Scenario-based eLearning experience
CAN YOU PREVENT A LOCKDOWN?
This eLearning experience concept project is designed to engage and educate teachers on the critical role of preventive measures in maintaining a safe school environment. Through immersive scenarios and interactive learning, educators will be equipped with practical knowledge and skills to create a safer learning environment for all.
- Audience: High School Teachers
- Responsibilities: Instructional Design, eLearning Development, Visual Design, Storyboard, Mockups, and Animation
- Tools Used: Mindmeister, Adobe XD, Illustrator, Photoshop, Vyond, Canva, Storyline 360, PlayHT
The Problem and Solution
The client is an Independent School District located in Texas, which was required to comply with new Safety Regulations implemented by the Texas Education Agency to ensure school safety. The district informed its teachers of the regulations through a memo and briefly mentioned them during an in-service day at the start of the year. However, the district was concerned when it found out that most teachers did not adhere to the new regulations, which was evident during an audit conducted by Region 4, as schools failed to meet several criteria.
To address this issue, I analyzed the data from Region 4 and identified the most common mistakes made by teachers. Based on my analysis, I proposed an eLearning training program that uses scenario-based training to highlight the severe consequences of non-compliance with the regulations.
MY PROCESS
I actively led the entire project lifecycle, from initial analysis to the final version. Throughout the process, I actively sought and incorporated feedback from users and the instructional design (ID) community, ensuring that the final version was refined to its fullest potential. To achieve this, I utilized various instructional design methodologies, including creating an action map, crafting a text-based storyboard, designing visual mockups, developing an interactive prototype, and ultimately delivering the final product.
ACTION MAPPING
I discovered that most of the problems originated from teachers’ lack of awareness of the new safety regulations, with many of them either ignoring the memo or remaining unaware of the updated guidelines. Even those who did read the memo failed to implement the new regulations due to their old habits. I reviewed the School Safety Updates from the Texas Education Agency to identify the actions that teachers should take to achieve the goal of reducing school safety-related incidents. I documented these behaviors on an action map to gain a full picture of how teachers should respond in emergency situations.
TEXT-BASED STORYBOARD
Because this is a concept project, I prioritized the list of behaviors I identified on my action map and selected the three that I deemed most important to show in my training. Next, I crafted a plan to expand on these high-priority actions using storytelling techniques. My goal was to guide the learners through a school year, using common scenarios that educators encounter daily, like walking to their classroom and fulfilling their extra duties. To enhance the learning experience, I researched actual consequences by scouring various print and digital news outlets. This allowed me to use real-life examples that learners could easily relate to and remember.
Since the learning experience was heavily reliant on visuals, I opted to use a combination of formative assessment techniques – multiple choice and image hotspot selection. This approach made the learning environment more similar to real-life situations, providing a more immersive experience.
To facilitate the learning process, I introduced a mentor character – a seasoned school safety expert – to act as a guide and presenter. The mentor was also available to learners on demand, should they need any clarification or have any questions.
VISUAL MOCKUPS
After completing the text-based storyboard, I proceeded with the visual design process using Adobe XD. I began by creating a moodboard, drawing inspiration from various websites. This helped me establish a visual direction for the project. Next, I developed a style guide, which included a color palette, mentor mockup, text box, dialog box, and font types that I planned to use. I used the pen tool in Adobe XD to create an asymmetrical shape for my text areas. Building upon the text box design, I then crafted the dialog box to maintain consistency throughout the project.
Following the completion of the moodboard, I proceeded with creating wireframes for the visual mockup by implementing the UI design principles. Then, I added various visual components, including backgrounds, images, and text boxes. Given the serious nature of the topic, I wanted to create an engaging and effective learning experience that avoided triggering any learners. To achieve this, I opted to use cartoon animations with a friendly style as a means of delivering impactful content while also being mindful of the potential sensitivities of certain learners.
I ended up creating the background for all the scenes using Adobe Illustrator. Although Vyond had a vast library of elements, there were certain items that were missing, such as a clear exterior door. Additionally, I matched the colors of the images from Freepik using the color picker tool in Adobe Illustrator to ensure that they wouldn’t conflict with the text boxes in the final design.
INTERACTIVE PROTOTYPE
Upon finishing the visual mockups, I began working on the interactive prototype. To develop the storytelling aspect of the learning experience, I utilized Vyond to create animations. Using keyframes, I created a custom animation where doors would open and close. I then imported the animations into Storyline 360 to add interactivity to the introduction, mentor, and first-question slides, as well as the conclusion.
FULL DEVELOPMENT
After receiving feedback, I incorporated sound effects and narration to enhance the learning experience. These additions further improved the user’s engagement with the content. There were no problems with the interactivity, so I went on to the Full Development.
During the development process, I tackled the creation of the second and third questions. However, the challenge arose when I decided to use hotspots as answers, and I needed a way to tell the learned which elements were interactive. To solve this, I incorporated a blue highlight effect since this color is commonly associated with interactivity.
RESULTS AND TAKEAWAYS
The project collected an overwhelmingly positive response from the instructional design community and teachers, who thoroughly enjoyed the captivating storytelling, impactful consequences, and visually appealing design.
Through this project, I gained valuable knowledge and experience of instructional design. I deepened my understanding of each component of the instructional design process, beginning with Action Mapping. Additionally, I acquired valuable insights by employing adult learning theory to create impactful and memorable consequences. Incorporating storytelling approaches further enhanced the effectiveness of my instructional design work. Overall, this project has been a significant learning opportunity that has enriched my understanding and application of instructional design principles.
The Project appeared twice on Devlin Peck’s YouTube channel. In the first video, Robbie Christian talked about how important and powerful consequences are for learning. In the second video, Nicole Stephens discussed the significance of visual design, specifically highlighting the role of contrast.
