E-learning Instructional Desiger

E-learning Instructional Desiger - Part 2

In the previous post we looked at an e-learning ID job posting. I didn't publish the entire job posting so that we could look at a few components.

Here's the tools section for this same job post with Blue Sky software:

Proficiency in eLearning development software, such as Articulate 360
Proficiency in communication software, such as Outlook and Slack
Proficiency in project management software, such as Asana or Trello

Let's look at each of the tools. Articulate 360 is an e-learning development tool to create tutorials. The original tool was called Storyline. There were versions 1, 2 and 3. I used version 2 and 3 to create about 40 microlearning modules. There was a bit of a learning curve, but once I used it everyday I didn't have to think much about the details. Last month I received notice that Storyline 3 would no longer be supported. Articulate 360 isn't much different accept that it's a subscription. The biggest impediment with Articulate's (and Adobe's) apps is the expense. They're prohibitively expensive to use making if difficult to practice and learn them. Further, if you were to become a consultant you would need to factor in the cost of the monthly subscription for your deliverables to the client.

Outlook goes without saying as an email app. Slack is commonly used in teams and is something we should all be familiar with. It's not difficult to use.

Project management software like Asana may be harder to learn if you can't get a trial. Trello typically offers a trial version. Its' something you may end up liking that you use it for personal projects as well.

What is your experience with these tools? Have you had challenges getting training on these or access to a free trial?

Comments

Smartsheet: an alternative to Microsoft Project

For years Microsoft Project dominated the market for project management software. It has a steep learning curve and is an expensive per seat cost. I was a technical writer for a small software company that used MS Project for the three project managers and myself. While I enjoyed learning about the science of project management from them in our meetings, I discovered that using the software was not that intuitive. I plugged in the tasks and timelines for several projects only to discover how challenging it was to have to refactor dates. It seemed to mess up the entire project such that I just stopped using it. It was more time consuming setting it up and refactoring it than just inputting status to show our progress. It looks like a better option is SmartSheet which is used by many major companies. You can sign up for a free trial to get familiar with it. The more you can learn about tools to manage instructional design projects, the more likely you are to be considered for the team. T...

The U.S. Distance Learning Association

The USDLA is the oldest organization for distance learning https://usdla.org/ They conduct research and have weekly podcasts as well as local/state chapters. Are any of you members or planning on becoming a member? Higher Education is one of the specialties I'm considering, so I want to check out this organization. However, this organization is not limited to just Higher Education -- their members include corporations, healthcare, and government. This past week they held their annual conference. They also offer a certification for universities to demonstrate their adherence to the 91 standards of the organization. Maybe this is something you would propose to a future university team to consider. Here's their monthly podcast about the future of distance learning: https://inkandescentradio.com/series/distance-learning-roundtable/

Apps for Instructional Designers in Higher Ed

As an Instructional Designer in Higher Education your tasks will range along the ADDIE model: Source: https://hortmonvera.wordpress.com/2015/03/06/addie-instructional-model/ A peer in my graduate ISLT program also works for the University. Her tasks in instructional design are determined by the department she works for. This is her second assignment as an instructional design assistant. Some of her tasks include testing links to multimedia content, checking library references, and proofreading and editing content. She graduated from the program recently and was promoted to Instructional Designer 2. In this role she uses apps like PowerPoint to create the videos and recordings that accompany these. She also uses Camtasia by Tech Smith to make similar content. However, this tool takes some skill to use, which impacts the Design and Development stages. Are you working in Higher Education or planning to as an Instructional Designer? Which apps are you currently using and which o...

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