Rebecca Jordan - Featured ELearning

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Scenario-Based eLearning

Positive Communication

Powerful Results

Is retaining that client as easy as sending a single email?

This concept project guides learners through a scenario-based learning experience designed to help project managers navigate communication challenges encountered through email.

Target Audience: Project Managers at MJ & Sons Engineering

Responsibilities: Instructional Design, eLearning Development, Action Mapping, Storyboarding, Visual Mockups, and Prototyping

Tools Used: Articulate Storyline 360, Adobe Illustrator, Figma, Mindmeister, Freepik AI image generator, ChatGPT, Google Docs

The Problem

MJ & Sons Engineering is a conceptual company devoted to providing clients with exceptional services ranging from land surveying, bridge inspections, civil and construction engineering. One problem the company was experiencing was clear and professional email communication with their clients. After conducting in-person trainings, the company was seeking a way for their employees to practice the learning that had been presented in the trainings.

The Solution

During my initial meeting with the subject matter expert (SME), he expressed a need for the project managers to become more effective at writing emails to clients. One of the suggestions I gave him was to create an eLearning experience that would allow for the project managers to respond to scenario based emails modeled from common challenges they experience. This would provide them with a real life experience in a risk-free environment.

My Process

To create this learning solution, I used the ADDIE model. I was able to analyze the problem, identify my audience, and talk through the needs with my SME. Once the foundation was laid, I was able to start creating learning objectives and actions for the learners to do through action mapping.

After action mapping, I developed the learning solution. This included creating a storyboard, making visual mockups, developing the prototype, and finally creating the final product.

This eLearning experience would be a piece of a larger course on communication and would be delivered as a practice experience during the course.

Action Mapping

For this project, my SME has worked with an engineering firm for 20 years and is currently the director of the surveying department. With his expertise, I was able to gather key information that led me to create an action map. Using Cathy Moore’s model, I created an action map that outlined the companies behavior change goal and created action steps that the learners will do in order to achieve the goal.

View Full Action Map

Text-based Storyboard

Using the high-priority action steps from my action map, I created a text-based storyboard. Each action was demonstrated using a scenario for the learners to practice responding to emails from clients.

In the story board I developed questions with multiple answers. When the learner chose an answer they would experience a branching scenario based on their response. If the learner chose the correct answer, they would experience a real life positive consequence before moving to the next question. If the learner chose an incorrect answer, they would experience a real life negative consequence. Then the learner would be directed back to try the scenario again. This type of learning allows learners to practice new skills in a virtual world without the real life consequences.

Throughout the course a mentor character would offer guidance to the learner as well as deliver different forms of feedback dependent on learner choices.

Using storyboarding allowed me to create a clear blueprint to use during my mockups, prototyping, and the final product development. This allowed me to create an authentic story for the learners to experience immediate feedback and retain learning.

Visual Mockups

When thinking about the look of this project, I researched colors and shapes used by other engineering firms. Common aspects I found were blue color schemes with geometric shapes. This inspired me to create a mood board with a business casual feel and some construction elements. Using my mood board and research, I created a style guide to ensure consistency throughout the learning experience.

In order to get a complete look for this learning experience, I started by making wireframes in Figma. This gave me a structure for the layout of the objects on the slides. Using the wireframes, I started iterating different designs until I had a cohesive look for each slide of the experience. While sourcing images, I used Adobe Illustrator to make adjustments to characters, backgrounds, and objects. This allowed me to ensure the learning experience aligned with my style guide.

Interactive Prototype

Once the mockups were approved by the client, I was ready to start the process of creating a prototype for review using Articulate Storyline 360.

In this prototype I included the opening slide, which posed a challenge question to the learner. This question challenged the learner to use their email communication skills to keep a client. This type of questioning is designed to increase learner engagement and provide opportunities to practice their skills in a risk-free and safe environment.

Using Mayer’s principle of personalization, I used variables to insert the learner’s name throughout the learning experience. I used states, including hover states for when a learner moved over an object and graying out a button until another action was complete to direct learners to actions they would take throughout the experience. Layers were used to reduce file size and increase production efficiency. Sounds were strategically placed on slides to help bring realistic features to the learning.

When the prototype was complete it allowed the client to experience the eLearning from the beginning to the end of the first question. This helped to ensure proper functionality and provided an opportunity for changes to be made before the final product was completed.

Through feedback from user testing and client review, I was able to adjust the sounds, button functionality, and the overall alignment of objects. With an approved prototype, I was able to move on to create the full project.

Full Development

The full development of this project was very exciting. I was able to see how the hard work of starting with a problem and moving through the whole process could become such a meaningful and engaging piece of learning.

The part that I am most proud of is my ability to use Adobe Illustrator for the first time. I was able to use character packs from Freepik to create characters that matched the look I was going for. I needed to change the clothing, facial features, or arm placements. I was also able to change elements in the backgrounds to match my style guide, including changing colors, removing items, and adding items. All of these tweaks helped to make the eLearning cohesive and ensure the learner had a meaningful experience.

The second part that I was very excited to include was adding the learner’s name throughout the learning experience. When your name is attached to the email or your name is in the speech bubble, you feel like you are part of the learning.

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Results & Takeaways

If using this in an actual company, this would be one small part of a larger learning course. I would use this practice piece after delivering in-depth email communication strategies either in-person or virtually for learners to solidify their learning. Throughout the course I would conduct surveys for the learners to communicate feedback about the course. This would include questions about usability of the course, overall experience, reflections on how they will use the information in their role, and suggestions of more learning opportunities they would like to see at the company.

As the instructional designer, I would gather the information from the learners and internal stakeholders to make adjustments and additions to the learning course. This information will be one piece that I will use to analyze the effectiveness of the course. Another source of information will come directly from the companies’ clients. Using the goal that I created during the action mapping phase, I will review feedback left from clients to analyze any changes in email communication. This will help me to determine if we have met or made progress to achieving the goal set during action mapping.

Through the development of this project I have had the chance to learn so many softwares and tools. My understanding of Articulate 360 was deepened by using variables, layers, and adjusting the timeline to make a project that looked polished and would be a great addition to a training course for project managers. Learning how to customize images to create a complete project was my favorite part. It added so much creativity and made the project feel cohesive.

From this project, I have been able to extend my technology skills more than I thought possible. I am confident that my life long learner personality will drive me to challenge the limits with each new project.

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rebeccarjordan07@gmail.com

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