Audience: Employees with limited leadership experience seeking to improve their leadership skills or take on leadership roles.

Responsibilities: Instructional Design, Course Map, Storyboard, Graphic Design, Video Editing, 

Tools used: Canvas LMS, Powtoon, ClipChamp , Genial.ly, Canva, Camtasia, Text to Speech (Amazon Web Services)

Project Features: Embedded Video, Interactive Gamification, Learner Handbook, Collaborative Discussions, Group Collaboration, Scenario based learning, Case Study

The Problem

TechFrontier, a mid-sized software company, is facing deficiencies in leadership as it expands worldwide. The company is attempting to find a unified strategy among its diverse team leaders, which has resulted in decreased unity among employees, unclear communication, and reduced productivity.

The Solution

The Leadership Essentials Training equips leaders with the skills needed to manage teams effectively in a variety of environments. Using the Backwards Design Framework and the Multiple Intelligences theory, the training improves problem-solving, communication, and trust-building skills. This integrative approach improves leadership skills on an individual level and promotes a harmonious organizational culture.

My Process

I used the Multiple Intelligences theory and the Backwards Design Framework for this course to cater to diverse leadership styles. My process included creating a course map, designing visual mockups, and creating a storyboard for an interactive game. Ongoing feedback and revisions took place throughout the process to ensure the effectiveness of the course.

I acted as my own SME for portions of the course in collaboration with an SME in the leadership development field and conducted research based on peer-reviewed articles. Together, we analyzed the different types of leadership and successful leadership practices. These insights led to the creation of specific learning goals and objectives along with observable tasks to ensure learners were engaged and active in the learning process. 

Learner Workbook, Discussions, and Group Activities

I wanted this training to be interactive and reflective, as the subject matter of Leadership necessitates self-reflection for improvement. For this reason, the learner workbook was created. Learners can use the workbook for structured reflection and to reinforce what they have learned from the training. The workbook will also be an essential resource that they can draw from once the course has concluded.

In this course, learners also collaborate with each other via engaging discussions. I wanted to create a space for learners to share their reflections on leadership and receive feedback from peers. Participating in these discussions will encourage learners to learn from one another and express the content in their own words.

The course also includes a group activity in which the learners actively learn how to build trust and credibility within their teams. This activity will empower learners to lead confidently and positively contribute to a high-performance workplace culture.

Interactive Games

The games included in this course reinforce learning and understanding of leadership concepts. Both center around a "heroic" theme, as true leaders are the heroes of their organization. The games also align directly with the specific objective of the module to ensure course alignment.

Game Storyboard

A detailed storyboard was created for the Dragons Dungeon quest. This storyboard contains the actions the learners will take, as well as a detailed script. There is also a space for SME feedback.

Results and Takaways

As someone who has held leadership positions throughout my career and looks forward to more leadership roles in the future, I enjoyed creating this interactive course. I wanted learners to explore the various dimensions of leadership to develop their unique style. Moreover, through engaging content, interactive games, collaboration, feedback, and reflective activities, I wanted learners to learn how to become the best leaders they can be by recognizing their strengths and working on their own self-discovery deficiencies.

On the technical side, I learned to allow plenty of time for animation building and video editing. This course had a lot of content and took longer than I initially expected to edit it. This project taught me to factor in animation/video editing time when estimating the length of the entire design process.

Overall, for this project, I used adult learning theory with Backward Design and incorporated the Multiple Intelligences theory to help leaders find the best version of their own leadership style. I also incorporated interactive videos, gamification, and discussions to help engage learners and allow them to reflect on the concepts learned throughout the course.