What's the BEST elearning advice you ever received?

Thanks Adele - love your words.

The best advice I have received came back from newspaper days.

1. Figure out what it is that you can do better than anyone else, focus on that. 

2. Make sure you're running toward a job and not from a job.

That sounds like some solid advice! Thanks for sharing.

(PS <3 Dwight forever!)

"Successful e-learning designs create the 3 Ms: meaningful, memorable, and motivational learning experiences."

"The 3 Ms produce the fourth M: measurable results."

Instead of looking at the material and creating a course to cover it, focus on what you want the learners to walk away with or what you want them to be able to do.  Everything else will fall into place to support that - the medium, technique, etc.

Thank you all very much for your comments and tips! I am brand new to E-Learning design and will be keeping all of these in mind as I go through and start designing E-Learnings! I look forward to growing and being able to pass on some of this advice to someone in my shoes down the road.

Don't show them what they CAN do, show them what they WILL do!

This also applies to your clients. When you have an issue which impacts scope with a client's course, you figure out a couple of things you can do to work around it and then you identify this to your client so that they can make an informed choice. Shift the decision points back to the appropriate stakeholder. I think our client's would be very disappointed in us if we didn't come to the table armed with alternatives, and your boss is no different.

Constantly ask for feedback from your client.

I started mostly on my own with no spoon feeding whatsoever and I feel that's the best thing that has ever happened to me. I became more curious, intrigued and explored a lot.

a. Never hesitate to try something new. Out of the box thinking is always appreciated.

b. Explore. It opens the door for new avenues.

c. Always have a Plan B

KEEP IT SIMPLE! There are no truer words. I see a lot of overdesigned courses these days. Content should never be subordinated to graphics, interaction or clever games. Don't get me wrong, graphics and gaming that fit the content earn a big blue ribbon: they reinforce learning. But we should never let content get lost in the elements that are meant to support it. 

So true, Kyle!

Applying this principle to client relationships is essential for me. I had a colleague a long time ago who was a fan of highlighting problems in a negative way, never providing a solution. The client at the time called the boss and complained. This has always stuck with me.

That is excellent advice! 

Ain't it the truth!

Kyle Powers
Senior Curriculum Developer
BSDO Operational Support
1-614-215-7521

[CenturyLink

E-Learning is full of peaks and valleys :P It's so true!