instructional design

Are you ready for some football?

Anyone who knows me well can confirm that I’m a passionate football fan, and my excitement for the upcoming season is growing as fall quickly approaches. (I’m also ready to give my space here more attention than I have over the last few weeks, but I digress.)

In this brief team building lesson, I have used a motion path- a feature that is new (and overdue!) to Articulate Storyline 2. Do you have an object that needs to move to varying locations on the screen during a training course? The motion path is the answer, whether it is triggered by a learner’s click, slide timing, or variable. During this example, the learner’s decision will either progress the player down the field to score a touchdown, or the player will lose yardage. I felt the football theme and team building topic were perfectly suited to demonstrate the motion path function. There are so many possibilities with this new software feature. As a curriculum note, the football theme and team building topic could be further developed into four brief lessons- just like four quarters of a football game!

Click here to review the team building lesson!

Viva Las Vegas!

As the king of rock and roll once said, “if you see it once, you’ll never be the same again!”

Just one year ago, I made my first trip to fabulous Las Vegas to attend the annual Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM) Conference and Exposition. The only thing more exciting than three days of learning about my awesome profession is doing it in Vegas. Mister Presley was correct- I’ll never be the same again!

In honor of “The Entertainment Capital of the World” being added (near the top) of my list of favorite places and spaces, I decided it would only be right to pay tribute with an Articulate Storyline production!

I hope the course has helpful suggestions for your next visit to the city. Moreover, I hope you enjoy this production that integrates slide layers and brief video clips. Viva Las Vegas!!!

Click here to see my "Viva Las Vegas!"

Instructor Led Training (ILT) Invitation

So, I’m not just responsible for producing e-learning courses. I also manage an instructor lead training session that occurs every quarter. I plan all the details and Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) take care of the presentations and training, but before that can happen we have to invite participants! I’m preparing for another group of students to arrive later this month, which means this is a great time to share our new and improved invitation.

Previously, we simply sent an email to potential participants with relevant information (who, what, where, when, et cetera) regarding the event. Sounds pretty boring, right? I recently realized this is an excellent opportunity to use Articulate Storyline to build a more creative, engaging invitation. It is just a brief slide show including an audio track, but which invitation would you prefer to receive? An email or text based message, or the message that is visually appealing?

I hope you like this! Click here to see the new and improved invitation!

To train, or not to train- that is the question!

Well, that might not be the statement The Bard initially penned, but it is a valid declaration. To train, or not to train?

Often times, a subject matter expert (SME) or process manager will approach my desk and announce, “I need a training class produced!” GREAT! I’ll be glad to help, but don’t be surprised if I (or any other trainer or instructional designer presented with such an announcement) respond by asking some questions. When I begin with my follow-up queries, I do not wish to sound reluctant to take on your project, nor do I intend to be contrary or difficult.

“Why do you need training? Why do think a training course will resolve the issue?” It is just a simple needs analysis. Of course, as any project begins we can go into a more in depth needs analysis, but before we even get that far, let’s decide if training is the best answer for your problem.

You see, a good course will motivate or direct a behavioral change, improving performance. After completing the training, the learner should be able to do something new or do something better. If you need to send reminders about a company policy or procedure, training may not be the best plan. When considering instructional design, think about why your staff may miss the targeted outcome of the policy or procedure, and focus your training on correcting this deficiency. Use an assessment to measure learning that allows the student to think critically or practice using his or her new skill. A well designed, well written course offers a safe opportunity to have students gain and check new knowledge before applying it in a real world, real time environment. (This is why inexperienced pilots use simulator training before taking to the skies and why more tenured pilots use simulators to keep his or her skills sharp!)

Who hasn’t received an email that was poorly composed? Maybe the subject line was misleading, or the message was overly verbose. The email may have addressed a topic better related with another form of communication. What about spending a questionable amount of time in meetings that are necessary, but poorly planned or lead? These are common examples that could easily be coached with an aptly designed (and brief!) online lesson.

(Going forward, I’ll offer more tidbits and insight to my thoughts on training design. To train or not to train just seems like a great place to start. Stay tuned for more design examples and training philosophy!)

I love the piano!

Having studied music throughout my life and still being a big fan of many varying genres, I have known for some time that I wanted to find a way to build a music themed course. This quick piano interaction demonstrates Articulate Storyline’s ability to respond to a simple mouse hover.

(Bonus- working on this production, allowed me to quote Judy Garland. If you haven’t seen it, add the classic film “Easter Parade” to your viewing list- a 1948 hit staring Bing Crosby and Garland.)

Click the Launch button below, and “I love the piano” will open in a new window! ENJOY!

About Lindsay

About Lindsay:

Ten years total Human Resources experience
Over four years total experience in training and development functions
Strong Articulate Storyline and MS Office product experience
Dually certified professional
Professional in Human Resources (PHR), 2011-present
(Human Resources Certification Institute)
Certified Professional (SHRM-CP), 2015-present
(Society for Human Resources Management)
Bachelor’s of Science Degree, Communication Studies (English Minor)
University of Montevallo (Montevallo, Alabama)
2015 Cardinal Logistics Management Corporation “100% Club”

After a brief period working in the staffing industry, I began working in the Human Resources Department for a nationally recognized third party transportation and logistics company. My initial responsibilities included managing the company’s administrative and operations hiring processes, but I quickly began assisting with training initiatives. Since early 2012, training has been my primary focus. This has included conducting brief orientations for employees hired to the corporate office located near Charlotte, North Carolina and organizing a quarterly three day orientation event for field based managers.

I am also charged with managing the company’s online training initiatives. This includes a safety training curriculum directed to drivers of commercial motor vehicles, which compose the majority of the company’s workforce. Despite the company owning the source code and maintaining an internal Learning Management System (LMS), recent growth demanded a more user friendly and manageable LMS. As the primary contact to the third party training and LMS provider, I remain actively involved in the LMS administration, training enrollment process, and other administrative tasks.

During the last five years, I have used Articulate Studio and Storyline to produce a variety of training courses to meet the organization’s need when the third party providers’ curriculum fell short. This has required working closely with Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) to develop scripts, designs, and training material that ensures the final product provides an engaging lesson while meeting learning objectives. Topics have related to operations, compliance, safety, benefits, and other necessary subjects.

I have demonstrated my commitment to the Human Resources professional by earning two certifications, and I also hold a degree in Communication Studies from a top liberal arts college. In my free time, I enjoy reading, quality time with friends and family, beach visits, and cheering for my favorite sports teams.