TL:DR – Instruction is important, but incomplete without practice, repetition, and real-time feedback.

Watch a great sports coach and you’ll notice something: they don’t just tell athletes what to do. They watch, correct, and drill—over and over.

In learning design, we often stop at the “telling,” or the Reaction level of the Kirkpatrick Model and the Awareness step of the Learner’s Journey.

We explain concepts. We walk through examples. We deliver content.

But that’s not how people learn to perform.

Coaches know that doing > knowing.

Here’s how Instructional Designers can design like a coach:

1. Don’t just teach, train

Coaches build muscle memory. That’s what learners need, too. Give learners a chance to practice new skills in low-risk environments. Drills, repetition, and scenario-based training build confidence.

2. Provide real-time feedback

A coach doesn’t wait until the game is over to tell you what went wrong; they correct mid-play. Use that principle in your training:

• Design for inline feedback on exercises
• Consider instant responses in simulations (like quiz feedback in Articulate Storyline and Rise 360)
• Allow time for coaching tips during practice sessions

3. Embrace repetition with variation

Athletes don’t just practice once. They repeat the skill in different contexts until it becomes natural. Build this concept into your learning:

• Revisit core ideas in new formats
• Apply knowledge across scenarios
• Vary the conditions for practice (This is incredibly important for your more tenured learners as they tend to rely on their “oldie but goldie” responses.)

4. Make the goal visible and personal

Every great coach connects the drill to the game. Let learners know why the skill matters and how it applies to their real-world performance.

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Put us in, coach! We know instructional design is not a game, but we can help you be the coach your learners need. Email us at info@theiddepartment and get started today.

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