James Allen breaks down a four-step lesson design framework: start with why the lesson matters to your course goal, define what learners need to know and feel, show how with concrete steps and frameworks, then recap the key takeaways. The structure is built to create transformational, outcome-focused lessons.
First thing I do is I start with why. I tell them in the beginning of every single lesson why this lesson matters to the overall goal of the course. Then we want to go into what. We want to tell them what they're going to learn, clearly explain what this person needs to know, what they need to do, what they need to feel, and what they need to believe in order to experience the specific transformation. Then we start going into how we're going to teach them exactly how to do it. So provide clear action steps, give them frameworks and resources to support them in each one of those quote unquote what steps. And that That's going to really be the biggest piece. And then at the end of the lesson, after you've gone over the why, the what, and the how, we're just going to do a quick summary or recap. So end just by telling them what you told them in the lesson and really highlight and share the key takeaways that you want them to walk away with.
