H. Document models for high-fidelity reaching, scaling, and or sustaining of short-format training

Summary:🚲

Enlarging a SFT training program has benefits but carries the risks of losing features that make it effective or introducing new barriers to delivery. Strategies that minimize barriers and maximize benefits can be informed by improved knowledge exchange and study.

Currently, the evidence base of what approaches are most effective for reaching new learners, scaling up SFT across networks of instructors, and sustaining these programs is largely based on occasional publication of these efforts and knowledge exchange across informal networks of instructors and instructional designers ^{1 2 3 4 5}. Strengthening these networks, encouraging the sharing of approaches to successful SFT implementation as well as research and program evaluation could strengthen the case for and adoption of effective practices. Sharing strategies could also avoid duplication of efforts and provide opportunities for education research, ultimately promoting reaching, scaling, and sustaining of SFT while maintaining high-quality instruction.

How might this work:🚲

Instructors, instructional designers/administrators, and funders would need to work together to explore research questions and/or provide resources and vehicles for knowledge exchange. Implementers could strengthen the mechanisms for informal knowledge exchange (e.g., by promoting online discussion venues, or in-person convenings). Education research could be funded to explore research questions.

Related Principles:🚲

• All: in the process of increasing reach, scale, and sustainability, there is a need to avoid compromise of core principles.

Benefits to the learners:🚲

1. Increasing the effectiveness and/or efficiency of sharing training by increasing its reach, scale, or sustainability raises the likelihood that learners will be able to access high-quality training.
2. Increasing access to training makes it more equitable and inclusive for learners.

Incentives to implementers:🚲

For Instructional Designers, Funders, and Organizations

1. Exchange of effective models for reaching, scaling, and sustaining SFT would save time, money, and effort for all stakeholders.
2. Evidence based models would provide confidence and justification for implementing Reach, Scale, and Sustain strategies.

Barriers to implementation:🚲

1. Funding and time will be required to identify the most pertinent research questions and develop findings.
2. Generalizing recommendations may result in mismatches between SFT approaches and contexts (e.g., different durations, topics, countries), and testing recommendations across many contexts may pose complex challenges.

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