Creative instructional design

Thanks to...

Saf Fuller – Worcestershire County Council“I am always looking for creative ways to present the less exciting but necessary material. I would really like for some lateral thinking on ways to demonstrate a point or show information. Also, if others use different (free) software to create (such as creating flash animations) then I would be interested in hearing about those too.”

Sandra Walsh - Linc Cymru Housing Association

“Sometimes it’s difficult to get creative! How do you let the creative juices flow and what can be done to improve creativity and inspiration….”

Russ Nelson – Newcastle City Council

“Not quite an e-learning question but some basic tutorial in how to use flash would be very useful. The course Wigan did on a fun Halloween e-learning was exceptional and it appears it was all done using flash.”

Creative instructional design

1. No more dull content2. Action mapping3. Designing activities

No more dull content

Knowledge Skills

Attitudes

Action Mapping

http://blog.cathy-moore.com/

Actions not learning objectives

What do these people need to do? A. Put out the fire B. Describe the techniques used to extinguish a fire

http://blog.cathy-moore.com/

Action Mapping Example

STEP 1: Identify the business goal

Good: Staff to store customer data securely

Avoid: Know the requirements of the Data Protection Act

Action Mapping StepsSTEP 2: Identify what people need to do to reach that

goal

To store data safely:• Only store essential data• Don’t share passwords• Shred confidential information that is no longer needed

These statements describe actions, not knowledge

Action Mapping Steps

STEP 3: Design activities that help people practise each behaviour/action

• A drag and drop activity regarding which types of documents should be shredded vs put in general waste

• An extended scenario exploring the journey to work of a manager on a train with their laptop & their mobile phone...things go wrong leading to dire consequences

Avoid fact checks and trivia games. These don’t happen in the real world.

Action Mapping Steps

STEP 4: Identify what people (really, really) need to know

Identify the information that the learners must have to complete each practice activity.

What the data protection policy says about creating strong passwords (YES)

The detail of the Data Protection Act (NO)

Designing Activities

Collaborate

1. Initially abandon the Authoring Tool & your PC2. Arrange a brainstorming session with your

Subject Matter Experts and maybe a small group of learners

3. Consider a ‘Content Jam’ to speed things up – a practical session to progress developing the content & supporting assets

+ =

The Gravy Bone Effect

Think about your learners

• What will engage, interest and motivate them/what’s in it for them?

• What do they know already?• Do they all have the same ‘starting point’?• Talk to some learners – get their help in

designing the content

Take a step back

Consider a range of instructional strategies

Consider alternatives to simply ‘chunking’ the raw content:

• Storytelling - using a single scenario throughout• Question driven approach - to direct learner to

the content they need• Character driven approach – to provide different

viewpoints• Photo story – put pictures before words for a

different learner experience

Mix it up!

Use a mix of media

• What untapped skills do colleagues have to help out?

• Take some photos/get others to take photos• Produce a piece of video• Use audio clips/sound effects• Consider allocating some budget to

commission visuals/icons

Learning Venues

Campfires Watering holes

Caves

• What activities can learners do outside of the e-learning?

• Make use of the tools in the DLE - discussion forums, webinars, live chat

• Engage SMEs to tutor/deliver on-line support, create podcasts

Think about a blended approach

Tools to help you...

See Useful software/gadgets forum on learningpool.com

• http://goanimate.com/• http://elearningbrothers.co

m/• http://www.aviary.com/ • http://pixlr.com/• http://www.effectgenerator.

com/

York Learning Live – 10 October

Stuart Gilbert – BlackpoolLee Cooper – WiganGeek & Gadgets table