook-first approach to learning. You can read more best practices about building content in the LXP in our GitLab Learn admin docs. Examples of ways that the handbook is utilized for learning in the LXP include:

• SmartCards linking to specific handbook pages
• Pathways leading learners through related handbook pages to train on a specific skill or content area
• iFrames displaying content from the handbook directly in the LXP
• Assessments and learning checks referring back to content in the handbook to check for understanding

Handbook first course example

Below is an outlined example of how the field enablement team created a handbook first learning course for the EdCast LXP using Articulate 360.

1. Introduction The course begins with an introduction, explaining to the learner what the objectives are and how to navigate the course content
2. Video Videos are embedded in the handbook and linked from the LXP
3. iFrames iFrames display content directly from the GitLab handbook. Before each iframe, a short description sets the expectation of the learner, time needed to read the handbook section, and a direct link to the handbook to open in a new tab
4. Intellectual property Intellectual property is linked directly to the course. Relevant handbook pages are linked and displayed in iframes when appropriate
5. Interactive Learning Interactive learning provides opportunities for quick learning checks and does not introduce new material

Examples of what is not considered handbook first

Avoiding these examples can help ensure that the content you're producing follows a handbook first approach

Identified challenges with handbook first learning

• iframes can break if the page or subsection of the linked handbook is updated
• Updates to courses that are saved as SCORM files must be updated in the course creation tool and then reuploaded to the EdCast platform
• When iframes are not used, the user needs to navigate to text and video content in the handbook on a new internet tab
• New handbook/docs pages may need to be created in cases where videos should be included in a learning path