Are you starting your course development from scratch? Struggling to get 
appropriate information out of the heads of Subject Matter Experts (SMEs)? Re-purposing existing content from one format to another?
If yes, the modules in this stream help you get to grips with:
- the scope, quantity and complexity of the content you wil be working with, and
- an understanding of the audience you will be delivering to.
What are the modules in this stream?
There are three modules for you to choose from in our Analysis and Planning stream:
Module 1: Getting up and running
When there's a course to be developed, it's tempting to just dive in and get started. This module helps you avoid the pitfalls of the 'just do it' approach to course development by helping you:
- evaluate several different tried and tested instructional design processes
- get under your audience's skin to fully understand their needs (this pays dividends later on in the development process)
- work through your objectives and outcomes from high-level down to specific and detailed.
Module length:
- Standard version: 1.5 hours
- Express version: 1 hour
- Detailed version: 2 hours, 2.5 hours or 3 hours, depending on your needs.
Module code: PA01
Module 2: Gathering your content
Working with Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) is an unacknowledged challenge many instructional designers and course developers frequently have to face. This module helps you:
- clearly identify the different types of questions you can ask of SMEs
- match these question types to your purpose and desired outcomes
- use effective questioning to control an SME interview and get the answers (and content) you need.
Module length:
- Standard version: 1.5 hours
- Express version: 1 hour
- Detailed version: 2 hours, 2.5 hours or 3 hours, depending on your needs.
Module code: PA02
Module 3: Analysing your content
Getting the content from your SMEs is one thing. Making sense of it for yourself and your learners is quite another. This module shows you how to
- work with a simple set of pre-defined content categories to unpick and streamline an SME 'brain dump'
- use those pre-defined categories to plug any gaps or remove any inaccuracies in your content, and
- turn them into a meaningful content outline - the foundation for creating learner-centred courses and modules.
Module length:
- Standard version: 1.5 hours
- Express version: 1 hour
- Detailed version: 2 hours, 2.5 hours or 3 hours, depending on your needs.
Module code: PA03
What about practice?
All modules contain a variety of exercises and activities, making the learning experience practical, hands-on and highly interactive.
If you choose a programme which is longer than a day, we strongly encourage you to identify some existing content we can work on as a 'rolling case study'. If you prefer, we can provide generic case study materials.
Browse more content streams
Use the links below (or the menu above left) to browse modules in the other content streams:
Putting it all together
Ready to think about pulling your selected modules together into a programme? Have some questions about what to do next?
Go to our How Does It All Work? page for a clear nuts and bolts explanation of putting your programme together:
Find out all about how the programme works here.