Ad Hoc Learning Design

Ad Hoc Learning Design is an informal, flexible approach to creating learning experiences that are developed quickly and tailored to immediate, specific needs without following a structured instructional design model. It involves rapid prototyping, iterative development, and often leverages existing resources or tools to address urgent learning gaps or performance issues. This methodology is commonly used in fast-paced environments like software development, where teams need to quickly upskill on new technologies or processes.

Also known as: Informal Learning Design, Just-in-Time Learning, Rapid Learning Development, On-the-Fly Training, JIT Learning

Why learn Ad Hoc Learning Design?

Developers should use Ad Hoc Learning Design when they need to create training or documentation on the fly, such as for onboarding new team members, addressing a critical bug, or adapting to sudden changes in project requirements. It's ideal for agile or DevOps contexts where formal training cycles are too slow, allowing teams to respond quickly to evolving needs and reduce downtime. This approach helps bridge immediate knowledge gaps without the overhead of comprehensive instructional design, making it practical for time-sensitive scenarios.

Learning Resources

• docs: Ad Hoc Learning Design: A Practical Guide
• course: Rapid Learning Design for Developers
• video: Just-in-Time Learning in Agile Teams
• tutorial: The SAM Model vs. Ad Hoc Approaches