Instructional strategy is the 'blueprint' for the design and development of e-learning

Small or medium sized projects can be defined quickly and easily; however, our preferred method of working on larger projects is as follows:

Needs Analysis

Before any training and development is provided a needs analysis should always be undertaken either by the client or the supplier. This research and subsequent analysis will indicate whether or not there is a training and development need as well as identifying any factors which may have an impact on any consequent provision.

As a minimum, the needs analysis should provide:

• Relevant business objectives
• A profile of the target audience in question
• Desired levels of workplace competence
• Existing levels of workplace competence
• A gap analysis

If we undertake the needs analysis on behalf of the client, then sign-off by the client will be required before moving to the next stage of development.

Instructional Strategy

Instructional designers will produce an instructional strategy based on the training and development needs identified and the profile of the target audience.

This will include:

• The aims of the training and development provision
• Learning objectives
• The structure and sequence of the training programme
• The main content areas to be covered
• Learning points to be covered in each part, module, or section of the programme
• The proposed assessment and evaluation strategy

The instructional strategy is the ‘blueprint’ for the design and development of the e-learning and is the first deliverable of the design stage. It will define the learning objectives (derived from the competences), which will be stated in observable and measurable terms.

These objectives, along with the body of content (knowledge and skills), and the profile of the target audience will be used to structure and sequence the programme. The structure and sequence of the programme will reflect best practice adult learning principles and will ensure maximum learning effectiveness in relation to the target audience and the most appropriate means of delivery, e.g. technology based training. Suggested strategies for assessment (i.e. measuring mastery of the learning objectives) and for evaluating the effectiveness of the programme will also be included in the instructional strategy.

At this stage we will require appropriate client sign-off for the strategy that we are proposing.

Project Definition and Plan

Once the instructional strategy has been signed off, a project definition and plan is produced. This document covers the general design for the deliverables and provides a high level view of the overall programme. It is the second deliverable of the design stage and serves several purposes. It ensures that Logicom, together with the client, proceed with a common vision of the final product to create the remaining deliverables. It also provides an opportunity for all parties to agree the plans for how the programme is to be designed and developed so that no misunderstandings exist.

The project definition and plan also contains detailed information concerning the project, the number and type of ‘man’-days required, a schedule of the tasks and their sequence, a risk analysis, and an agreed budget and payment schedule. All parties who have a direct interest in the production of the final training and development programme should review and sign-up to this document.

This will include:

• The general approach
• Assets to be used (e.g. text, audio, graphics, video, real world environment)
• User interface
• Style, tone, and pitch
• Assessment and evaluation methodologies
• Details of any required learning management systems

At this stage it is essential that the client signs off the overall treatment proposed for the technology based training or e-learning programme.

Prototype

A vital element of any technology based training or e-learning programme is the design of the user interface and the means by which end users can navigate or find their way around. In conjunction with the instructional designers, our graphic designers will produce some prototype user interfaces for discussion and final agreement with the client.

Program Ready Materials (Scripts)

The development stage kicks off with the production of a paper-based script for the technology based training or e-learning programme. These scripts are in fact program ready materials (PRMs) as they detail, frame by frame, what text, audio, graphics, etc are to be used, how they are to be used, and the interactions which end users will be permitted, and what happens as a result of those interactions.

The first version of the PRMs will be presented to the client for review and subsequent amendment as required. Once the client is happy with the PRMs they will be signed-off and then given to the production team of graphic designers, audio and video producers, and programmers in order for the second stage of the development stage to commence.

Asset Creation

All the required assets will be produced in line with the signed-off PRMs and these will then be programmed, using the agreed authoring language or software, to produce an ‘alpha’ version ready for testing in the next development stage.

Testing

This involves a number of different phases, each one of which reflects extensive developer testing using fully documented and tracked procedures. All testing will be recorded, with changes made to the PRMs as appropriate, and performed by the programmer or QA function against the briefing and specification document and PRMs (white box testing) or by others (black box testing) as required.

Seven types of tests will be carried out:

• Unit Testing – where the programmer tests all the components to verify that developed frames and modules satisfy all the requirements and specifications as laid down in the PRMs.
• Module testing – where the programmer ensures that all modules and sub-systems interact correctly and that sub-systems perform together as required in the PRMs and briefing and specification document.
• System Testing – this is Logicom Training Solutions’ internal end-to-end testing to ensure that the developed programme is robust and matches the agreed specification.
• Alpha testing – is conducted by the instructional designers and the client where appropriate and desired.
• Integration testing – is to ensure that the programme will perform correctly in the real-life environment with external systems, data systems, and repositories.
• Beta testing – conducted by the client and, if so wished, a representative sample of the target audience to ensure that the software is relatively error-free and fit for its purpose.
• Regression testing – corrected software is re-tested by the system test team to ensure that previously tested functions have not been adversely affected.

At the end of this extensive testing process the finished technology based training or e-learning programme is signed-off by the client as being ready for delivery.