Instructional Design Process

Training Needs Analysis

In order to create a course that exceeds expectations and delivers targeted results, I initiate a scoping meeting with key stakeholders and SME's to complete the training needs analysis assessment of ADDIE in order to collect background information about the organization. As a collaborative team we define the scope for the course, we clarify roles and responsibilities, set expectations, and establish timelines for deliverables, as well as discuss the expected success metrics / KPI's.

Next, I interview the Subject Matter Expert(s) to identify the goals for the training, the intended audience, implementation strategies, procure resources and determine assessment.

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Project Management

Managing instructional design projects requires clear communication, structured workflows, and collaboration with SMEs and stakeholders to ensure training meets both learner and business needs. I use Kanban boards (like Trello) and structured spreadsheets to keep projects organized, track progress, and maintain transparency. These tools help me prioritize tasks, set clear deadlines, and ensure everyone knows their roles and responsibilities throughout the design process.

By using Agile project management techniques, I keep stakeholders engaged, provide frequent updates, and ensure training materials go through proper review cycles. Whether I’m designing an onboarding program, developing compliance training, or leading an LMS transition, my approach ensures efficiency, accountability, and seamless execution from start to finish.

Analysis: Learner Persona

Design thinking is a human-centered design process that starts with empathizing with the learner.[1] As part of the Analysis in ADDIE I identify the ideal adult learner for a course by creating a snapshot that describes who they are, their current role, their pain points, and what they need to be able to do to be successful by the end of the course. Utilizing a learner persona, I'm able to later implement the four principles of Andragogy: engage adult learners in the learning experience, allow them to share and build on their background knowledge, make real-world connections with the content, and provide them real problems to work through. Meet Shirley Ayev'cein; surely, she's seen a lot.

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Design: Course Outline

Once the course learning objectives[2] have been established, I use a content organizer as a pre-work document to brainstorm and organize "need to know content," multi-media options, activities, write script for audio, and design assessment ideas. For the culture course, I choose to create an outline. This course is broken down into modules. Each module is chunked into 10-20 minute interactions, based on Ebbinghaus's Forgetting Curve[3] with the primacy/recency effect to increase the participants' attention to, and retention of content, in addition to reducing the cognitive load of the learning process.

View Culture Course Outline

Design: Document

The design document along with the storyboard create a blueprint for the development of the course. This sample shows the global course information, branding, specs, and support resources that have been planned for the development of the course.

View Culture Course Design Document

Design: Storyboard

This storyboard for the culture course illustrates the custom design elements which include: multi-media elements for each slide, audio scripts, navigation elements. It is drafted in Microsoft Office Powerpoint format which allows for communication and decision feedback between stakeholders, SME's, and Instructional Designer.