From paper to digital, from static to interactive!

The most important part of the process is to collect and document all available information and gather formal and informal knowledge from your staff, subject matter experts, stakeholders, managers and senior leaders. Sometimes this process is short and straightforward. Other times, it needs to be revisited and worked on in parallel with other tasks throughout the project. But we shouldn't exclude our learners. To find out the needs, motivation and attitudes of learners in general, I recommend brainstorming activities, workshops and setting up focus groups. This way, learners feel that they're part of the process. It also promotes learning and generates genuine interest among staff. To systematise and digitise the collected knowledge, the next thing I need to do is to analyse how far you're with the technology and what your limitations are. This way, I can recommend the most appropriate learning services and technologies to ensure the ability to change and grow. This first phase of comprehensive knowledge transfer and integration helps us all to find the best way to design learning programmes.

Certifications: Knowledge Management and Big Data in Business, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University.

From ideation, brainstorming to mapping and diagramming

This phase is about collecting and documenting ideas, developing storyboards instructional scripts, and wireframing learner journeys. This is best achieved with various collaboration tools (my favourite is miro.com). In the planning and design phase of learning experiences, the pedagogical, visual and technical design streams should be developed simultaneously. I use proven diagnostic methods, information mapping techniques and curriculum development processes to scope individual modules. Let's talk about instructional design first. I avoid fragmenting and dumbing down the content too much or making education infotainment or edutainment. Instead, I try to get the timing right and package the content into comprehensible human stories with a combination of similes, metaphorical analogies and data-driven visualisations. When designing learning experiences, micro-level course objectives and measurable outcomes should be interlinked down to macro-level topics. In addition, scenario-based storytelling techniques using different ID frameworks, such as BLOOM or Gagnè, can enhance learning solution. Secondly, visual design starts with effective implementation in the periphery, such as learner interface design, themes, branding and consistency in the application of user experience designs. At the macro level, my approach to design is consistency and simplicity. I try to keep the visuals simple but stimulating and avoid excessive 'eye candy'. Finally, the technical design considerations ensure that the final learning output is compatible, scalable, responsive and suitable for different learning environments - e.g. online, face-to-face or blended and compatible with a variety of digital platforms.

From prototype to minimal viable product!

As much as I love throwing ideas around, being outrageously creative or proposing 'disruptive' ideas, the reality is that the process and the end result have to match the technological landscape (e.g. your LMS), agreed timeframes and budgets.

Remember that instructional, visual and technical design streams should go hand in hand. The decisions made earlier about technology, authoring tools, software, LMS, frameworks - now it's time to put all the ideas into practise.

First, the detailed instructional scripts need to be developed and written based on high level scoping documents or storyboards to ensure that the learning outcomes and requirements match the overall solution. Once the scripts are signed off by the client, the production phase begins.

I use the latest web technologies and employ various eLearning desktop or web-based tools and software such as Adobe Captivate, Articulate Storyline 360, Rise, Adapt, Gomo, Evolve, iSpring, VideoScribe, Rocketium, EdgeAnimate, Dreamweaver, Illustrator, KnowledgePresenter and Open edX Studio.

What follows is an agreed output (e.g. SCORM/video/PDF) online modules and assessments. They may include interactive visual aids, explainer videos and other multimedia elements. For the blended learning option, I can also develop offline training materials such as Quick Guides, KitCards, User Manuals, Train-the-Trainer materials, etc.

This phase is heavily dependent on several rounds of QA/review. Debugging, testing, managing and uploading learning content to an LMS or other system or portal - all this requires a systematic approach, an effective methodology and the right tools.

Managing Content, comms, projects and systems

From projects and systems to teams and providers

One of the last phases can be quite tedious, as it consists of several rounds of changes and reviews. Nevertheless, debugging, testing and uploading learning content to an LMS or other system are extremely important - all of which require a systematic approach, an effective methodology and the right tools.

The final phase in the learning and development process is the strategic promotion and launch of your learning programme.

Involving learners in the learning process early on usually proves more effective than emailing them out of the blue to 'log in' to our LMS.

In some cases, instead of releasing a comprehensive training programme all at once, it's advisable to conduct pilot focus groups early on, collect feedback and continuously assess effectiveness, communicate the results and suggest corrective actions.

I can help develop high-level communication concepts and ensure that instructional design and content principles are applied to the communication materials and are consistent with the overall learning objectives.

Instead of doing everything myself, I can also mentor your team or external experts in all phases of planning, designing and developing your learning programme.

Normally, project managers aren't directly involved in the actual project work. However, I've found that being able to step in and help out makes a big difference. I've a proven track record of successfully managing projects (from research to design to implementation) and leading creative and development teams.

Certifications: Fundamentals of Project Planning and Management, University of Virginia (Coursera).