OBJECTIVE EXAMPLE ONE
Module Two- Accurate Service
Learner will display their ability to formulate a solution to a customer query as shown by completing a branching scenario simulation according to a mastery score of 4 of the 6 scenarios completed without error.
Assessment Activity Description
This assessment nugget involves authentic workplace scenarios that encompass scenarios found in the cognitive task analysis to be the most challenging for the learners. It involves situations regarding specific error codes on the LOS document, dealership inquiries, missing invoice and unclear tire name situations, second requests, and faxing of documentation.
I created a prototype of what I envision this to look like. Here is a link to a scenario without the content placed into it. Prototype of Assessment Activity
I created a prototype of what I envision this to look like. Here is a link to a scenario without the content placed into it. Prototype of Assessment Activity
Bloom's Taxonomy Connection
This learning objective falls at the synthesis level of Bloom's Taxonomy as it deals with putting together ideas to create a new whole. In this specific assessment activity, the learners must fit together all the ideas they know about the client and company policy to formulate a decision.
Supporting Learning Activities
Self-Checking Guidance Kernels: If the learner struggles on attaining a mastery score for the assessment nugget, they will be directed to self-checking learning activities to help develop needed skills. These activities will help the learner isolate the skills they are struggling to attain. The questions for each kernel will be selected from a pool of questions so the learner may complete the kernel activity many times without all the questions repeating. The learner will be coached by the feedback given to their responses to guide them in their learning.
Kernel One: The learner will be presented with some general error codes. The learner will predict the direction for an error code based on prior client knowledge by completing this self-checking exercise.
Kernel Two: The learner will be presented with client-specific error codes and access to the Level of Service document. The learner will be guided with feedback in understanding the error codes by selecting the error code that matches a given direction.
Kernel Three: The learner will have the option for a show me, try me, test me simulation to help guide in knowing which fields can be updated when a dealer calls versus a customer.
Kernel Four: The learner will be presented with a micro-video and guided activities to help build skills needed for missing invoices scenarios.
Kernel Five: The learner will be presented with a micro-video and guided activities to help them build skills needed when a claim has missing or unclear tire information.
Kernel One: The learner will be presented with some general error codes. The learner will predict the direction for an error code based on prior client knowledge by completing this self-checking exercise.
Kernel Two: The learner will be presented with client-specific error codes and access to the Level of Service document. The learner will be guided with feedback in understanding the error codes by selecting the error code that matches a given direction.
Kernel Three: The learner will have the option for a show me, try me, test me simulation to help guide in knowing which fields can be updated when a dealer calls versus a customer.
Kernel Four: The learner will be presented with a micro-video and guided activities to help build skills needed for missing invoices scenarios.
Kernel Five: The learner will be presented with a micro-video and guided activities to help them build skills needed when a claim has missing or unclear tire information.
Branching Scenarios Built With Articulate Storyline
Articulate Storyline is a rapid development tool that provides the technology to create re-usable learning objects or complete eLearning modules. The interface is intuitive and similar to PowerPoint in appearance. The additions of slide templates for interactions and the character packs really add to the allure of the tool. Articulate emphasizes that Storyline is the only e-learning authoring software that grows with you. It’s simple enough for beginners, powerful enough for experts.
The flexibility of the assessment feature allows the creation of interactive, authentic activities that are built by presenting a workplace challenge, giving the learner a series of choices, and providing relevant feedback based on that choice.
More information can be found on building interactive branching scenarios by reviewing the following resources:
The flexibility of the assessment feature allows the creation of interactive, authentic activities that are built by presenting a workplace challenge, giving the learner a series of choices, and providing relevant feedback based on that choice.
More information can be found on building interactive branching scenarios by reviewing the following resources:
How I Built that E-Learning Scenario
Build Branched E-Learning Scenarios in Three Simple Steps
Here’s How You Can Get Past Click & Read E-Learning
An Easy Way to Build Branched Scenarios for E-Learning
Creating Rapid E-learning Branching Scenarios
Series of Recording Articulate Storyline Trainings
Build Branched E-Learning Scenarios in Three Simple Steps
Here’s How You Can Get Past Click & Read E-Learning
An Easy Way to Build Branched Scenarios for E-Learning
Creating Rapid E-learning Branching Scenarios
Series of Recording Articulate Storyline Trainings
Strengths of the Tool
The key strength of this tool is that it allows for my design to move away from a push of information to a more learner-centric, pull of information where my learners can collect information to make decisions, yet have the environment set up to where the learners can pull information if they need to for understanding. This allows my learners to digitally collect the information that may be needed versus pushing out a series of slides with information that the learner already knows. My preferable method is to place the learner in the scenario right away and simply allow the learner to decide what inforation they may need to review. Storyline allows this to happen.
The tool allows me to create scenarios with 5 slides versus over 34 needed in PowerPoint for the same interaction due to Articulate Storyline allowing development with slide layers, object states, and object triggers.
Another strength of the tool is that it allows for randomization of questions and the ability to score a learner's progress throughout an activity. Further, the use of variables allows for me to pre-assess the learners and then direct them only to the learning activities that they must show mastery of based on that pre-assessment score.
Another feature that really is an asset for this training course is the ability to create software simulation quickly and easily. Storyline allows you to segment the recording into steps with the ability to create a show me, try me, and test me modes to help the learner gain skills.
Other features that are really a draw to the tool, but not necessarily relevant to this training module are the following: ability to publish to mobile devices, 508 compliance allowing learners with screen readers to access content, global access to courses with the right-to-left language support, and translation support with easy export of course content for translation and then import back into the course.
The biggest draw for Storyline or any articulate product is the community that comes with it. A strong community exists to help instructional designers and developers work though design ideas and issues. Whether your are new or an advanced instructional designer, the community of practice can really bring your skills to the next level.
The tool allows me to create scenarios with 5 slides versus over 34 needed in PowerPoint for the same interaction due to Articulate Storyline allowing development with slide layers, object states, and object triggers.
Another strength of the tool is that it allows for randomization of questions and the ability to score a learner's progress throughout an activity. Further, the use of variables allows for me to pre-assess the learners and then direct them only to the learning activities that they must show mastery of based on that pre-assessment score.
Another feature that really is an asset for this training course is the ability to create software simulation quickly and easily. Storyline allows you to segment the recording into steps with the ability to create a show me, try me, and test me modes to help the learner gain skills.
Other features that are really a draw to the tool, but not necessarily relevant to this training module are the following: ability to publish to mobile devices, 508 compliance allowing learners with screen readers to access content, global access to courses with the right-to-left language support, and translation support with easy export of course content for translation and then import back into the course.
The biggest draw for Storyline or any articulate product is the community that comes with it. A strong community exists to help instructional designers and developers work though design ideas and issues. Whether your are new or an advanced instructional designer, the community of practice can really bring your skills to the next level.
Challenges of the Tool
The biggest drawback to the tool is the cost at $1400; however, student pricing is only half that amount. Another negative could be in people's thinking that the tool is magic and will just give you the desired outcome. The tool itself is not what makes an effective activity; it requires the user to have creativity and strong design skills. So to believe the tool alone will create effective interactions would be misleading. The instructional design process is critical; it is still important to keep in mind your audience and what is effective for that training situation. Also, the more complex the scenarios in Articulate Storyline, the stronger the writing must be to be effective. Each interaction must really be thought out so that it goes beyond the novelty of having any type of interactivity to having mindful interactivity that strengthens the objectives of the activity. Interactivity must compliment the instructional design.
Plagairism Prevention
Randomization feature helps to prevent each learner from receiving the same questions within activities. Even the pre-assessment determining which learning nuggets must be completed means that not every learner will even complete the same activity; instead the pre-assessment focuses on learners completing activities for each competency. Further, learners work at their own pace causing the unlikelihood of each learner even completing the activities at the same time. One final thought specific to this activity is that what does it matter if they learner did copy? The activities are set up so that the learner will get feedback and re-do the activity until they master it. If the help on mastery comes from a community of learners versus module feedback, that is okay. It is both the measurement of the final assessment that determines if learning occurred after all the learning and assessment activities are complete, along with the workplace metrics that measure if there was transfer of the training into the workplace that really matters.
Diversified Learning Style
The branching scenario simulations allow those adult learners that need the authentic application to have that from the start. However, each scenario has a help icon that will take the learner to the isolate skill or skills associated with that scenario. It allows learners to pull the information they need to be successful. These guided learning kernels provide a more traditional approach to learning with video and/or guided practice activities. Together all learners can attain the skills and knowledge in the way that works best.