My eLearning Toy Box

At the end of 2013 I came across a series of pictures taken where the artist (Andrew Whyte) took breathtaking photos using lego people on Pinterest (follow me!) (I went back and found a couple and made sure to pin them this time.) I was so inspired that I grabbed my son's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle action figures and my phone and decided to take pictures of them brushing their teeth.  I posted the pictures on my personal Facebook page and got a laugh. But this week, I actually got to use them in a fun and creative way.  Here's my entry for Articulate eLearning Heroes Challenge #74 - Using Toys for Storytelling in E-Learning.

Challenge

"This week your challenge is to design a short interaction using toys as your primary characters. You can combine toys with photographs, illustrations, or hand-crafted scenes and backgrounds.

The objective this week is to replace your usual e-learning graphics and characters with toys."

Work

I took the pictures and turn them into black and white since the quality was so low.  I wasn't that good about taking pictures using proper back lighting and using editing techniques to fighting the yellow tint in 2013. Thank goodness for my introduction to image editing software and Instagram lol I knew that I would need a background for my cover page, a bar code and a picture of all of them together so I went on the hunt for items I could use (see my resource links). I also wanted some custom fonts since the logo is very distinct.  I found the perfect pair in Turtles and Cowabunga on DaFont. Using the pictures I previously shot I arranged them into my logical order to try and make a story. From then on it was just adding colors and text onto the screen that fit their character personas.

Result

I created a short storyboarding using PowerPoint that's the start to a children's lesson on brushing your teeth. If I were to turn this into a full blown learning course then I think outlining the steps or having the learner put the pictures in order would be pretty fun.

Download the TMNT ToothBrush PowerPoint

Resources

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dental_office.jpg
http://geek-news.mtv.com/2012/02/01/mtv-geek-exclusive-tons-of-tmnt-toys/
http://www.dafont.com/turtles.font
http://www.dafont.com/cowabunga.font

5 Tips for Creating the Perfect Video (FREE Template Download)

https://www.flickr.com/photos/catch21/6481937097/

Videos are an important media for learning. With the rise of Youtube, the lowering of attention spans, and the recent push for microlearning it offers content that can easily be shared in a quick and interesting format. Before getting started you should create a video style guide that'll help direct producers, videographers, actors, set staff and editors (or the all in one!) get the correct look and feel the first time and then every time afterwards. Here are my 5 tips (with a free downloadable style guide template!) for creating the perfect video.

1.  Always start by thinking about the broad feelings.How do you want the learners to feel?  What message are you trying to get across? How do you want your company to be perceived?  Do this by establishing a tone, stage presence, general standard on visuals and production. Strive to understand how elements within the video can effect (both positively and negatively) these feelings.
   
   
2. Go into detail on the things you can control. Sometimes the weather doesn’t cooperate or your subject gets sick but there are a lot of elements in a video you can and should control. Be sure the logo and colors of the video are compliant with marketing or your brand department. Get approval to use specific colors and state their intended purpose especially highlight colors. Set up standards for the subject’s attire. Know your output size, delivery method, file type and player. Put together a list of approved and unapproved aspects of different elements like: locations, shots, transitions, and text placement.
   
   
3. Put together your steps for pre – production to form a habit.
   Be sure the script is ready and has gone through the proper review channels. No one likes unprepared talent or workers. Be sure to provide your subject(s) with a script a few days before and encourage they read through it ahead of time. Reiterate the attire standards a couple days before shooting. Have a shot list ready. Stage the shot to test the lighting, sound and background. Have the subject read the script with the camera on but without formal direction for a base line and hopefully collect bloopers.
   
   
4. Scrutinize the first draft and but not a minute before it's ready.No one likes to be editing something with a person over your shoulder or worrying over every little detail. Let your person in charge of editing sit down with their specifications and create a first draft cut before stepping in. Plenty of producers, writers and actors have said that sleeping on something or waiting for a few days to review will help to make sure you don’t become too close to a project. Be sure to leave enough time to space out the reviews for a fresh mind.
   
   
5. Polish that turd till it shines.Even if the video isn’t Oscar worthy, know when you’re “that’s good, now publish it” point is. Being a perfectionist is something we all strive for but there’s a point where you have to say we’ve done enough and I like it the way that it is.  If you have your standards in place and the video meets all or most of your standards then what more can you ask for? Publish it, market it, pat everyone on the back, and start all over again!
   

Are you new to video creation? Check out Vimeo's Video School, Wistia's Learning Center or Lynda.com for videos on how to create videos.

Want a Free Video Style Guide Template?

Don't forget to follow, share and comment please. Can't get enough of yours truely?  Follow me on social media! I post helpful articles I find on the internet Monday thru Friday on Twitter and I have a Pinterest problem ;)

Free Download: Color of the Year (2015) - Marsala (and Flowers) PowerPoint Template

Bonus blog post! That's right.....I'll be back again on Thursday!

For challenge #63 we were asked to create something using Pantone's Color of the Year (2015) -Marsala.  Here's a "Wine and Flowers" PowerPoint I created that is free to view, download and use.  Let me know if you like it in the comments below or on twitter (@jvalley0714).

Download | View

E-Learning Challenge #48: Storyboard Templates for E-Learning

This weeks eLearning challenge is all about storyboards. I really enjoyed this challenge since my current job is pretty cut and dry on the options we have for presenting material. The same software is used, the same audience attends and the goal is usually pretty similar. So I put on my thinking cap and dusted off some old resources.




I always love when there is questions to answer. I feel like I'm getting interviewed. So, here we go:

Q: How do you define scripting, storyboarding, and prototyping? Which method do you prefer?

A: I define scripting as the pre-work related to audio and video elements.  I feel storyboarding is more for spelling out a course such as the content, branching and assessment.  A prototype is very rough draft example made similarly to a storyboard but including loosely based examples of content.  I prefer to storyboard (Download) and script (Download).  I usually do both separately so I can go into more detail on each.  

Check out my blog posts on audio/scripting and video.

When I use my storyboard I start by asking questions which will help me determine what the client needs.  eLearning is not always the answer and creating ineffective training is the bane of all Instructional Designers existence.  I use the method of asking the 5 w's; who, what, when, where and why. I find that it gets me exactly what I need and opens the conversation up for more in-depth conversations. I like to go into more detail if the client wants a video, audio or scenario since these take the most time to develop. Since not all training is linear I like to include the opportunity to talk about branching and since not all training can be delivered at once I have a spot to talk about chunking as well. I have an area for resources such as images, fonts and color samples and a section if an assessment is necessary.

Q: Do you use different types of storyboards? When do you use each? 

A. I use two different types of storyboards. For a more complex problem that I'm meeting with a high end SME or group I like to bring out my fancy pants PowerPoint.  It offers the feeling of a formal meeting and includes all the basic information to analyze the problem and come up with a game plan. The other type I have is literally a notebook and pencil or pen. I use this for most of my projects and while it's not my most preferred method it's the quickest and easiest way to launch a project.  I'll ask questions and jot down the answers, write down references to internal and external material as well as examples mentioned and create a quick outline of the project.

Q: How do you storyboard interactivity?

A. I storyboard interactivity by taking good notes.  Most of the time I'm completing the development and know know what to write down so I remember. Scenarios are a little bit more in depth because I'll ask for specific ideas on what characters to use or what the feeling/tone of the scenario or voice will be used.

Q. What are your top three storyboard tips for new course creators?

A.

1. Courses are not always the answer.

2. Take the extra opportunity to practice and find the method that works the best for you.

3. Be prepared to vary your method depending on employer, SME or working situation (virtual).

Design: Before, During and After

I hate code! I have always been fascinated by the idea of scripting something behind the scenes and like magic it appears. This redesign however has dwindled my faith in becoming an HTML and CSS master.

Throughout this process there have been a lot of surprising things I've learned about myself or had to examine.  I always had a feeling that I was a Sans Serif kind of gal but now I KNOW.  I decided to document my blog redesign before, during and after.

Before

• Don’t be afraid to change your mind!

• Set up an inspiration board:

• http://www.pinterest.com/jvalley0714/white-and-nerdy/

• Look for companies/websites that will provide you with insight and examples:
• http://www.behance.net/

• https://dribbble.com/

• https://pinterest.com

• http://www.templatetrackers.com/

• http://www.bloggertheme9.com/2013/08/truepixel-blogger-template.html

• http://www.templateify.com/

• http://www.scribblesofvalerie.com/2013/08/free-blogger-template-download-eternal.html (I ended up using this one as a base :) )

• Soul search to know what you want

• Theme

• Watercolor

• Gadgets 

• Click to Pin

• Click to Tweet
• Font

• Combination of Script and Sans Serif

• Color

• Blue, Green, Gray (combination or variations of each paired together)

• Prep yourself for the time and effort it will take

• Do I have the skill and time to create a new design? 

• Yes, I'll make time and learn the skills necessary.

• Do you have the time to do a big bug hunt? 

• Yes, I'll make time.

• Ask yourself the hard questions

• Who will be in charge of the redesign?

• Well me of course!

• What's my personality? What best represents me?

• Light, airy, blue/green, watercolors, sans serif font, simple, lots of gadgets

• When do I want to roll this out?

• During 2nd quarter

• Is the current design stale and old fashioned?

• Yes!

• Do you need a redesign in order to tighten and update the web code?

• Yes (I didn't know this until I was already half way into the build lol)

• Will your current web content lend itself well to your new design?

• The articles yes, the pictures no. Update pictures later?

• Can you make the website more efficient and usable?

• Yes. Having a three column design will let me spread out my gadgets on top of the screen better.

During

• Don’t be afraid to change your mind!

• Technology is limited

• I was left with only using Google Fonts since I'm unable to download new fonts onto my tablet.

• Don't be too picky. Being particular is one thing.  Trying to reach perfection will end in an incomplete project.

• Coding is hard

• I have no coding skills what so ever.  I found myself relying on blog posts, articles and google searches to get the look and feel I wanted.

• Best article on how to add Google web fonts to your blogger blog: http://www.carrieloves.com/2012/02/how-to-add-google-web-fonts-to-your-blogger-blog/

• How to add a Pinterest hoover over your pictures:http://www.digitalkonline.com/blog/how-to-add-a-pinterest-hover-button-to-your-blogger-images/

• Click to Tweet Generator:http://clicktotweet.com/

After

• Ask yourself if what you’re doing turns the hard questions into answers

• Don’t be afraid to change your mind (do you see the reoccuring theme)

• Test test and test again 

• Here's a checklist:http://lite.launchlist.net/

• Does the design provide solid answers to my hard questions? 

• Yes

• Did I carry out the design to my other social media sites? 

• Yes

• What did I miss? 

• Rearranged the gadgets

• Deleted unused gadgets

• Added the Pinterest hoover after the original launch

Source:
http://www.webdesignrazzi.com/2014/10-things-to-consider-before-going-in-for-a-new-website-design/

Did I miss anything crucial? Do you like the redesign? What is stopping you from updating?

I still have a couple more things i'd like to do and try but like anything else it's a work in progress.