How do I make programs or courses interesting and engaging for the participants?

Please read my written response here.

In December 2021, I completed a certification in UX Design with BrainStation.

Click the image below to see some of the work I prepared while learning. My ultimate goal was to learn all of the requisite skills to build a relevant, accessible web application to facilitate high quality online integrated learning.

What is integrated learning methodology and how do I implement it?

Facilitating integrated learning methodology can lead to potent results! 2 years of studying how integrated learning affects health supported that specific learning interventions could lead to lower rates of chronic illness. 

Integrated learning methodology is designed to create 3 key types of access to learning: 

1) Access to content via a variety of mediums;

2) Access to concepts through complementary disciplines (interrelated ideas or skills or experience); and

3) Access to socially and culturally informed contexts.

Examples of integrated learning in workplace training include peer-to-peer support, learning labs, embedded interaction and engagement.

What design tools and software did I use for this learning program example and why?

Analyse

Needs analysis and assessment required effective communication tools like email, recordings, interviews, and analysis tools like Excel. Please check out a rough sample of some of the needs analysis and assessment data that I've collected while responsible for the whole arch of a program's creation to delivery. I've also relied on project management software like Asana and Freedcamp as well as Excel to communicate clearly and meet timelines.

Design

Design phases focus on creating storyboards and prototypes to communicate with stakeholders and reach a consensus. To accomplish this, I like to use software like Miro, Figma, or InDesign or -  in MS-rich environments - Powerpoint slides all following guidelines and testing available for Accessibility (like this resource called Tota11y). Please feel welcome to take a look at a an example document entitled Learning Path that helps to define the broader landscape of a series of courses or program to communicate with stakeholders.

Develop

During development phases, I like to encourage creation of media rich components (like video, sound, interactive animation) to be embedded into delivery content. This meant using video editing software, sound recording and editing, Loom for webcasts, simple animation apps, Photoshop and Illustrator, and more. During the Learning Success program, I relied heavily on the capabilities of Articulate supplemented with Powerpoint and Word where needed.

Implement

To implement the Learning Success programs, we used Teams for synchronous content and SCORM output for SAP and Moodle LMSs for asynchronous content. This recording (linked below) is a snapshot of my support of international MBA students as they begin their first week of classes via Teams.

Some possible sections of interest could be:

1) Land Acknowledgement and Introduction (2:54)

2) Mindset Matters (10:11)

3) Challenge Response to Stress (2:12:16)

Evaluate

Finally, to evaluate we were able to interview individuals, conduct focus groups, collect surveys with Survey Monkey, SmartSurvey, and Google Forms, as well as access Tableau and other performance metrics.

How did I manage the project while maintaining collaborative, communicative relationships with partners? 

- Strengths-based teamwork

- Reverse engineered project management

- Contingency planning for adaptability

How did I measure the effectiveness of this program?

Most workplace learning evaluates effectiveness of training by following the framework of the Kirkpatrick model originally developed in the 60s.

To assess the reaction (level 1), learning (level 2), behaviour (level 3), and results (level 4), I gather relevant data using both qualitative and quantitative methods.

Qualitative  Evaluation- Informal, more flexible, smaller sample size, used to improve experience:

- Usability testing 

- Heuristics

- Case Study

- Interviews, focus groups

- Satisfaction surveys

- Performance reviews

- System Usability Scale adapted for learning

Quantitative Evaluation - Scientific, data-driven, benefits from big sample size, used to support a hypothesis or assumption:

- Performance Metrics

- Turnover / attendance records

- Promotion statistics

- Profit / loss data

Fun bonus! Please feel welcome to see a small sample of a course I developed as part of the Teaching Excellence component of the Learning Success program to assist in training instructors to include Evaluation as a learning tool. 

How did this experience inform my ongoing practice as a Learning Specialist? 

- Non-competitive, friendly collaboration is joyful and productive.

- Intellectual humility is a key ingredient of needs analysis process.

- Must practice the integrated learning principles we espouse internally as well as externally.