Start With the Job Task
Design a lesson around a real workplace task instead of a topic outline.
A lesson gets sharper when the task, not the topic, becomes the spine. Why it works Merrill argues that learning improves when instruction is centered on real-world tasks, then supported through activation, demonstration, application, and integration. What to design Write the job task in observable terms, then ask what knowledge is needed to perform it. Sequence the lesson around that task. Common trap Do not confuse clear explanation with learned performance. Explanation is necessary, but it is only one part of the learning chain. Transfer cue Teach the task the learner must perform, not the topic the designer wants to…
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