OK, just a fun thread here, to try and knock the braincells together, and introduce some other perspectives to classic "learning" and instructional design.
Who, from history, or outside our particular field of creativity would have made a great Instructional Designer, and why?
I will start the ball rolling with Walt Disney. My explanation can be seen explained in more depth in blogland (http://wp.me/p13NYZ-2p) , but basically, he was a master of the techniques needed to communicate in-depth content with minimal, but beautifully-crafted words and maximum visual "punch".
He dreamed "how it should look and feel", and made it happen. A lesson for us all perhaps.
I would go with Gar reynolds, from presentation zen fame for the same reasons you have stated above
Also say Steve Jobs I have used his presentations recently in a conference to highlight what makes a good presentation. The key things I like about Steves style are
He sets the scene well at the beginning, and definitely has a beginning middle and end followed by a what have you learnt today. His slides are simple yet never difficult to understand
John Lasseter. His work with Pixar brought Disney into the next generation. Like Disney, his techniques are able to communicate complex content in minimal or, in the case of their shorts (which my kids have made me watch countless times), no words.
George Lucas before Episodes 1, 2, and 3. Not sure what happened after Return of the Jedi...
Anyone that can arrange a team to deliver a message into something meaningful that moves you in a way that you remember (feel) for decades... Great stuff.
Great points on the children's book authors. Anyone that can consistently hold the attention and channel the imagination of a child surely possesses magical powers.
I wonder, however, how this might translate to adult attention and engagement. Surely the forces are defined differently. I know of no studies, but suspect there would be benefits and risks to having an author tuned to the waveforms of children produce messages for adults (I can't imagine someone tuned that way enjoying working for the adult audience).
Christopher Nolan. Any one who has seen Memento, Inception, or his Batman films would know why. A masterful storyteller, who often has a way with the nonlinear story.
I LOVE Christopher Nolan's work. Each of the films you listed are classics in my book.
Another suggestion, despite the pejorative implications, if we are allowed to consider those no longer living is Niccolò Machiavelli. If the measure of an ID's strength is their ability to communicate and persuade (which I believe is one of many factors that contribute to a strong ID) then I believe Machiavelli would have made a superb ISD.
Why would anyone dare suggest such a tangential figure? What does political science / philosophy have to do with instruction? It is the propensity of that question and the void of philosophy that I believe has turned our industry into a guild of cookie bakers. Without a rational base for critical problem solving all we are left with are recipes for cookies that all look, taste, and feel the same (with sprinkles and sweets for variety). Some of the outcomes are good but we lack variety and a real focus on outcomes that optimally connect with the original problem. We may be unknowingly killing our learners... slowly.
I would vote Walt Disney, as Bruce suggested and Inception maker Christopher Nolan, Gerry Wasiluk's suggestion. Disney's method of characterisation and Nolan's way of multi level story telling methods would have made them Super Heroes of instructional designing..
Hmmm...Bob got Mark Twain in did before I did...I guess I'll have to go with Gene Simmons then, because he also took KISS to a new level. Actually, I'm a bit surprised at the lack of KISS elearning!
Since I don't have the graphic or (thankfully) the vocal skills to do it justice, here's a labelled graphic of what e-learning might look like Elmo style.
However, I'm eager to see a Gene Simmons version of e-learning.
38 Replies
I would go with Gar reynolds, from presentation zen fame for the same reasons you have stated above
Also say Steve Jobs I have used his presentations recently in a conference to highlight what makes a good presentation. The key things I like about Steves style are
He sets the scene well at the beginning, and definitely has a beginning middle and end followed by a what have you learnt today. His slides are simple yet never difficult to understand
Phil
John Lasseter. His work with Pixar brought Disney into the next generation. Like Disney, his techniques are able to communicate complex content in minimal or, in the case of their shorts (which my kids have made me watch countless times), no words.
I vote for Seth Godin because he says cool stuff like this.
How true
Thanks Jeanette.
Bruce
George Lucas before Episodes 1, 2, and 3. Not sure what happened after Return of the Jedi...
Anyone that can arrange a team to deliver a message into something meaningful that moves you in a way that you remember (feel) for decades... Great stuff.
lol @Steve how true = George Lucas before he destryed episode 4, 5, 6 filling every available space with superfluous rubbish in the special editions
sorry for the geeky post
Robert Munsch! He is an incredible storyteller and children's author. Paper Bag Princess is one of my favorites.
http://robertmunsch.com/
Yes, Zara....good one!!! We have read 50 below (among others) about a bazillion times at our house.
Zara, thats great I want a vote for Dr Seuss
“Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened.”
Excellent call Phil.
I would like to humbly suggest Kermit the Frog.....
Great storyteller, insightful, humorous, and fun-loving!
“Time's fun when you're having flies.”
Bruce
Kermit is great, but if you want to talk muppets I think Elmo and his World would be pretty tough to beat.
Now I really wish I could do some courses with no limits, and no sme's
fantasy articulate
Great points on the children's book authors. Anyone that can consistently hold the attention and channel the imagination of a child surely possesses magical powers.
I wonder, however, how this might translate to adult attention and engagement. Surely the forces are defined differently. I know of no studies, but suspect there would be benefits and risks to having an author tuned to the waveforms of children produce messages for adults (I can't imagine someone tuned that way enjoying working for the adult audience).
What's stopping you, apart from yourself
Bruce
Bruce, too true.
That and the 21 modules to be produced by march, which this afternoon turned into 84 (no joke) its like a sweatshop here.
We keep joking were on peicework
Phil
Christopher Nolan. Any one who has seen Memento, Inception, or his Batman films would know why. A masterful storyteller, who often has a way with the nonlinear story.
I LOVE Christopher Nolan's work. Each of the films you listed are classics in my book.
Another suggestion, despite the pejorative implications, if we are allowed to consider those no longer living is Niccolò Machiavelli. If the measure of an ID's strength is their ability to communicate and persuade (which I believe is one of many factors that contribute to a strong ID) then I believe Machiavelli would have made a superb ISD.
Why would anyone dare suggest such a tangential figure? What does political science / philosophy have to do with instruction? It is the propensity of that question and the void of philosophy that I believe has turned our industry into a guild of cookie bakers. Without a rational base for critical problem solving all we are left with are recipes for cookies that all look, taste, and feel the same (with sprinkles and sweets for variety). Some of the outcomes are good but we lack variety and a real focus on outcomes that optimally connect with the original problem. We may be unknowingly killing our learners... slowly.
I would have to say the humorists of bygone days such as Mark Twain and Will Rogers
Why?
"Don't let schooling interfere with your education."
Mark Twain
"Advertising is the art of convincing people to spend money they don't have for something they don't need."
Will Rogers
I think that Dr. Seuss would have made a great designer.
His courses and rhyme would have given us all a shiner.
With storylines long and short,
We too quickly retort,
I want my learning and fun too!
And then, maybe, I'll visit the zoo.
I would vote Walt Disney, as Bruce suggested and Inception maker Christopher Nolan, Gerry Wasiluk's suggestion. Disney's method of characterisation and Nolan's way of multi level story telling methods would have made them Super Heroes of instructional designing..
Hmmm...Bob got Mark Twain in did before I did...I guess I'll have to go with Gene Simmons then, because he also took KISS to a new level. Actually, I'm a bit surprised at the lack of KISS elearning!
OOH!
Go on then...I want to see the first 3 "slides" of a Gene Simmons inspired course.
In fact....it would be fun to see the first 3 pages of EVERY suggestion built in Articulate...
Any takers?
Bruce
Bruce, OK, will take your challenge, give me a week (I came up with three!). Will do them on the train on the way to London on Wednesday.
If the hotel has free wifi will upload them, if not when I get back
PHil
Since I don't have the graphic or (thankfully) the vocal skills to do it justice, here's a labelled graphic of what e-learning might look like Elmo style.
However, I'm eager to see a Gene Simmons version of e-learning.
Oh man, gaunlet thrown....I guess I know what I'll be doing tomorrow on my breaks
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