Has this happened to you (hypothetically speaking)?

May 19, 2014

Looking for suggestions...

What if you are told by the project manager that they (or the higher-ups) do not like images (**and been told this many times in the past by different company leaders)?  They like linear (slide-by-slide) courses with no interactions...just bullet points?  What if you try to convince them to create more interactive learning (e-Learning) but is it worth the "discussion" or even "heated discussion"?  When do you give up and just create the course(s) they "think" they want?  What if you shared other options, pre-tests, timed quiz, sharing Tom's article about "how to create non-boring compliance training", and branching scenarios?  Just curious...

Thanks,

Dana

13 Replies
Jackie Van Nice

I think that's when the person who hypothetically wants to create effective e-learning finds a different place to do it.

Short of that, this hypothetical person's best bet is to mock up the best fully-functional example she can to demonstrate her solution. I've never seen articles or discussions (especially heated ones) sway people who can't visualize or see the benefit of what you're proposing.

Jackie Van Nice

Hmm. To my mind it's absolutely time for that hypothetical designer to get a handful of portfolio examples together  -  the samples that best demonstrate not only her skills but what she loves doing most - and move on. Life is way too short to waste it stifling your best skills. Your work should make you feel more alive; not less. But you know that already.

Thanks so much for the challenges compliment! Those are so fun to do - and they're perfect portfolio pieces, too. If you check my site you'll see them plastered everywhere - including my portfolio. Your hypothetical designer friend would be ridiculously wise to participate and do the same, in my opinion. :)

Ashley Chiasson

Hi Dana - I agree with Jackie here. If the designer has made their best effort to help the organization see what's possible, to no avail, I think it's time for the designer to organize themselves and move on. It's tough - change sucks. BUT, not working at your full potential also sucks...and if it hasn't already, it will like begin to impact the designer's work. I know I've certainly been in positions where my frustration has let my productivity down, so I would certainly encourage the designer to not waste their talent and move on.

Jerson  Campos

I was actually in a similar position. I had to lower my standards of my courses and it left me very frustrated and unhappy. I made every effort to improve our training products, but they were not listening. When my contracted was terminated, I was actually relieved. Now I'm building courses that I can be proud of and not embarrassed to show other people.

Jackie Van Nice

Dana, do you have a site right now? If not, I'd strongly recommend a hosted WordPress.org site. I just switched from WP.com to WP.org, and posted a blog post about what I learned during that migration. Start with WordPress.org so you don't have the same story: http://www.jackievannice.com/?p=175063171

I link to it in that post, but if you're looking for great host recommendations I hope you'll check out the terrific advice in this Articulate forum thread: http://community.articulate.com/forums/t/48611.aspx?PageIndex=1

And I keep mentioning WordPress because you really should have a blog, if you don't already. (And WP is a great blogging tool.) It helps your visibility and makes you more discoverable, which is exactly what you want.

Jackie Van Nice

Well that's why you don't want to do a free wordpress.com site - you have no server space for any files whatsoever. Once you're on a hosted site (NOT wordpress.com) your e-learning sample files will be just fine. (Certainly ask your individual host before you sign up, but I'd be shocked if there was a SWF issue.)

You really should check that forum thread since that was me asking our peers what kind of hosting/e-learning sample site solutions they found.

I stuck with my original host since I'd had my work up there for years, but do not go with my host! They're not WP pros. If I ever jump ship from them I'll check out SiteGround first, since several people in that thread recommended them.

Does that help?

Joshua Roberts

Bruce Graham said:

The person should give up and move on when they feel (and know) they can do better.

It is the "leaders" that have given up, and think that linear MUST work, because it has always worked (?) for them.

They are the ones fearful of change, and change is how you evolve.

Wishing that person the best of luck.


Agree with Bruce here. 

It appears as though it is the time for that person to move on, creativity blocking can be one of the most frustrating aspects of working within an organisation. In order to produce the best training possible there needs to be a certain freedom offered.

In situations like this I always pose the question of whether or not it is simply a case of management wanting a to 'tickbox' all training for legal reasons rather than a genuine interest in personal development or understanding.

Best of luck.

Ashley Chiasson

Dana Dutiel said:

Jackie thanks...I will definitely be using Wordpress...do you know which "hosting site" is best so that I could post ".swf" files (my sample courses)?  The reason I ask is that as I understand, Wordpress on it's own does not support .swf (or zipped course) files, is this true?


Dana - I went with namecheap.com, because it was easy to set WP up and I had experience with them previously; so far so good with my samples (no issue launching .swf files) - but there are tons of hosting providers around that are probably just as great, if not better Good luck, and if you need any help setting things up, you can certainly reach out to me.

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