cets 2011, mark steiner, top 10 ways to make your elearning project successful

mark steiner, inc. Chicago eLearning & Technology Showcase 2011

Chicago eLearning & Technology Showcase Chicago eLearning & Technology Showcase 20112011

Top 10 Ways to Make Your

eLearning Project Successful

mark steiner, inc. Chicago eLearning & Technology Showcase 2011

Chicago eLearning & Technology Showcase Chicago eLearning & Technology Showcase 20112011

Agenda Speaker Introduction/Background Audience Survey Audience Exercise Session Introduction Top Ten Keys to eLearning

Success Discussion/Q & A

mark steiner, inc. Chicago eLearning & Technology Showcase 2011

Introduction: Introduction: Who the heck is Mark Steiner???Who the heck is Mark Steiner???

BS Industrial Tech. ‘88

MS Instructional Design ‘92

15+ years eLearning & interactive media dev. experience

Dozens of projects from 2 min. to 33 hours in runtime

Familiar with many development tools

Presenter - eLearning Confs. US & Europe

Started own eLearning consulting company in March 2001

mark steiner, inc. Chicago eLearning & Technology Showcase 2011

Audience SurveyAudience Survey

Corporate/Academic mix Project Manager/ID/Developer mix Number of Interactive Media Projects Number of eLearning Projects Average project sizes ($, runtime) Rating of eLearning process and project

management knowledge

mark steiner, inc. Chicago eLearning & Technology Showcase 2011

Audience ExerciseAudience Exercise

Fold the paper in half Turn the paper 90 degrees Tear off the best corner Fold the paper in half, again. Tear off the next best corner. Fold the paper in thirds, exactly. Turn the paper 122 degrees Tear off outside corner. DONE!

mark steiner, inc. Chicago eLearning & Technology Showcase 2011

SO WHAT !!!!!!SO WHAT !!!!!!

eLearning Projects are usually complicated.

Often there are many people fulfilling many roles, and somehow, it must be communicated what is to be done.

The most successful, well run, least painful projects ARE NOT LUCK!

One key to a successful project is a well-defined process, combined with the tools to support it.

mark steiner, inc. Chicago eLearning & Technology Showcase 2011

Session IntroductionSession Introduction

What this session isn’t Discussion of detailed, technical

issues Discussion of plug-ins, browsers,

tools, SCORM, LMSs

mark steiner, inc. Chicago eLearning & Technology Showcase 2011

Session Introduction (continued)Session Introduction (continued)

What this session is Discussion of Process Discussion of Roles Discussion of ISD Discussion of Technical

Considerations

mark steiner, inc. Chicago eLearning & Technology Showcase 2011

A Quote . . . A Quote . . .

“Make things as simple as possible - but no simpler.”

– Albert Einstein

mark steiner, inc. Chicago eLearning & Technology Showcase 2011

Number One . . .Number One . . .

Educate the client on the fundamentals of eLearning: Process Options Costs Feasibility Consequences

then set and control the client's expectations.

mark steiner, inc. Chicago eLearning & Technology Showcase 2011

Number Two . . .Number Two . . .

Determine the actual training need or gap.

mark steiner, inc. Chicago eLearning & Technology Showcase 2011

Number Three . . .Number Three . . .

Define your process and communicate it to everyone involved, and

Emphasize the responsibilities and key review points in the cycle.

mark steiner, inc. Chicago eLearning & Technology Showcase 2011

Number Four . . .Number Four . . .

Identify all key project personnel: BuyerAcceptorReviewerProgram Lead/Project LeadSME'sInstructional Designer(s)Instructional Developer(s)Graphic Artist(s)/Animator(s)A/V Specialist(s), etc.

then define and communicate their roles.

mark steiner, inc. Chicago eLearning & Technology Showcase 2011

Number Five . . .Number Five . . .

Perform a comprehensive and realistic analysis regarding the technical needs and specifications of the project:Bandwidth/infrastructure issuesBrowser/Plug-in/Platform specsTesting/Tracking/LMS

requirements

mark steiner, inc. Chicago eLearning & Technology Showcase 2011

Number Six . . .Number Six . . .

In addition to the purely technical considerations of eLearning project, also consider unique aspects of interface design and media types/file sizes when designing for the web.

mark steiner, inc. Chicago eLearning & Technology Showcase 2011

Number Seven . . .Number Seven . . .

Perform a thorough and realistic analysis regarding the content of the eLearning and the specific instructional treatments: Instructional Themes/Strategies Rehearsal/Evaluation/Remediation

Strategies . . . then set realistic goals for the program.

mark steiner, inc. Chicago eLearning & Technology Showcase 2011

Number Eight . . .Number Eight . . .

Specifically define your deliverables . . .

How else do you know when you're done?

mark steiner, inc. Chicago eLearning & Technology Showcase 2011

Number Nine . . .Number Nine . . .

Whether on your own, or through your team (depending on team size and roles), acquire an intimate knowledge of your development tools.

mark steiner, inc. Chicago eLearning & Technology Showcase 2011

Last but not least, Number Ten . . .Last but not least, Number Ten . . .

From both a user and technical perspective, test your application EARLY and OFTEN!

mark steiner, inc. Chicago eLearning & Technology Showcase 2011

Take a Breath ! ! !Take a Breath ! ! !

Are you convinced that Roles, Process, ISD, and Technical factors are invaluable considerations to ensure successful development of eLearning?

Did any of this presentation cause you to rethink the approach, process, and roles you use to complete projects?

mark steiner, inc. Chicago eLearning & Technology Showcase 2011

Let’s Review . . . Let’s Review . . .

What we do is complicated. There are too many project-

killing decisions that HAVE to be made BY SOMEONE to leave things to chance.

Take control of all key aspects of a project.

Find and implement a proven, repeatable process that works for you!

mark steiner, inc. Chicago eLearning & Technology Showcase 2011

Hopefully, you found this engaging Hopefully, you found this engaging and helpful . . .and helpful . . .

Questions & Answers

mark steiner, inc. Chicago eLearning & Technology Showcase 2011

Hopefully, you found this engaging Hopefully, you found this engaging and helpful . . .and helpful . . .

THE ENDThank you!