Evaluation
Quantifying Success in Training
I was recently asked how I measure success for my team. Since I am an engineer at heart (and brain), I like to associate “measurement” with numbers, therefore, much of success for me, is quantifiable. This is the whole evaluation process! For training, what constitutes success for me? To answer Read more…
Getting Started in ID
The Overlap
When I first transitioned from Web Development to Instructional Design, I expected a rough transition. However, I immediately found parallels between the two fields. The image below notes my findings.
Miscellaneous
Training vs. Consultation
Now on to a topic near and dear to my heart: differentiating TRAINING and CONSULTATION and the implications of using the two interchangeably. When this topic comes up with me, the difference can often be visualized, but not verbalized. Unintentionally commingling the two can result in unfulfilled clients, and dwindling Read more…
Tools
The RAM That You Shouldn’t Dodge
An important aspect of Instructional Design is Project Management. It is so vital, in fact, that it is one of the areas that practitioners must display competency in for earning the APTD certification. Years ago, during my time as a graduate student at Boston University, I was introduced to formal Read more…
Miscellaneous
To Budget or Not to Budget
As a Training Director, I’ve had to make some very serious choices regarding tools, processes and people. As a small outfit, the reason for making most of those choices boil down to ensuring we are implementing the most cost-effective options. That is a common story… Training departments are often not Read more…
Getting Started in ID
What I Look For in an ID Interview
As a hiring manager who interview individuals looking to fill Instructional Design roles, I approach interviews in a certain way. There are a few things I like to know from the interviewee: Because our team approaches the entire system of ID (instead of focusing on a single phase), what is Read more…
Organizational Development
Essential Roles On An E-learning Dev Team
I am a huge proponent of making sure roles are organized correctly to prevent overlaps and even worse, gaps in responsibilities. Building out your L & D (Learning & Development) team is key in producing quality content and a well-enabled organization. The article below has some tips for what roles Read more…
Tools
Text-to-Speech (TTS) Tools
Not many training professionals have a TTS tool on their list of must-haves, but they do have their uses, especially when compared with the alternatives. We found that our two main alternatives were: hiring outside professional voiceover talent, and using internal voiceover talent. For our team, those options can suffice, Read more…
Organizational Development
Scalable Knowledge Management
Often in the conversation of instruction, especially in the corporate context, the conversation of implementing effective knowledge management falls by the wayside. This is an important conversation not only for effective knowledge transfer, but even for sustainability of the company. Think about it: how often is it that a few Read more…