Most mandatory courses follow the same pattern: read a lot of information and take a test at the end. The problem is this turns training into a memory exercise, and most people forget what they just learned.
I chose a different approach when I redesigned this mandatory module in Articulate Storyline. After conducting a needs analysis and speaking with SMEs, I decided to use a hub-and-spoke structure instead of presenting everything in one long sequence.
A hub-and-spoke structure organises content around a central hub that links out to smaller sections (the spokes).
This was the right format for this redesign, as the training uses the Chain of Infection model to help care workers understand how to prevent the spread of infection.
The chain is made up of six links, and each link represents a stage in how infections spread — pathogen, reservoir, and so on.
I decided that a hub-and-spoke approach would work well because learners can explore one stage and then return to the hub.
Plus, whenever a topic lends itself to a strong visual like a ‘chain’, I always use one. It makes the training feel more distinctive, and it’s an easy way to keep everything visually centred.
Inside the training, the content in each spoke is deliberately simple. Learners see a short overview, complete a realistic scenario-based activity, and receive immediate feedback.
The result is a module that helps new care workers build their understanding step by step. By focusing each spoke on one key area and asking learners to apply what they know before moving on, the hub-and-spoke structure replaces the traditional information dump with short, active learning moments.