I once was lost, how did I get found?

Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase.
        - Martin Luther King, Jr.

I had a discussion the other day with a course designer, and we were both complaining about having to show every feature before we demonstrated it and let the learners try it.  And then it struck us - Why?  Won't the learners get lost without a clear vision of what they need to do?

Why do we have to hand hold learners through every single feature?  Because that's what everyone does?  Because that's what we're done since first grade?  because that's the way we've always done it?

Just Because?!?

Whenever I hear an answer start with "because we ..." I always know there's something stupid coming.  So we started asking each other questions.

"What if we gave them a couple of clues and let them discover how to use each feature? 

"What if we let them get together in groups and try to guide each other through the menus in a game to see how many of them could get as many features on the page?

"What if we made it a friendly competition!"

This is where real change is made.  We will try this on a test group in the coming months.   I'll keep you posted.