ATD Blog
Discover E-Learning Resources for Your Department of One
Wed Dec 12 2018
Content
The trend of departments of one can be seen in the proliferation of mobile devices and the increased value of just-in-time training. If you are such a department, hopefully you’re happy to have found yourself in the job you have now. You’re building the best training you can with the time and materials you can access.
The trend of departments of one can be seen in the proliferation of mobile devices and the increased value of just-in-time training. If you are such a department, hopefully you’re happy to have found yourself in the job you have now. You’re building the best training you can with the time and materials you can access.
Content
But maybe you’ve found websites that show off the latest and greatest e-learning and you want to build those things, you just don’t have the resources you’d need to develop them. There are ways to find those resources, free on the Internet or inexpensively from suppliers, that can help you get the job done within your organization.
But maybe you’ve found websites that show off the latest and greatest e-learning and you want to build those things, you just don’t have the resources you’d need to develop them. There are ways to find those resources, free on the Internet or inexpensively from suppliers, that can help you get the job done within your organization.
Content
I have identified six major areas you can tap for resources:
I have identified six major areas you can tap for resources:
Content
1. project management
1. project management
Content
2. communication
2. communication
Content
3. development
3. development
Content
4. multimedia
4. multimedia
Content
5. authoring
5. authoring
Content
6. professional development.
6. professional development.
Content
Within your organization, there are likely some project management artifacts, if not specific tools, such as project charters, policies and procedures, stakeholder registers, tech support or bug tracking software, and even basic project management software. If your organization has it, start with the Project Management Office (PMO) for resources. If not, then look to your purchasing and information technology departments.
Within your organization, there are likely some project management artifacts, if not specific tools, such as project charters, policies and procedures, stakeholder registers, tech support or bug tracking software, and even basic project management software. If your organization has it, start with the Project Management Office (PMO) for resources. If not, then look to your purchasing and information technology departments.
Content
If you don’t find the resources you want there, tools like Trello and Smartsheet have free editions you can use. Allen Interactions developed an instructional design–specific project management methodology called the Successive Approximation Model (SAM), and Torrance Learning developed one called Looks a Lot Like Agile Methodology Approach (LLAMA), both of which are described on their sites.
If you don’t find the resources you want there, tools like Trello and Smartsheet have free editions you can use. Allen Interactions developed an instructional design–specific project management methodology called the Successive Approximation Model (SAM), and Torrance Learning developed one called Looks a Lot Like Agile Methodology Approach (LLAMA), both of which are described on their sites.
Content
Next, there are communication tools . Inside your organization I’m willing to bet that you have at least an email program, like Microsoft Outlook. Other programs like SharePoint, Skype, and Webex probably exist too. Creative use of Adobe Form Creator or SurveyMonkey can be great for collecting data from learners.
Next, there are communication tools. Inside your organization I’m willing to bet that you have at least an email program, like Microsoft Outlook. Other programs like SharePoint, Skype, and Webex probably exist too. Creative use of Adobe Form Creator or SurveyMonkey can be great for collecting data from learners.
Content
If you don’t have any of these, check out free tools for group communication real-time, like Slack, Freeconferencecall.com, and UberConference. For communicating with a delay or in a nonlinear discussion, think about Google Apps, Jing, or VoiceThread. Finally, for sharing files with your subject matter experts or learners, try HighTail, Dropbox, and ScormCloud.
If you don’t have any of these, check out free tools for group communication real-time, like Slack, Freeconferencecall.com, and UberConference. For communicating with a delay or in a nonlinear discussion, think about Google Apps, Jing, or VoiceThread. Finally, for sharing files with your subject matter experts or learners, try HighTail, Dropbox, and ScormCloud.
Content
Thankfully, development —or planning and storyboarding—can be done with very simple tools. I like to use Microsoft Word for initial planning and script approval. For graphics and activity approval, I use Microsoft PowerPoint. There are great development tools online to help with planning branching activities, like BrachTrack, Twine, Draw IO, XMind, Freemind, and Coggle.
Thankfully, development—or planning and storyboarding—can be done with very simple tools. I like to use Microsoft Word for initial planning and script approval. For graphics and activity approval, I use Microsoft PowerPoint. There are great development tools online to help with planning branching activities, like BrachTrack, Twine, Draw IO, XMind, Freemind, and Coggle.
Content
Multimedia is where I tend to spend the most time and money. Initially I purchased some graphics libraries to do initial development. As I got to know my learners better, I realized that I needed the images to be more reflective of the audience, so I worked with human resources to get approval to video record, photograph, and audio record staff members. Then, the training felt more authentic for the learners (but I had to spend time doing video and audio editing).
Multimedia is where I tend to spend the most time and money. Initially I purchased some graphics libraries to do initial development. As I got to know my learners better, I realized that I needed the images to be more reflective of the audience, so I worked with human resources to get approval to video record, photograph, and audio record staff members. Then, the training felt more authentic for the learners (but I had to spend time doing video and audio editing).
Content
Beyond that, spending time developing materials that are reusable will improve the cohesiveness and usability for the learners, in addition to saving time and money long-term. Taking a page from web development, e-learning developers have started creating design systems where you can save players, buttons, navigation, and code.
Beyond that, spending time developing materials that are reusable will improve the cohesiveness and usability for the learners, in addition to saving time and money long-term. Taking a page from web development, e-learning developers have started creating design systems where you can save players, buttons, navigation, and code.
Content
For authoring tools, there are the big-name ones that come with big-price annual subscriptions. Ideally, using these will allow you to access templates and advanced interactions, making it worth their cost. If those aren’t an option, PowerPoint can do basic interactions, and there are an increasing number of open source e-learning authoring tools coming to market on a daily basis.
For authoring tools, there are the big-name ones that come with big-price annual subscriptions. Ideally, using these will allow you to access templates and advanced interactions, making it worth their cost. If those aren’t an option, PowerPoint can do basic interactions, and there are an increasing number of open source e-learning authoring tools coming to market on a daily basis.
Content
Professional development resources abound. Particularly when you’re working as a department of one, it can be hard to maintain focus and excitement while developing new content.
Professional development resources abound. Particularly when you’re working as a department of one, it can be hard to maintain focus and excitement while developing new content.
Content
Here are some great resources for e-learning:
Here are some great resources for e-learning:
Content
Association for Talent Development (ATD): www.td.org
Association for Talent Development (ATD): www.td.org
Content
The eLearning Guild: www.elearningguild.com
The eLearning Guild: www.elearningguild.com
Content
eLearning Industry: https://elearningindustry.com
eLearning Industry: https://elearningindustry.com
Content
Training magazine: https://trainingmag.com
Training magazine: https://trainingmag.com
Content
Training Industry: www.trainingindustry.com
Training Industry: www.trainingindustry.com
Content
Reddit is a fantastic place to connect with others and get your questions answered. Consider viewing the subreddits for e-learning, instructional design, and training.
Reddit is a fantastic place to connect with others and get your questions answered. Consider viewing the subreddits for e-learning, instructional design, and training.
Content
Some more general resources I find valuable:
Some more general resources I find valuable:
Content
Chief Learning Officer magazine: www.clomedia.com
Chief Learning Officer magazine: www.clomedia.com
Content
Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM): www.shrm.org
Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM): www.shrm.org
Content
International Society for Performance Improvement (ISPI): www.ispi.org
International Society for Performance Improvement (ISPI): www.ispi.org
Content
Project Management Institute (PMI): www.pmi.org
Project Management Institute (PMI): www.pmi.org
Content
Working in a department of one can be a wonderful thing—you can be inspired by projects you see other developers make, and you can learn how to do it and build them for your organization. Find resources that work for you; repurpose what you can.
Working in a department of one can be a wonderful thing—you can be inspired by projects you see other developers make, and you can learn how to do it and build them for your organization. Find resources that work for you; repurpose what you can.
Content
For more about finding resources in a limited environment, attend my session at ATD TechKnowledge on February 6, 2019 at 11:30 a.m. and check out my new ATD Press book E-Learning Department of One .
For more about finding resources in a limited environment, attend my session at ATD TechKnowledge on February 6, 2019 at 11:30 a.m. and check out my new ATD Press book E-Learning Department of One.