Information vs. Performance
What Makes Training Courses Different?
Training courses fall into two categories: information-based and performance-based. Information courses focus on knowledge, while performance courses drive behaviour change and skill development at work.
Neither approach is better the key is understanding what learners must do, then designing the course around those actions. Clear goals shape the project scope, required content and assessment strategy.
Gather Content That Supports Your Training Goals
Strong training design begins with purposeful content curation. Start by sorting material into two groups:
- Need-to-know content that directly supports the learning outcomes
- Nice-to-know content that enriches the topic but is not essential
What is Next?
Design Learning
This prevents cognitive overload and keeps the course focused on performance.
Next, break the material into clear, manageable chunks. Chunking improves comprehension and helps learners process complex ideas more easily. From there, script every section into a single master document, grouping related ideas, definitions, examples and practice activities.
The Script
This script becomes your blueprint—it ensures consistency, exposes gaps early and helps you
map each piece of content to its corresponding action, skill or assessment requirement. A well-structured script also speeds development by giving designers, SMEs and stakeholders a shared source of truth before the course moves into production.
Design Your Script for Online Learning
Use headings to create structure and a clear Table of Contents that mirrors your Rise 360 layout. As instructional designers, we elevate engagement by presenting information in varied formats. Text-heavy content can become tabs, accordions or other interactive blocks. Build the script first, then bring it into Rise 360 by copying, pasting and converting sections into interactive elements. This workflow speeds development and produces a more dynamic learning experience.