Phase One: Trigger
Trigger
Jumpstarting each activity with a Trigger piques learners’ interest. It might be as simple as a quote that highlights the relevance of the concept or an infographic that shines a spotlight on an issue or content. Other popular triggers include a short video or quick game. You could also create a Trigger that provides a glimpse of what’s to come in the module. For example, each module could lead off with a quick, diagnostic quiz pulling ideas and concepts covered in the module. It grounds learners in the module and alerts them to read actively for core concepts.
Triggering Through Templating
Underscoring the relevance and importance of the module can also act as a Trigger. For the Open at Scale Projects, an aim is a consistent look and feel to the modules. To that end, a suggestion is to open each module by stating learning objectives. For example:
Learning Objectives
By the end of the chapter, you should be able to:
- Define entrepreneur and describe the three characteristics of entrepreneurial activity.
- Identify five potential advantages to starting your own business.
- Define a small business and explain the importance of small businesses to the Canadian economy.
- Explain why small businesses tend to foster innovation more effectively than large ones.
From here, learners have clear expectations and are primed for key concepts before they begin. There is the added benefit of tying this content to the larger program standards and ultimately the career and | or academic goals of your learners, underscoring relevance and applicability.
