Popcorn's quest to find the next top learning model continues. This time it's the SAM learning model.
Imagine you’ve just been asked to create a new eLearning course. The brief? Vague. The deadline? Yesterday. The budget? Let’s just say it’s “creatively constrained.”
What do you do?
If you’re still trying to make ADDIE fit this high-speed, ever-changing world, you might want to meet her slightly scrappier, startup-savvy cousin: SAM – the Successive Approximation Model.
SAM is the agile antidote to old-school waterfall models. It’s quick. It’s flexible. And it’s how the best digital learning solutions are built when time, feedback, and iteration are your best friends.
So, What Is SAM, Exactly?
SAM was developed by learning expert Michael Allen, founder of Allen Interactions, in response to the need for a more responsive and iterative approach to instructional design. While ADDIE is about solid structure, SAM is about speed, adaptability, and learner focus.
Instead of waiting until the end to test if something works, SAM says: “Why not build, test, tweak – and do it again, fast?”
It’s all about successive approximation - getting closer to the final product with each sprint, each feedback loop, each prototype.
Why SAM Makes Sense in a Digital World
Here’s the thing about modern L&D: it moves fast. Really fast.
Learner needs change. Business priorities shift. Technology evolves. In this landscape, waiting six months to deliver a learning module feels like waiting for a fax.
SAM gives you a way to:
Prototype quickly – Using rough, ready ideas to spark conversation and clarity.
Gather feedback early – From stakeholders, SMEs and learners.
Iterate often – Making improvements in real-time, not postmortem.
Launch smarter – With something that’s already been stress-tested by the people who’ll use it.
This is why SAM is a favourite among digital-first organisations creating interactive eLearning, mobile learning solutions, and other rapid custom eLearning content.
How SAM Works (Without Getting Boring About It)
SAM typically unfolds in two core variants: SAM1 and SAM2.
SAM1 is a simple three-phase cycle: Preparation → Iterative Design → Iterative Development.
SAM2 is for big projects, with more planning and more iteration loops.
But don’t worry about the terminology. The magic of SAM is in its principles:
Collaborate continuously: SMEs, designers, stakeholders - everyone’s in the room early and often.
Fail forward: Build fast, test fast, learn fast.
Let learners shape the content: Their feedback doesn’t just inform the final product, it shapes it.
At Popcorn Learning Agency, we don’t just dabble in SAM - we dance with it. It fuels our approach to agile instructional design, especially when speed, flexibility and user testing are non-negotiable.
Where SAM Shines (and Why Your Team Should Care)
SAM’s not just theory, it’s trusted in the real world by teams who need:
Tight turnarounds on regulatory or compliance training.
Regular updates to fast-evolving technical skills content.
Deep learner engagement, shaped by testing and data.
It’s especially powerful for bespoke corporate training videos, eLearning content that drives measurable results, and any scenario where content is king, but agility is queen.
In fact, if you’ve ever admired Popcorn’s ability to build slick, effective training in record time (without losing a drop of that bite-sized brilliance), SAM is often backstage, running the show.
Final Thoughts: Think Fast. Learn Faster.
SAM isn’t just a methodology, it’s a mindset. One that embraces uncertainty, welcomes feedback, and gets results.
So if your next learning project feels like a race against the clock, remember this: you don’t have to build the perfect solution all at once. You just have to build the right solution, one smart step at a time.
That’s the power of successive approximation.
Curious how Popcorn can bring SAM to your next project? Whether it's agile instructional design, rapid prototyping or just a fresh take on digital learning - get in touch.
