Assess with Success!
Redesign coming soon!
“If you are not embarrassed by the first version of your product, you’ve launched too late.” -Reid Hoffman
I had 2 main goals when I first designed this project:
Help new instructional designers learn to create better assessments.
Get over my perfection paralysis and learn to iterate by using the Successive Approximation Model of Instructional Design.
This meant redefining my typical definition of "done" and spending less time on sourcing, editing, or creating the visuals I wanted so I could meet my deadline. Apparently this is called the Marvel Method. I was able to achieve my goals and now that I have more time, I'm working to move this project from the Alpha phase to the Beta phase. Redesigning this training with better images, more interactivity (and a few other features) will help learners retain information while creating a better learning experience.
Project Summary
Assess with Success is an eLearning project developed for new instructional designers to understand how to design assessments effectively in Articulate Storyline. Using a unique theme, this project outlines 5 popular assessment options in Articulate Storyline as well as the benefits and best practices associated with each assessment type. More importantly, Assess with Success teaches new instructional designers when and how to leverage each option strategically as they design their assessments.
Key features of this project:
Click and reveal tabbed menu interaction
Animated visuals and motion paths
Slider menu interaction
Synchronized narration and sound effects
Immediate visual feedback for the final assessment
The knowledge checks in this course are an example of how to use assessments strategically, further reinforcing the course objectives while simultaneously engaging the learner.
Problem & Solution
New instructional designers have access to plenty of resources showing them how to create learning assessments in Articulate Storyline—from articles about designing fancy drag and drops to YouTube videos about how to jazz up your multiple-choice questions. But they also need to be educated on WHY to choose a drag and drop instead of multiple choice in the first place. Poorly designed assessments hurt everyone involved in the learning process, from the learners and clients to the subject matter experts and the instructional designers themselves. When assessments are designed incorrectly, they distract from the learning concepts rather than reinforce them. This wastes time, money, and other valuable resources. Designing assessments with purpose and strategy is beneficial for all stakeholders involved in the learning process. When assessments are designed correctly, it helps:
Learners gauge their knowledge and how well they are progressing with the material.
Instructors and subject matter experts determine whether the learner(s) understood the content.
Instructional designers and clients measure performance objectives accurately.
Assess with Success covers when and how to align different types of assessment to specific learning goals.
Preparation
I did some research to identify the most common assessments used in Articulate Storyline and the common mistakes that instructional designers make when creating these assessments. Then I decided to show and explain the benefits, best practices, and best uses for each assessment type and demonstrate how to leverage them when assessing learners, rather than focusing on mistakes. Next, I created a course outline using Merrill's Principles of Instruction. After activating prior knowledge, I would design 2 menu interactions to demonstrate each assessment and it's use. In the final assessment, learners would have an opportunity to apply their knowledge with a real-world application. Lastly, I would provide resources at the end for that could help learners integrate the knew knowledge. Although I was accustomed to using the ADDIE method in my previous role, I decided to use SAM to execute this project because it would give me a chance to work on my iteration skills.
Iterative Design Phase
Once I gathered all my research and information, I used Bloom's Taxonomy to create my learning objectives. I wanted to make sure the learners would be given a chance to apply what they learned with the first assessment and analyze and evaluate their acquired knowledge with the second assessment. After designing my assessments (strategically, of course), I set out to create an unconventional theme for the storyboard.
I know you’re probably wondering, "What do cupcakes have to do with instructional design assessments??"
Well first off, talking about assessments alone sounds boring, so I wanted to center this project around a fun theme that would bring the learning experience to life. Secondly, I believe that for instructional designers, creating eLearning assessments is very similar to going to a bakery. Some will play it safe and stick with multiple choice (which is the equivalent of choosing vanilla every single time) and some will get carried away, like a child with a sweet tooth, and choose any and everything! Neither of these options are strategic or effective.
Once I found the main background image, I developed a color scheme and began designing my assessments. I decided to break the course up into 2 parts:
Introducing the five most used assessments in Storyline and the best practices associated with each.
Showing the learner when and how to use each assessment type.
After I created the outline and visuals for each slide, I wrote the script and narration for the content. I submitted my storyboard for review and began the development phase as I waited for feedback.
Iteration, Feedback, and Accomplishments
I originally started with a kid-in-a-candy-store theme but found it challenging to find visuals that would match what I had in mind. I decided on a cupcake theme instead because I would have more flexibility in my designs without having to reuse the same visuals throughout the project. Using a cupcake theme also provided me with a chance to make the final assessment more interesting.
I didn’t have access to Adobe at the time, but I learned how to optimize and improvise in my previous role as an educator. I managed to create and edit most of my visuals using PowerPoint and a few other free software tools I found on Google.
I consulted with a UX designer to improve the UI design of my first assessment. He made some suggestions to improve the overall visual appeal and gave me an article with a host of information about UX/UI principles. I studied the UX principles and implemented his feedback to enhance the overall visual appeal. Below you can see the process go from the conceptualization stage to the final approved design.
Iterative Development Phase
First, I built the final assessment because knowing what the finish line should look like helps with ensuring the content is focused and meaningful! Next, I added the introduction, content, assessments and feedback with placeholders for the visuals (in case I needed to edit them after receiving feedback). After receiving, feedback, I refined the visuals and added them in along with the narration.
Iteration, Feedback, and Accomplishments
My microphone malfunctioned during the process of recording my narrations. Using the microphone on my computer wasn't a viable option because the sound quality would be fuzzy no matter how many times I edited the sound clips in Audacity. No microphone? No problem! To keep the project on track, I recorded and edited my narrations on my iPhone, instead of waiting for a new microphone to arrive. Then I uploaded the narrations to my computer and converted the default M4a files to MP3 in Audacity before uploading to Storyline.
I tested my course on colleagues with different backgrounds—some who work in design and some who do not—to gain insight on the user experience of the course. Then I made changes to ensure the transitions and navigations were seamless (this was the main issue I received feedback on and I'll explain why later).
Initially, my tabbed interaction did not have much of a visual component. After receiving feedback on my storyboard, I redesigned it. I added triggered animations and motion paths to the icons (as shown below) so the visuals could serve as a demonstration and further reinforce the content. Below you can see a snippet of the tabbed menu I created with a corresponding animated visual.
Lessons/Takeaways
Storyboarding: I created and submitted my first storyboard assuming I would be the eLearning developer as well. I was advised that this isn’t always the case, so it’s important to have consistency in my designs and clear instructions on the storyboard. I applied the feedback given to me and updated my storyboard. Going forward, I will be as clear and detailed as possible in my style guide and instructions when storyboarding and designing a course.
Content: Initially, I included information about how designing assessments incorrectly can affect learners, SME's, and other stakeholders. This information was considered "nice to know" not "need to know" as it did not directly relate to the learning outcomes. After receiving feedback, I removed the unnecessary information so the learner could focus solely on information that aligned with the objectives.
Development: I learned that although copying and pasting layers and elements can be a great shortcut, I need to be careful and double check that my triggers are updated. Otherwise, it can mess with navigation, effects, feedback, etc. and the time you "saved" with the shortcut will end up being spent on troubleshooting.