Comments on: Quick Tips for a Lone Instructional Designer

By: Archana Narayan

Archana Narayan — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 05:08:49 +0000

Rupa, really interesting post. Adding my thoughts -
1. I have worked on several projects as a lone instructional designer. As a lone ID, a brainstorming session becomes extremely crucial for any project. This could be virtual or face to face with other IDs (who may not be working on the project). This helps add fresh ideas.

2. Another thing that I find really critical is to have a reviewer. This really helps when a pair of fresh eyes go through the storyboard.

3. As you mentioned, the ID dons several roles. The most important role is that of a project manager. The ID has to ensure other in team (GD, reviewer, client) is aware of the intervention points. Ensure that deliverable are sent out on time.

By: Rupa Rajagopalan

Rupa Rajagopalan — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 08:37:19 +0000

@Victor – Thanks for reinforcing
@Manish – Thanks for bringing in new views

By: Manish Mohan

Manish Mohan — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 18:34:26 +0000

Thanks for the clarification. You have some good tips that would be applicable irrespective of the number of people in the project. These are good practices that we should follow whether we are a one person team or multiple person team.

I would maintain that if there was only ONE member in the team who is expected to work as an ID, project manager, graphics artist and programmer, he/she should become familiar with rapid elearning tools. Learning Photoshop or similar graphics tool will be must. Ability to locate free photos/graphics will help the lone team member juggle multiple responsibilities. Hopefully ‘project management’ required will be minimal since there is only person in the team and that person has to manage the tasks for self. Building a social network will help generate ideas and get peer feedback.

By: Victor Daniel

Victor Daniel — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 16:31:44 +0000

Hi Rupa,
Very good Quick Tips you brought here.
I have completed an eLearning project lately using Captivate, Flash, Dreamweaver, Acapela, Audacity, etc. to name a few. So here’s a couple of my 2 cents from your writing.
Request a project briefing session
This is a must and, if you can, get a copy of the contract. In my case I have learned that the delivery date was not the same on the contract than from my client’s client.
Also request the Project Manager to introduce you to the client.
Ask questions. Ask the client to describe his view on the project and take notes. All the notes you can. You usually have only one shot at it.
Research and discuss while designing the Instructional Strategy
And submit to the client briefings and samples of your work during the process to know if you are going in the right direction.
Create a prototype and do pilot testing (s)
Can’t live without it!
Again, very good points Rupa, thanks.

Victor Daniel
eLearning Specialist

By: Rupa Rajagopalan

Rupa Rajagopalan — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 13:44:21 +0000

Hi Manish,

Thanks for adding your two cents from two perspectives.

If the Instructional Designer is the only one in the project then there is no Project Manager. The Instructional Designer dons multiple roles and has to use rapid e-learning tools and has to collaborate with others on the web.

The article addresses the scenario where there is one Instructional Designer put on an e-learning project and has to work with a Project Manager and the development team including Graphic Designers and Programmers.

How does an Instructional Designer do his/her part in a project where the entire responsibility of Instructional Design is on that person?

So in a situation where there is only one Instructional Designer and he/she has no clue where to begin and what to do, it gets a little tricky.

By: Tips for the one-person instructional design team | Workplace Learning Today

Wed, 22 Apr 2009 13:02:47 +0000

[...] Quick Tips for a Lone Instructional Designer | The Writers Gateway | Rupa Rajagopalan | 22 April 2009 [...]

By: Manish Mohan

Manish Mohan — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 12:29:32 +0000

Not sure if I understood the intent of the question. The tips you give would be applicable even if there were many IDs on the project.

I think the intent is not so much about the questions to ask the client but perhaps how to generate ideas when the person is the only ID on the project (of course I am speculating here). I would recommend the person to start building his/her virtual network on the Internet and collaborate with others on that network. With all the social media and social networking, a person need not worry about being alone on a project. There is enough collaboration possible on the social networks. The power is in the size of the network. So build your network and collaborate for more ideas. And don’t underestimate the idea generation capability of other roles in the project. Discuss the project with the graphics artist or the programmer and generate ideas.

My other speculation could be that person is asking what to do if he/she is the ONLY person on the project. In which I would suggest the person starts learning some rapid elearning tools. And look for free sources for graphics on the Net. Again, collaborating with the virtual network will make things easier for the person.