Learning architecture: schools and pathways
Step 1 / 3·Divide the school into 'schools'
0/3 steps done
Learning objectives — after this module you will:
- Design a school/faculty structure by employee segment
- Build learning pathways tied to career routes
- Balance cohort learning and on-demand learning
Divide the school into 'schools'
Know how to segment the audience into an academy structure.
An academy isn't a giant course list — it's organized into SCHOOLS by employee segment, each with its own curriculum, output standards, and owner. A typical structure for a manufacturing–commercial business:
A typical school structure
| School | Serves | Curriculum focus |
|---|---|---|
| Leadership School | Team lead → director (by pipeline passage) | Programs per turn: First-line Leader, Leader of Leaders, Business Leader |
| Functional Schools | Each function: Production, QA, Sales, Supply Chain... | Career routes from basic to expert, tied to the competency framework (Level 2) |
| Onboarding Academy | 100% of new hires | Culture, safety, operating standards — the first-90-days experience |
| Future Skills | A select group by strategy | Growing capabilities: digital, data, AI (output of SWP — course 2) |
The pathway principle
Each school builds a PATHWAY, not standalone courses: 'New operator → Multi-skilled operator → Team lead' — each stage has required courses, field experience, and an output assessment. Learners always see WHERE they are and the NEXT stage — that's exactly what retains good people.
Key takeaway: Academy = schools by segment; each school builds a pathway tied to the career route, not standalone courses.