I was lucky to catch up with Kim Edwards last week. Always insightful, we talked about the time we spend producing content. There is a pervasive theme in the way we design learning support and that is we design to time. A 30 minute module, a micro audio, a two day event, etc.

But this isn’t learning. This is simply the consumption of content.

Learning doesn’t happen at this point in time; it happens over time. We might spend a fraction or multiple of the time spent with content, reflecting on what it really asked, what it suggested, what it means to you as an individual and what it might mean for the people you work with.

But this isn’t learning either.

When you’ve thought, discussed, and considered what you’ve heard, you still need to try it out. You might try it once and succeed. Chances are you’ll need to do it a few times.

This is where we learn, and the time taken isn’t the 30 minute module, a micro audio, a two day event.

Be honest with the people you support. Explain that learning is hard, the 20 minutes they’re spending is only one part as they move through the learning process and your role in L&D is to help shape the move with them, not for them.