Tip #14: Change the sequence for optimal learning.

It helps to change the sequence of topics you teach. This is because the very beginning and ending of any training segment is most ripe for learning.

In some situations, you may want to begin with the most difficult or complex 2-5 items or steps. This is when the participants are most ready to learn. After that, you can teach the easier items.

Or, to build the learners’ confidence, you may want to start with the easiest items or steps. Then you can add in the more difficult items toward the end of the training segment.

After the items or steps have been learned, place them into their natural or necessary order for future practice and performance.

The decision regarding whether to begin with difficult or easy items is very subjective.

Considerations in favor of starting with the difficult items include:

  • there are only a few difficult items,
  • it’s easy to teach the difficult items, or
  • the learners are confident and eager to learn.

Reasons why you would begin with the easier items include:

  • there are many easier items than difficult ones,
  • they fall into a logical order, or
  • the learners are uncertain about being able to successfully learn.

Sequence is one of the four properties of learning that Dr. Madeline Hunter of UCLA identified in her Mastery Teaching Model.

The three other properties are meaning, previous practice, and relationship. They will be discussed in future Tips.

The importance of shortening a sequence to avoid sequence interference problems was emphasized in Tip #13.

If your trainers are interested in learning the UCLA Mastery Teaching Model, please book a call to discuss a tailored train-the-trainer program. https://laurelandassociates.com/contact/

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