Experiencing eLearning

FEBRUARY 21, 2023

Last week, an ID asked me about my writing process. Specifically, she wanted to know how I get from content like a SME “brain dump” to a finalized storyboard that’s ready for elearning development. Prior to our call, she had reviewed a number of other resources and books. Most sources she found sort of jump from “you meet with the SME and gather information” to “you write the storyboard” without explaining the thought process.

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Experiencing eLearning

FEBRUARY 14, 2023

As I read online, I bookmark resources I find interesting and useful. I share these links periodically here on my blog. This post includes links on AI tools, games, freelancing, top learning influencers, copyright, and more. AI tools 17 AI Tools Other than ChatGPT More options for AI tools beyond ChatGPT Tome – The AI-powered storytelling format This says “storytelling,” but it’s really an AI tool for quickly creating presentations and video.

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Experiencing eLearning

DECEMBER 27, 2022

It’s that time of year when I look back to the most popular posts by views over the entire year of 2022. I’m sharing both the brand new posts I wrote this year and the evergreen posts originally written in previous years (several of which were updated this year). Top 5 new blog posts of 2022. I wrote about 30 new blog posts this year and updated about 20 older posts.

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Experiencing eLearning

SEPTEMBER 20, 2022

As I read online, I bookmark resources I find interesting and useful. I share these links periodically here on my blog. This post includes links on story design, visual design and usability, tools, and templates. Story design. Strategies for Humanizing Training. Rance Green summarizes the structure for instructional story design. To sum up this structure, it looks like this: STORY > REFELECT > SOLVE > FEEDBACK Tell the story first.

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Experiencing eLearning

AUGUST 2, 2022

For the past several years, I’ve been using Twine to write and prototype branching scenarios. The upgrade to version 2.4 included some significant changes to the Twine user interface. While I know additional changes are planned to continue to improve the application, I upgraded to Twine 2.4.1 this week to get some first impressions. Mostly, I like the changes and new features, although I’m hoping for some additional improvements in the future.

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Experiencing eLearning

JUNE 28, 2022

Last week, I attended and presented at TICE 2022 ( Training Industry Conference & Expo ). This is the first time I have attended any Training Industry event. It was also the first time the conference has been back to in person since the beginning of the pandemic. This is a local conference for me, hosted in Raleigh, NC, about 30 minutes from home.

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Experiencing eLearning

JUNE 21, 2022

In the pilot of my Build Your Branching Scenario course, several participants picked DEI topics as the focus for their branching scenarios. This makes sense, as DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) is both a popular topic for a lot of training right now, and a topic that often involves nuanced conversations. However, DEI topics pose some particular challenges for training, especially for branching scenarios.

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Experiencing eLearning

MAY 10, 2022

Last year, I built a simple Twine chatbot in 2 hours. It simulated a customer service chat conversation. In preparation for my demo in the TLDC eLearning Tools Summit , I revisited my chatbot and made some improvements to make it look more like a real customer service chat. This is a rules-based chatbot, where users pick from a few pre-programmed choices.

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Experiencing eLearning

MARCH 22, 2022

I have several upcoming events scheduled for the next few months, both online and in person. Most of my speaking engagements are related to scenarios for learning, but I also have events on workflow learning and instructional design careers scheduled. Learning Solutions Conference April 19-22. I’m speaking several times at the Learning Solutions Conference in Orlando.

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Experiencing eLearning

MARCH 15, 2022

I’ve been updating all of my posts on how to write effective voice over scripts. This review checklist summarizes all of the tips from the previous posts into a single Word document you can download and use yourself. Download the Voice Over Script Review Checklist. What’s included. Here is a summary from the checklist: Writing and Flow Read aloud the script Script flows well; no awkward or clunky sentences No overly complicated sentences Variety of sentence length No grammar errors C

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Experiencing eLearning

MARCH 8, 2022

As I read online, I bookmark resources I find interesting and useful. I share these links periodically here on my blog. This post includes links on insights for L&D, Twine, game design, graphic design, and quality assurance for elearning. Insights for L&D professionals. Best from the Brightest: Key Ideas and Insights for L&P Professionals – TiER1 Performance. 48 learning and performance leaders share their favorite content shared in 2021.

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Experiencing eLearning

FEBRUARY 8, 2022

When we, as instructional designers, write scripts that are easy for voice over talent to understand, they can record and edit those scripts faster. We’ll also end up with a better end product. Following a few formatting tips for voice over scripts can make our our writing clearer and easier to use. This is part 2 in my series of posts on tips for creating voice over scripts. 1: Voice Over Scripts: Writing Style Tips 2: Formatting Tips for Voice Over Scripts (current post) 3: Voice Over Sc

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Experiencing eLearning

FEBRUARY 1, 2022

Enrollment is now open for my Build Your Branching Scenario course. Over the course of this 8-week course, you will create a branching scenario from start to finish. You’ll start with a business need or performance problem to solve. I’ll guide you through each step along the way, from planning and designing through writing, developing, and refining your branching scenario.

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Experiencing eLearning

DECEMBER 21, 2021

Have you heard any of these objections to stories for learning? “Not everyone can be a storyteller.” “Stories are a waste of learners’ time.” “Stories don’t work for all kinds of training.” Maybe you’ve even raised some of these objections yourself. Here’s how I would respond to each of these objections. “Not everyone can be a storyteller.” Imagine you’re on the phone with someone explaining a bad day and everything we

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Experiencing eLearning

DECEMBER 14, 2021

As I read online, I bookmark resources I find interesting and useful. I share these links periodically here on my blog. This post includes links on games for learning, video captions, and how to handle “pick your brain” requests. Games for learning. “Game Making for Dummies” | HiEv Heavy Industries on Patreon. While this is about making more complex games in Twine, much of this could apply to building more complex branching scenarios and simulations too. 6 Things Video Ga

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Experiencing eLearning

SEPTEMBER 28, 2021

As I read online, I bookmark resources I find interesting and useful. I share these links periodically here on my blog. This post includes links on scenario-based learning (SBL) research, working with Twine, learning experience design (LXD), 360 images, VR resources, and elearning development time calculators. Scenario-based learning (SBL) research.

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Experiencing eLearning

SEPTEMBER 21, 2021

I had the pleasure of speaking with Sandhya Lakhanpal on her new podcast, Redefine Instruction. She launched this summer with Tim Slade as her first guest. Our conversation focused on storytelling for L&D. We discussed a range of options for using storytelling and scenario-based learning. We also talked about my journey from teaching to instructional design.

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Experiencing eLearning

AUGUST 17, 2021

It has been several years since I last added my top 10 tools for learning as part of Jane Hart’s annual survey. Some of these are my personal learning tools; others are what I use to create learning for others. You can vote for your top 10 tools for learning until August 26. These tools aren’t ranked, but they are categorized based on whether I use them to create learning for others or as a tool for my own personal development.

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Experiencing eLearning

AUGUST 10, 2021

As I read online, I bookmark resources I find interesting and useful. I share these links periodically here on my blog. This post includes links on instructional design research and principles, productivity, video, animation, visual design, an elearning example, and my article on scenario-based learning for TD Magazine. Instructional design research and principles.

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Experiencing eLearning

MAY 4, 2021

The Harlowe story format for Twine provides a number of built-in features to make it easier to enhance your stories, even if you have no experience with HTML, CSS, or Javascript. The toolbar makes these features easier to access, providing simple ways to format text, set conditional states, or manage variables. However, Harlowe has so many options that it has its own learning curve.

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Experiencing eLearning

FEBRUARY 23, 2021

One technique for creating a story-based course is using two characters who explain the content via a conversation. In this conversation-driven elearning approach, I usually use one character who acts as a coach and one character who is similar to the audience: same job role, same level of experience. In this example, the audience is new managers who don’t have much experience with coaching and mentoring.

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Experiencing eLearning

JANUARY 12, 2021

I will be giving presentations on several topics in the next few months. Here’s the information on where I’m speaking in the first part of this year. This includes everything currently scheduled; more events may be added later. Streamlining Branching Scenario Planning and Design. Wednesday, January 20 at 1PM EST/12 PM CST For North Dakota ATD $15 for non ND-ATD chapter members (free for members) Register on the ND-ATD site.

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Experiencing eLearning

JANUARY 5, 2021

What is conversation-driven elearning? One strategy for creating a story for learning is delivering content with two narrators having a conversation. This differs from the traditional approach of a single narrator lecturing. Instead of one voice acting as an instructor, this approach lets learners listen in on two characters who are talking about it.

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Experiencing eLearning

DECEMBER 1, 2020

I built this branching scenario prototype in Twine , a free, open source tool for creating nonlinear stories. This scenario is moderately complex, with a total of 17 pages (or passages in Twine terminology) and 8 different endings. The ideal path has 5 decisions to reach the best conclusion. Prototyping in Twine. I generally use Twine as a prototype for review and testing purposes.

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Experiencing eLearning

NOVEMBER 24, 2020

When you create branching scenarios, you probably work with SMEs. They’re the ones with the expertise, after all. However, sometimes it can be a struggle to get good stories and concrete details from SMEs. You can use this list of questions to ask SMEs to gather the information you need to write branching scenarios. In one or two hours of interviewing a SME, you can gather a significant amount of important information.

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Experiencing eLearning

OCTOBER 27, 2020

Last week, I attended the first week of the Learning Guild’s DevLearn 2020 conference, also called DDX (DevLearn Digital Experience). Since we’re not able to gather in person in Las Vegas, the conference is 100% virtual. I want to reflect on my first week at DevLearn. Online Experience via Attendify. The sessions are the easiest part of a conference to replicate online.

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Experiencing eLearning

OCTOBER 20, 2020

How do you create alternate paths in branching scenarios? In a previous post, I explained how I write the ideal path for a branching scenario first. Once that is complete, I write the mistakes or errors and consequences for those choices. I use Twine to make the process of creating alternate paths easier. First, Draft One Alternate Path to Its Conclusion.

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Experiencing eLearning

SEPTEMBER 15, 2020

Many instructional designers, elearning developers, and LXDs manage multiple projects simultaneously. We’re often working on several staggered projects, especially while waiting for stakeholders to review something. Especially when I’m swamped with work, I use daily goals to help me stay on top of all of my projects. This lets me know quickly if I’m slipping behind so I can adjust.

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Experiencing eLearning

JULY 28, 2020

While tailor-made tools like Twine may be easier for building branching scenarios, it’s possible to use a survey tool like Google Forms. Most survey tools have the option to jump to different questions or sections based on responses. Using that ability, you can create a simple branching scenario in Google Forms. Try the scenario. Try the scenario yourself to see how it works.

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Experiencing eLearning

JULY 21, 2020

In a previous post, I explained how starting compliance training with a worst-case scenario can engage learners right from the start. Setting the course up with a scenario helps learners understand why the policies matter. In this post, I’ll explain a technique for keeping learners engaged throughout the course. Instead of being so boring that employees just want to click through as quickly as possible, this strategy gives learners a reason to actively seek out and understand policies.

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Experiencing eLearning

JUNE 23, 2020

Do instructional designers and learning experience designers need to know how to use development tools, or should they focus just on analysis and design? What about people who only do development but no design; are they instructional designers? How much project management falls under the role of instructional designer? What about LMSs—do instructional designers need to know about those too?

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Experiencing eLearning

JUNE 16, 2020

Many of my most popular blog posts have been prompted by questions from readers. I’d like your help answering a 2-question survey about what you’d like to learn about scenarios for learning. If there’s something you’d like to see me write about in a future post, now is the time to ask. I’m also considering offering some paid online training related to scenarios.

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Experiencing eLearning

MAY 12, 2020

TalentLMS asked 11 folks in the learning and development world for tips for improving workplace training. Now that nearly everyone is a remote worker, these tips can help train remote employees. Many of the tips could apply to any workplace training though, not just elearning for remote workers. It’s an honor to be included in a list with folks like Connie Malamed, Tim Slade, Ashley Chiasson, Anna Sabramowicz, Allison Rossett, and others.

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Experiencing eLearning

APRIL 7, 2020

As I read online, I bookmark resources I find interesting and useful. I share these links periodically here on my blog. In this post, I share links on spaced learning, marketing, networking, free tools and images, and L&D skills. Spaced Learning and Practice. Sparks Tool for creating automated spaced learning with options for nudges in multiple platforms.

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Experiencing eLearning

MARCH 31, 2020

This week, I was originally scheduled to be at the Learning Solutions Conference in Orlando. The eLearning Guild wisely canceled that conference due to the pandemic. I’m sad to miss seeing so many folks, but it was absolutely the right choice for the Guild to cancel and keep everyone safe. I’m also disappointed that I won’t be giving my scheduled session on Streamlining Branching Scenario Planning and Design.

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Experiencing eLearning

MARCH 3, 2020

In video games, cutscenes are short, non-interactive scenes that “cut away” from the action. They can move the plot forward, show conversations, or build emotion. We can borrow this technique from video game design when we develop branching scenarios for learning. This helps manage the complexity of building branching scenarios. In branching scenarios with simulated conversations, sometimes we see every single exchange built as an interaction.

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Experiencing eLearning

FEBRUARY 4, 2020

I will be presenting at several upcoming events in the next few months. Here’s where you can hear me present. 2/5/20: ID Certificates and Master’s Degrees 2/20/20: Go Beyond Boring: Creating Scenario-Based Learning that Engages Participants 3/31/20: Streamlining Branching Scenario Planning and Design Early April (Dates TBA): Freelancing Lessons Learned.

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