Working with a team transitioning from traditional in-person training to eLearning, I encountered a gap in their understanding of eLearning and multimedia learning principles. Despite their teaching and training expertise, they lacked a strong foundation in this new means of delivery. This was very evident in video content, where I found that they were rooted in PowerPoint and assumed that screen recording a PPT slide presentation with a picture-in-picture presenter was appropriate for eLearning.
Task: Bridging the Gap with Microtraining
To bridge this knowledge gap and elevate the team’s eLearning proficiency, I creating a microtraining program. This program focused on introducing Mayer’s Multimedia Learning (MMLP) principles, honing in on three core concepts: cognitive load theory, dual coding, and sequencing and proximity. The task was to design an effective microtraining that could be conducted asynchronously while ensuring regular in-person follow-up sessions to reinforce the learning.
Action: Crafting an Engaging Learning Experience
I designed the content to be delivered asynchronously, enabling team members to access it at their convenience. To facilitate understanding, I incorporated interactive elements, quizzes, and real-life examples related to eLearning principles. Additionally, I conducted in-person follow-up meetings to address queries, share insights, and foster a collaborative learning environment.
Result: Transforming Content Quality
This training was truly transformative. I witnessed a discernible shift in the style and quality of videos created for our online courses. By applying the principles of cognitive load theory, dual coding, and sequencing and proximity, the team produced more engaging, learner-centric content. To measure the impact of the training, I conducted a comparison between an earlier video and one created after the microtraining. This was done using a rubric for adherence to MMLP.
The results were significant, with videos created after the training scoring 88% higher on the rubric overall than videos created before the training. The biggest area of improvement in the post-training videos was in the management of cognitive load (+342%) and leveraging of dual coding (+126%).
Tools and Techniques
For this portfolio item, I recreated a version of the course using Rise360, and replaced my video segments with an AI generated presenter using Synthesia.
You may access the course here.
This portfolio item emphasizes the transformative impact of focused microtraining in addressing knowledge gaps. It demonstrates my expertise in both adult and multimedia learning principles, showcasing how data-driven decisions underpin my design process. Furthermore, it serves as a concrete example of my proficiency in developing scalable systems to consistently produce high-quality content.