Webinar Recap: Beyond the Basics of Instructional Design

Recently, Dan Streeter, Blue Sky eLearn’s VP of Learning Strategy and Development, hosted the webinar Beyond the Basics of Instructional Design: 3D Modeling, Microlearning, and Gamification. You can watch the 30-minute on-demand program here at any time, but in the meantime, you can also check out a brief summary below:

Dan first starts off with a framework, which he calls "The Learning Equation." The Learning Equation is: Emotion + Experience = Learning.

Walk in feeling or acting one way… and walk out changed/feeling or acting another way. As instructional designers, our job is to allow for that behavior change to happen. Emotion is the thing that gets the person to be engaged in learning. Once you have a lot of experience you will get to the learning part!

3D Modeling

What is 3D Modeling? It’s taking a 3D object and displaying it in a 2D space.

Advantages:

• Creates “The Wow”
• Gives a “hands-on” effect – it makes things more real!

Disadvantages:

• Need specialized skill
• Limited use case

3D Modeling Tools can include things like:

• CAD (Computer Aided Design)
• Screen Record Software
• Video Editing Software
• Storyline 360
• Some serious know-how

Dan then dives into real-life examples – tune into the on-demand webinar to check it out!

Microlearning

Microlearning means providing learning in small learning units (think anywhere from 30 seconds to 10 minutes in length).

Advantages:

• Great for repeatable, skill-based learning
• Easy to re-use/repackage for larger modules and marketing
• Easy to edit and manage (bite-sized pieces)

Disadvantages:

• “Sound bites” do now always allow for nuance and getting the “big picture”

Dan then talks about the Forgetting Curve. With the Forgetting Curve, day number one is the best day to learn something and hold onto it. There is then a slow deterioration every day after that. Microlearning allows for learning to be reinforced instead of just deteriorating.

Microlearning Tools include things like:

• Screen Record Software
• Video Editing Software
• Animation Software
• Photo Editing Software
• Subject Matter Expert
• A long-term plan

Dan then dives into real-life examples – tune into the on-demand webinar to check it out!

Gamification

How does gamification work?

• Points
• Leveling up
• Leaderboard

Games use each of the above items to motivate and train at the same time.

Gamification approaches include:

• Competition: against ourselves, the game, or others
• Game mechanics: learners are given a problem to solve
• Story: the user is embedded into the plot

When it comes back to the Learning Equation, gamification is creating emotion and tension and because you are IN the game and you are getting an experience. Gamification can certainly increase the likelihood that learning will happen. But what tools will you need?

• Storyboards
• Storyline 360
• Elucidat
• Path LMS

Dan then dives into real life examples.

Secret Tool

Wait…we can’t give it ALL away here! Tune in to Dan’s 30-minute on-demand webinar to learn about our secret tool as well as dive in deeper to items 1-3 above!