June Haldeman

Looking Back

Normally I don’t have “Ah ha” moments in class because I usually struggle to keep up with coursework, so I was surprised by the OPWL 523 E-Learning Authoring and Development course. I still struggled to stay on schedule, but I also learned some things that thankfully made completing projects a little easier and helped me grasp an aspect of adult learning theory that eluded me last semester.

Accept Limitations

Initially I worried about Articulate Rise and Storyline because I heard people at work complain about the time and money both programs cost. Now that I have created one project from each program, I have arrived at my own conclusions: 

• Articulate costs more because they can create more immersive training.
• Even simple setups can create immersive experiences.
• Timely completion can include stock templates and stock images.

It was a relief to read that using stock images was ok. Using Articulate stock photos of people actually helped me formulate training simulations because some characters dressed like people I encountered during work. Had I tried to create all my assets, I would not have completed the Rise or Storyline projects on time.

Avoid Busywork

Last semester, I took Principles of Adult Learning, and although I passed, I was unsure how reflective learning would appear in eLearning authoring programs. At work, I assist instructors with creating assignments, tests, and discussion boards online, but the formats are quite different. 
After reviewing examples of Rise and Storyline modules, I saw that the principle was still the same, creating activities that allow learners to practice what they learn in order to obtain skills that they need.  Reading Ruth C. Clark and Richard E. Mayer’s book “E-Learning and the Science of Instruction: Proven Guidelines for Consumers and Designers of Multimedia Learning” also helped. I especially appreciated looking at examples for clear and confusing navigation, and activities for engaging participants psychologically even when they have to complete work asynchronously.

The Takeaway

Moving forward, I need to brush up my storyboarding skills. I cannot fully utilize any of the eLearning authoring tools unless I can better plan what I want to accomplish. I also need to be more mindful of how to measure performance and feedback. At my job, performance and feedback are measured by the number of training sessions offered and the number of participants, but if we actually use my final project to help students prepare for online classes, then we may have to talk to other departments that onboard online students. Even if my project is rejected, I want to measure performance and feedback for the next project.