eLearning Challenges: Am I the only one?

Hi Kandice, 

I perfectly understand how you are feeling. I used to try to create my challenge entries as perfect as I could do. So, I used to spend a lot of time on them. I know, nothing is wrong about spending a lot of time on it (of, course, if you have plenty of time. I miss those days :)

Then, I realized that my example didn't have to look perfect. If it even shows a rough idea about the challenge, it is worth sharing. 

In my option, these challenges are really good to see the ideas and approaches of the other designers. So, you shouldn't step back and hide your amazing ideas. 

I can't join challenges as as often as I did in the past. When I have time, I check them one by one and try to give some feedback. One thing I love about this community is you can get a lot of help, support and feedback when you share your work or ask a for help.

I always ask some friends (mostly my wife :)) to give me some feedback before sharing an example here. It helps me a lot. 

I would always be happy to give feedback or give a hand when you need  for you submission. 

P.S. To remember my first submission, I went on a little trip on my Articulate profile page and I saw  that it was almost 8 years ago, I am getting old :((

Hi Kandice! I have been an active member of the Articulate community for a long, long time, but it took me a year of lurking on the site before I got up enough nerve to contribute anything. Looking back, I don't know why I was afraid. This is a very safe and welcoming place to show your work. Start with a challenge topic that appeals to you and just do it.  

Hi Kandice - One way to dip your toes in the challenges is to start with an older challenge. The challenges on the home page (https://community.articulate.com/hubs/e-learning-challenges) always get the most visibility.

But if you go further back in the challenges, you can fly under the challenge radar while still sharing your work. I hear the guy who runs the challenges is also a little slow to update the older ones, making them an even safer place to begin.

Prediction:

Kandice tops the 2022 challenge leaderboard. 

Hi Kandice, 

I've been using Storyline since 2017 and I was a lurker in the Challenge boards until 2019.

Honestly, I wish I started taking part sooner.  My first entry was something I already had built that happened to fit the brief, but as the weeks went on I made a point of making something new each time. This often took me outside my comfort zone, but in a good way.  The Challenges are a friendly and supportive arena to experiment and develop new skills.

Each demo didn't need to be perfect, just good enough to meet the brief.  That's an important lesson for designers, as perfect is often the enemy of good.

I decided early on that I would try to complete 52 Challenges in a row and I blogged about my experience as I went.

52 Things I Learned During a Year of E-Learning Heroes Challenges (Part 1/4)
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/52-things-i-learned-during-year-e-learning-heroes-14-jonathan

I cringe at some of my early demos, but each one taught me an important lesson and has made me the designer I am today.

Taking part in the Challenges on a regular basis has improved my skills, increased my confidence and opened new doors for me. I highly recommend it.

Jon

Like anything in life, it's always hardest the first time, whether its riding a bike, learning to swim, etc. You just finally decide to go for it. There's really nothing to lose in this environment. Everyone's in the same boat, so people tend to be supportive. It's always a good idea also to look at and comment on other people's work, not only because it is good in building relationships with your peers, but also because you'll get all kinds of ideas and learn a lot.

I relate very, very much. I have only started sharing again, and I've been a pro for years now, too.

Don't let fear rob the lot of us of your voice and talents.

You have a fan in me!

Hi Kandice! I lurked for at least a year before I had the nerve to start participating in the challenges. I really had to let go of perfectionism before I could start posting, and some of my early entries (and later entries!) were pretty mangy. But once I realized how welcoming everyone is in this community, I really got into it! Over the last six years, I've posted well over 100 challenges, and I still participate when I can.

I encourage you to just do it! Maybe start with an older challenge that sparks your interest, rather than feeling like you have to finish something "on time," before the next challenge starts. Time pressure doesn't help me at all. :)

Hi Kandice:

From my perspective the challenges are not about trying to be the best, have the most creative result, or anything else that might may you or someone else feel like it’s a competition. It is not. 

The Challenges are exactly what they are called - a challenge for you and you alone. They are there to give you the inspiration you might need to try something new, rework something you’ve done in the past, or maybe reframe something you’ve been challenged with. You don’t have to share your work, but if you do that is great. Why, because then others in the community can learn from you and see your approach to the problem. 

I’m often surprised how someone else may have handled a trigger differently then me, or a tab interaction, or a number of other things. I’ve learned from so much that others have shared. 

Start small and be gentle on yourself. Keep some on your own learning portfolio or share with us all. One day you might look back in the early ones to see just how far you have come. 

Hi Kandice,

I totally understand your feelings/worries about the E-learning challenges, but do you know what?....We’ve all been there!...Well at least I was. 

I still remember the time when I spent days working out all the possibilities of Articulate Storyline. 

For hours I searched our community for new ideas / insights from other users and used them in my own samples. At first I kept these snippets for myself, not knowing if they were 'good' or what I could have done better / differently.

Taking part in the e-learning challenges has not only taught me that there is no right or wrong, but also that it is great to hear the opinions of other members or to give your own opinion to others.

And that is what e-learning challenges are all about ... sharing ideas and insights with each other, so that all participants can increase their knowledge.