Our webLearn™ 4-D Methodology
Based on the ADDIE model of instructional design, our webLearn™ 4D Methodology – Discover, Design, Develop and Deploy – shown in the figure below, is the approach we use as a framework to guide our overall project management process. Breaking down the process into the stages (the 4D’s) of producing eLearning courseware, insures a clear, complete and consistent process to guide the overall development project for our eLearning solutions. This approach is integrated with our project management processes (Project Plans, Milestone Dates, Status reports, Conference Calls/meetings, Escalation Process, etc.) to oversee and control the project and communicate to the Client the staus and required actions needed to perform all activities critical to the success of the project.
Strategy & Planning
We generally start with pre-planning and strategy discussions with the client contact(s) responsible for the project to preliminarily cover some of the key items to be considered and addressed in the project. Activities shown for this stage are covered to the extent possible and practical, with any open items covered more fully in the Discover stage.
Discover
Following our initial pre-planning discussions, the next step is to officially Kick-off the project by organizing a meeting to include the appropriate participants/stakeholders. Items needing further input or review from the Strategy & Planning discussions are reviewed at the Kick-off Meeting, which also covers: requirements, roles, responsibilities, goals of the program, module objectives, learning objectives, previous D&I training particulars, timeframes, deliverables, milestones, technology environment, etc. Prior to customization of existing courses or design and development of new custom courses, we generally perform an overall Needs Analysis. As part of the Needs Analysis, the following is performed to support conclusions and suggestions for the most appropriate training interventions:
- Gap Analysis – Based on surveys and assessments, we determine the current state of knowledge and skills and compare them with desired/necessary knowledge and skills. For example, we will take the results from the Client's previous training efforts and apply them to redesigning the new curriculum and/or implementing new refreshers, job aids, single-subject offerings, and other post-curriculum offerings.
- Audience Analysis – We will determine all of the potential participants involved in the training process. We will take a look at who will receive the training, understand their level of the existing knowledge of the subject, and determine the best method of deployment and facilitation.
- Skills Analysis – We will determine the overall goals of the training and break them down into smaller step-by-step components so that each component can be taught as a separate skill or task. Each skill or task will be simple and easily learned, and combined with other skills and tasks, will be used to demonstrate how the learner will accomplish the overall goal.
- Technical Analysis – We will determine the technical environment of the participants in order to deploy as seamlessly as possible. By offering our technical survey, we can determine desktop/laptop PC requirements, Learning Management requirements, and accessibility requirements.
Using the information gathered, an initial Curriculum Design Document is produced. This document takes the compartmentalized skills and tasks identified in the Skills Analysis and organizes them into courses. High-level information of each course will be provided, including high-level learning objectives, learning dependencies, audience, and target seat time.
In addition to the Curriculum Design Document, a Fee Estimate and approximate timeline for Project Milestones are produced and reviewed with the Client. At this stage, we work with you to clarify or modify our approach and/or requirements. The documents are revised accordingly and reviewed with the Client for further modification or approval.
Upon approval of the initial Curriculum Design Document, Fee Estimate, and Project Milestones, we move to the planning phase and prepare a detailed Project Schedule with appropriate dates, responsibilities and tasks, to the extent identified at this point. We establish our workflow process in the Project Schedule to incorporate the Client's involvement and review stages to the extent you desire. It is your preference regaring the extent of involvement during the various stages of the project and we are flexible to work in the manner that works best for the Client. We work hand-in-hand with some clients during our projetcs. With others, their involvement is more limited, by choice.
The Project Schedule is shared with the Client and reviewed at a Kick-off meeting (virtual or in-person). The Project Schedule is modified based on discussions during the meeting or based upon subsequent review and feedback from the Client following the kick-off meeting.
Upon approval of the Project Schedule, a detailed development Project Plan is created and used by us to manage, monitor and control the various activities of the project (instructional design, prototyping, scripting, graphic design, video production, audio recording, programming, deliverables, reviews, etc.) that take place in the design, development and deployment of eLearning courseware.
Design
Using the Curriculum Design Document as a basis, the following will be performed to ensure instructionally sound Course Design:
- High-Level Course Design –For each course, a High-Level Design Document will be produced to determine the best approach and treatment to reach the course’s learning objectives. Detailed learning objectives will be identified and documented. We will determine what content, activities, and experiences best support the detailed learning objectives. The High-Level Design Document will be reviewed and approved by the Client.
- Rapid Prototyping – In order to assure the best interactive experience for the learner, and to ensure that the interactive experience meets the learning objectives and expectations of the Client, functional prototypes will be developed during the Design Phase. During rapid prototyping, we will collaborate with the Client to determine the best experience that each interaction will provide. The client will be given a chance to review each prototype, independently or through a collaborative walkthrough, and provide feedback so that modifications can be made quickly and efficiently before the development phase.
- Detailed Course Design – Building from the High-Level Design Document and prototypes, a Detailed Design Document will be produced that details all of the content, narration, images, presentation, interactive exercises, and assessment questions contained in the course. The Detailed Design Document will be reviewed and approved by the Client.
- Storyboarding - For each presentation-based section of a course, storyboards will be developed to provide the Client an opportunity to preview how content will be displayed in each screen. The Client will be given a chance to review the storyboard and provide feedback so that modifications can be made before the development phase.
- Builds trust and confidence
- Reduces the risk of design and development not meeting expectations
- Builds shared understanding among the various members on the project
- User Interface Design – Our graphic artists will produce images and templates that will exhibit the look and feel of the final course. The images and templates will be sent to the Client for review and approval to ensure all branding policies and graphical expectations are met.
- Alpha Development and Testing – Alpha development consists of initial coding and development of courseware presentation and interactivty. Content provided in the Detailed Design Document will be converted into XML and will be integrated with the course. Course-specific images, photographs, animation, video, and audio will be produced and integrated. Upon completion of Alpha Development, internal testing will be conducted to ensure that all portions of the course reflect the details of the prototypes, Detailed Design Document, and Storyboards.
- Internal Beta Development and Testing – In addition to the necessary modifications surfaced from Alpha Testing, we will implement SCORM functionality so that the course can successfully function within a Learning Management System (LMS). The course will be implemented and tested using our internal proprietary LMS and the official ADL SCORM Test Suite to ensure that bookmarking, completion status, completion time, and completion date is recorded successfully.
- Client Beta Review and Modifications – The course will be sent to the Client to review content and functionality. We will provide a feedback template for reviewers to record their findings. Final changes and modifications will be implemented in preperation for Gold Approval.
- Gold Approval – The Client will receive the Gold version of the course for approval of content and functionality.
- Flash
- Photoshop
- Premiere
- Illustrator
- Dreamweaver
- Captivate
- Lectora
- Articulate
- SCORM and LMS implementation
- Graphic Design
- Instructional Design
- User Interface (UI) Design
- Audio recording and editing
- Video recording and editing
- Interactive production – developing simulation experiences that utilize decision-making, interactivity, audio, and video
- Javascript
- XML
- HTML
- CSS
- PHP
- ASP
- SQL
- Desktop & Network Environment
- LMS & Deployment Environment
- Accessibility & Usability Conventions (including 508 compliance)
Rapid Prototyping
Prototypes are generally provided to allow subject matter experts (SMEs) and clients to actually see visual and functional sample segments of the course. This process engages our clients, allowing for their continuous review and input in the course design, if so desired. It also provides a “functional blueprint” of the interactive segments for each course, which greatly enhances the quality of the initial Alpha course development and reduces the time required to program/develop and test the functionality of each course.
Generally, Rapid Prototyping allows our instructional designers, SMEs, and clients to interact in a continuous review/revision cycle. Developing a prototype converts information gathering into an on-going, interactive process between subject-matter, objectives, and materials. It also addresses three important conditions for the success of the project:
At the conclusion of the prototyping process, the final prototypes, course outline and scripts are used to create the Detailed Design Document and/or Storyboard for review and approval by the Client. The Detailed Design Document and/or Storyboard governs the course development.
Example of Rapid Prototyping (Click to expand):
Develop
Our development process consists of five phases:
Our development team consists of Instructional Designers and e-Learning Developers. In an e-Learning environment, Instructional Designers that also have a deep knowledge of programming are “best of breed”. They are able to bridge the gap between design and development in order to most effectively and efficiently create high quality e-Learning courseware. Our Instructional Designers have a development background and therefore are uniquely qualified to assume a project lead role over both the design and development. Our Instructional Designers, working in close coordination with our e-Learning Developers, insures that any issues that arise during development can be properly addressed by someone with intimate knowledge of the design goals.
Our e-Learning developers have deep technical expertise working with the leading applications, tools, products, and programming languages. They are highly-competent in the following technical areas most closely aligned with online learning:
Tools |
Skills |
Languages |
Deploy
SCORM compliant course packages will be delivered for loading and testing in your LMS. We work with your LMS team through all deployment testing and implementation to ensure that the course launches and functions properly in the following areas:
We will assume a technical support role during initial enrollment regarding issues around course functionality and completion.