Ere I Go

I’ve been thinking a lot about the concept of georelevant content or instruction.  In the world of instruction there is concept called ‘just in time training’, referring to training that is delivered not all at once, perhaps in the training office removed from where the information will be applied, but rather the training is delivered out on the floor at just the right time.  The training on how to use the machine is given when the machine needs to be used.

Georelevant content, then, refers not to when information should be presented, but where.  The information that is relevant to a particular location is presented because a person has entered the area.  An example of this might be how to work a sprinkler system.  You don’t need that information at the office, you need that information when you are next to the sprinkler console.

The concept behind just in time training is that you don’t overwhelm the student with all the information up front.  The power comes that they are given the information in context, and when they need it.  Georelevant instruction has a similar concept, delivering content when and where the user needs it.  The power behind georelevant instruction lies in the fact that the instructional designer can use the location of the student to determine what information is presented to the student.