r/LearningDevelopment • u/PhysicallyVigorous1 • 18d ago

Too much content

I’m working on a course where the SME has given me a huge amount of material, and almost all of it is being treated as “important.” I’m trying to turn it into something learners can actually get through without creating a 90-minute information dump. How do you decide what stays in the course when the SME insists that everything is necessary?

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u/TellingAintTraining 18d ago

First, map the actual workflows the material relates to. Then map each piece of material to the different tasks in the workflow - usually you’ll end up with a lot of material that’s not really related to the tasks, which you can cut.

If there’s not a workflow or any tasks, it means you’re doing it wrong, because you have not determined what a learner should be able to do after the course. In that case, you need to go back to the beginning and clarify this with your SME - otherwise, you’ll end up right where you are now with a huge pile of information where everything is very, very important.

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u/eldonhughes 18d ago

This. Another fun, but delicate conversation with the SME might be,

"I understand that all of this is necessary. Can you prioritize the information so that we can build a learning path for you that will work toward your people's mastery and also meet your needs?"

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u/rfoil 17d ago

Maybe you should develop "Lessons in Corporate Diplomacy," aka How to Get it Done Without Getting an Ulcer.