SAM Instructional Design Model Application Training Course

Course overview

Learning and development teams are often asked to produce training quickly while requirements are still changing, subject-matter experts are difficult to schedule, and stakeholders expect visible progress before approving full development. Linear design approaches can delay feedback until expensive storyboards or near-final courses are complete. This course shows participants how to use the Successive Approximation Model (SAM) to reduce that risk through early prototypes, short review cycles, and evidence-based decisions about what to build next.

Participants learn the SAM process from preparation through the Savvy Start, iterative design, iterative development, Alpha, Beta, and Gold releases. They practise defining a measurable performance problem, mapping stakeholders, building learner personas, selecting an appropriate prototype fidelity, writing performance-based objectives, creating rapid learning assets, and structuring review cycles. The course also addresses how SAM works alongside governance, accessibility, LMS publishing, evaluation data, and existing ADDIE-based organisational processes.

Instruction combines facilitated demonstrations, case analysis, team design sprints, prototype critiques, and individual application planning. Working from a realistic corporate learning brief, participants produce a SAM project pack containing a performance brief, stakeholder map, learner profile, prototype plan, sprint backlog, review criteria, and release roadmap. This provides both a reusable workplace template and a defensible plan for applying SAM to a live learning initiative.

The course is suited to L&D professionals who need a disciplined agile design method rather than simply faster content production. It is particularly valuable for teams developing digital learning, blended programmes, onboarding, systems training, compliance learning, or other initiatives where stakeholder feedback must be incorporated early and repeatedly.

Course objectives

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Apply the SAM framework to a workplace learning project from preparation through Gold release
• Diagnose a performance problem using a concise performance and learner analysis brief
• Facilitate a Savvy Start workshop using stakeholder mapping, learner personas, and rapid ideation
• Write measurable performance objectives and acceptance criteria for iterative learning design
• Build a low-fidelity learning prototype that tests content flow, interaction, and feedback assumptions
• Plan design and development sprints using a prioritised backlog, review gates, and release milestones
• Conduct structured Alpha and Beta reviews using prototype critique and defect-tracking methods
• Produce a SAM project pack for presenting an iterative learning solution to sponsors and SMEs

Benefits of attending

Target competencies

Who should attend

• Learning and Development Specialists — who need to deliver learning solutions while requirements and stakeholder input evolve
• Instructional Designers — who want a practical iterative alternative to linear storyboard-led development
• Learning Experience Designers — who prototype digital and blended learning journeys for testing with users
• L&D Managers — who need to establish faster, more visible learning design workflows across their teams
• Training Managers — who oversee programmes requiring frequent SME review and controlled release decisions
• HR Business Partners — who commission capability initiatives and need to frame business performance requirements clearly

Requirements and prerequisites

This is a foundation-to-intermediate course. Participants should understand the basic purpose of workplace learning, such as onboarding, compliance, systems, product, or leadership training, and should be comfortable discussing learners, subject-matter experts, and business requirements. Some experience of reviewing or creating training materials is helpful but not essential. Participants should bring a laptop and, ideally, a current or proposed learning project to use during exercises. No prior knowledge of SAM, agile software development, Articulate tools, coding, graphic design, or formal instructional design certification is required. Complete beginners should expect to work with structured templates and guided examples.

Training methodology

The course is delivered through short instructor-led explanations followed by applied design work on a realistic corporate learning case. Participants examine sample briefs, conduct a simulated Savvy Start, create learner and performance artefacts, and build low- and higher-fidelity prototypes using Miro and Articulate tools. Teams conduct structured Alpha and Beta review meetings, using feedback logs and acceptance criteria to decide what changes enter the next sprint. Daily debriefs connect each activity to workplace governance, SME engagement, accessibility, and delivery constraints. The final session converts the work into an individual SAM adoption plan.

Course outline

Day 1: SAM foundations and project preparation

• The Successive Approximation Model and its relationship to ADDIE
• Preparation phase activities and project framing
• Performance problems versus knowledge-gap requests
• Business outcomes, learner outcomes, and success measures
• Stakeholder roles, decision rights, and SME availability
• Learner context analysis for workplace performance
• Selecting SAM for digital, blended, and facilitated learning

Workshop: Participants analyse a corporate learning request and produce a one-page performance brief with initial business measures, learner constraints, and stakeholder assumptions.

Day 2: Savvy Start and rapid design

• Savvy Start purpose, agenda, and participant selection
• Learner personas and job-task prioritisation
• Action mapping for performance-focused learning scope
• Rapid ideation techniques for learning interactions
• Writing performance objectives and observable success criteria
• Learning journey sketches and experience maps
• Prototype fidelity decisions and testable assumptions

Workshop: In a facilitated Savvy Start simulation, teams create learner personas, an action map, a set of performance objectives, and a prototype concept board.

Day 3: Iterative design and prototype development

• Design sprint structure and time-boxing
• Prioritised backlogs for learning features and content
• Low-fidelity prototypes in Miro
• Storyboarding for decisions rather than documentation volume
• Rapid interaction development in Articulate Storyline 360
• Accessibility checkpoints for prototype design
• SME feedback protocols and decision logs

Workshop: Participants build and present a low-fidelity learning prototype and a prioritised sprint backlog for the next development cycle.

Day 4: Iterative development and release reviews

• Moving from design prototype to functional learning asset
• Alpha release purpose and internal quality checks
• Beta release testing with representative learners
• Acceptance criteria for content, interaction, and usability
• Defect logging, change control, and backlog refinement
• SCORM and xAPI packaging considerations
• Managing scope changes without losing performance focus

Workshop: Teams conduct an Alpha review of a sample e-learning module, log defects and change requests, and prepare a Beta release decision.

Day 5: SAM implementation in the L&D function

• Gold release readiness and launch criteria
• Integrating SAM with LMS administration and learning operations
• Evaluation measures across prototype, launch, and performance stages
• Communicating iteration progress to sponsors and governance groups
• Adapting SAM for compliance, onboarding, and systems training
• Team roles, capacity planning, and supplier collaboration
• Personal SAM adoption roadmap and project selection

Workshop: Participants complete and peer-review a SAM project pack and a 90-day application plan for a workplace learning initiative.

Tools & standards covered

Miro, Articulate Storyline 360, Articulate Rise 360, xAPI

A typical training day

Live online deliveries follow the same structure in the East Africa Time zone, with shorter screen blocks and longer breaks.

What the fee includes

How you can take this course

Certification

Participants who complete the full five days receive the Skillset Development Certificate of Completion, stating the course title, course code, dates and delivery format — suitable for professional-development records and employer reimbursement.

Frequently asked questions