My Learning Blog

The clients blowing things out of proportion and getting intolerant about the minutest slipups The production team just does not get it! A peer asks the question already addressed in an email sent days ago A team member commits the same error explained a number of times before The production team forgets to implement the change so important for the client These are some of the frustrations I face in my role as a Learning Strategist, just as many other professionals in this role. In time, my best practice has been to be polite. If that's tough to be rightaway, I just take a break - coffee, tea, friends..anything that allows me to be kind to the 'perpetrator' :) and gives me space to be able to present my dissatisfaction in a dignified manner. I have to accept that there have been times when I have been direct in my criticism. Having done that, I have almost always regretted my action - it takes away team spirit and the scars sometimes remain much after the project is long ov...

I completed another one of my performance appraisals last Thursday. My best practices for writing self review: Keep the records straight: I keep aside postive mails, records etc. received over the year in a separate folder. This practice not only helps me remember my accomplishments for the year but also provides enough material to substantiate my claims. Leave aside unnecessary humility or modesty: My self review states the facts for the year. Places where I have led, taken initiative, influenced a decision are stated as is. A self review document is a business document. Shying from stating acheivements as is can backfire. Substantiate each claim: If client consulting is my strength. I provide examples justifying this claim. If multitasking is another of my strength, I state the number of courses I worked on, activities I undertook in addition to the project work. Clearly state next year's goals: I keep the goals for the upcoming year achievable, measurable and aligned to my inter...

Strategy: Work out the curriculum and course level instructional strategy. Identify consistent elements for the entire curriculum - what are the look-and-feel elements and functionality what will remain same for the entire curriculum. Identify the disparate elements - what look-and-feel elements and functionality will change for a specific course within the curriculum so that the learner interest is maintained. Work out a higher level assessment strategy for the entire curriculum. Decide if pre- and post- assessment will be provided at curriculum level, course level or both. Scripting: Maintain a comprehensive style guide. Keep the document alive. Maintain a glossary document that houses the glossary terms and descriptions for all the courses, as they develop. You will be able to easily reference this document for newer courses. Make sure the design changes as a result of content variation is aligned to the curriculum look and project scope. Keep an eye on the word count to make sure t...

CBT Installable/downloadable to learners' hard-disks Allows course access without Internet/Intranet Learners can track their progress No bandwidth concerns Convenient for traveling learners Does not allow community-building and score comparison WBT Course accessed using a virtual address or location using the Intranet/Internet Learners can track progress and compare result with other learners Bandwidth and net access speed are the primary design factors Convenient for traveling learners with Internet/VPN access Provides tremendous scope for community-building, for example, tutors, chats and web-seminars