Creativity within Constraints
Presented by Kevin Gumienny
Too often, the focus of elearning design is on the latest exciting, innovative, and flashy animation or activity. Using ever more complex interactions is often justified by the need to maintain learner engagement in a fast-paced training environment.
What’s often overlooked in this approach is the cost, both to the learner—flashy doesn’t equal effective, and innovative doesn’t guarantee immersion—and to the organization—time spent designing and programming complex interactions is time that’s not spent on the next project.
This presentation explores simple elearning interactions that can be quickly developed which will nevertheless grab learners and hold their attention. We’ll touch on theory and research that shows how learners learn. We’ll discuss the benefits of using templates and pattern libraries to design simple, elegant, and functional interactions. And we’ll explore the idea that while templates constrain us, we can find creativity within those constraints and develop effective elearning that’s a proven hit with learners. Resources referenced during the presentation follow.
Presentation
On Design Patterns
Elearning for School Bus Drivers Activity
Activity Course
Activity Materials
- Creativity within Constraints worksheet (PDF)
- Five alive safety drill (page 3 of Operation Lifesaver Driver’s Guide) (PDF)
- Creativity within Constraints elearning patterns (PDF)
Activity Resources
- Additional information and safety tips for school bus drivers
- Signs and signals regarding highway-rail grade crossings
- Safety tips and facts about trucks and trains
- Federal Manual for Uniform Traffic Control Devices
Resources for Simplified and Engaging Elearning
- Cathy Moore, Map It: The Hands-On Guide to Strategic Training Design
- Cathy Moore, Connect with Haji Kamal Home
- Cathy Moore, Connect with Haji Kamal — Elearning example: Branching scenario for US Army
- Julie Dirksen, Design for How People Learn (2nd Edition) (Voices That Matter)
- Ruth C. Clark and Richard E. Mayer, e-Learning and the Science of Instruction: Proven Guidelines for Consumers and Designers of Multimedia Learning
- Nancy Duarte, Slide:ology
Sketch Your Ideas
- Twine / An open-source tool for telling interactive, nonlinear stories
- If you have an iPad and Apple Pencil, my latest favorite design tool is icon factory’s Linea Sketch – Drawing tools for your iPad
- If you have a piece of paper and a #2 pencil, you’re good to go.
Accessibility
- Kevin Gumienny, The Training Manager’s Guide to Accessible E-Learning
- Kevin Gumienny, “E-Learning for All”—A TD Magazine Article | PDF Download
- Kevin Gumienny, Using Pattern Libraries for Accessible Elearning: Insights from CSUN 2018
- Kevin Gumienny, How Accessible Should My Digital Content Be? Understanding WCAG 2.0 Conformance Levels
- Kevin Gumienny: Creativity within Constraints: When Cost, Resource Scarcity, or Deadlines Make Effective Elearning Seem Out of Reach
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