How did I prepare?

First, my team and I conducted a needs analysis so we could establish design decisions and theoretical frameworks based on audience and contextual data. We researched the primary and secondary audiences, uncovering key insights about their learning preferences, schedules, and knowledge gaps. We then researched the context, task, and theoretical foundation. We aimed to learn enough about the target audiences so we could create a learning experience that met every stakeholder's needs. To encourage alignment and truly guide the learners through the entire learning process, my team and I decided to employ Gagné’s Nine Events of Instruction to structure the 90-minute curriculum. Our rationale for this framework was grounded in the need for student autonomy, instructional clarity, and assurance of an active learning process. One key finding about the audience that highly impacted our final learning experience was their busy schedule. Due to our research, we found that creating a learning experience that could be done mobile and asynchronously was essential for the learner's participation and motivation. Due to this, we developed a learning experience on Articulate Rise that could be used on a phone or laptop. 

How did I put my plan into action?

Once we developed a full understanding of the problem, context, and the learner, we moved from the design phase into development using Articulate Rise 360. We decided on a self-paced, interactive model that encouraged motivation, interest, personalization, application, revision, and feedback. We decided to employ activities that asked the learner to apply the new knowledge by actively engaging in the design process through the creation of a Canva infographic. This activity gives learners the opportunity to truly practice, receive feedback, and become a visual communicator while in a safe environment. One concern was complexity, as the primary activity required users to use Canva, something outside of the training space itself. To decrease cognitive load and scaffold the learning experience, we included numerous tutorial videos and interactive opportunities to ensure clarity and support. We created and used short video tutorials, walkthroughs, and creative challenges to prioritize clarity, accessibility, and the building of understanding through experience. To maximize accessibility, we also created digital instructor guides and student-centered "cheat sheets" to support ongoing use. Once we completed the development of the learning experience, we designed and deployed an evaluation to fellow instructional designers. We used their insights to inform our design decisions while we iterated, making features such as our clarity and presentation more refined. 

What were my results and lessons?

This project was a success and a wonderful learning experience. My team and I had the opportunity to present our final product, detailing our design process, collaborative approach, and deliverables. This experience helped me develop the ability to use formative evaluation, audience, and contextual data to ground decisions and iteratively refine instruction, making audience-focused content. For example, during our formative evaluation, we learned to begin streamlining redundant videos to boost learner engagement. The greatest lesson I learned was that providing supportive scaffolds and post-training job aids is essential for fostering learner autonomy, confidence, and motivation. It is essential that learning experiences are accessible to all learners because inclusion leads to participation and engagement.