A recent project made us remember the challenges of designing to the unknowns. When we talk about solving a need that could be anything we always discuss the end first. It’s like having dessert before dinner. Most times when we perform analysis we try to steer our clients away from thinking or getting too sold on what they are having for dessert, not because you can’t make it, but because it might not be feasible.
This project brought back to light why it’s ok to sit around and conjure up the most fantastically delicious notions for fulfilling our educational sweet tooth – it helps us analyze our audience. When we must start from nothing we would rather know if cake or pie is more appealing and whether or not we are going to need ice cream and how many flavors instead of just making brownies that no one wants.
Inventorying and grouping possible solutions can guide us as we write a set of assessment questions to gain better understanding about our learning audience and their preferences. Perhaps leading us to let them have their cake and eat it to!
