The Agile methodology helps project managers respond to rapidly changing business requirements that can shift even before a project is complete. It guides you to better target the deliverables required to meet a project's goals, fine tuning as necessary. A form of Agile, the Lot Like Agile Methods Approach (LLAMA), is designed specifically for instructional projects. In this TD at Work, you will learn how to: - Identify business goals that will help you align your project accordingly. - Leverage the LLAMA approach to define the scope of a project. - Select a primary learner persona (PLP) for your project. - Break your project into easy to manage tasks. - Use iterative development to refine a project's deliverables.
The Agile methodology helps project managers respond to rapidly changing business requirements that can shift even before a project is complete. It guides you to better target the deliverables required to meet a project’s goals, fine tuning as necessary. A form of Agile, the Lot Like Agile Methods Approach (LLAMA), is designed specifically for instructional projects. In this TD at Work, you will learn how to: Identify business goals that will help you align your project accordingly. Leverage the LLAMA approach to define the scope of a project. Select a primary learner persona (PLP) for your project. Break your project into easy to manage tasks. • Use iterative development to refine a project’s deliverables.
Discover Agile for Better Instructional Design To serve business needs amid greater volatility and uncertainty in the workplace, learning and development professionals need project management methods that can keep up. Enter Agile. Popular in the software development space as an approach to project management, Agile when applied to instructional design provides a framework for adapting to change as it happens and for delivering the content most needed by learners. Agile for Instructional Designers proposes using Agile methodology to manage training projects and highlights where traditional linear processes have failed the business and the end users. Recognizing that software development and instructional design have different needs and outcomes, author Megan Torrance developed the LLAMATM methodology. Her approach adapts the common phases of ADDIE to incorporate the incremental, iterative nature of Agile projects. It allows learners to test and evaluate which features or design functions work before they’re finalized. It also offers a way to accommodate inevitable mid-project modifications pushed by stakeholders, subject matter experts, or organizational leaders. With templates for goal alignment, learner personas, scope definition, estimating, planning, and iterative development, Agile for Instructional Designers is the resource you need to embrace change in learning and development.
You'll find in short order that this book isn't a how-to book. It's a guide, a reference, a companion piece to your project management. Some of it applies to whatever project approach you're using. Some of it is Agile-specific. As you go through the book, you will take the pieces that work for you and your project and make them your own. On Time. In Budget. What They Need (even if that changes!). That's what you can expect as you implement LLAMA or any of the Agile project management approaches.
Add Data and Analytics to Your TD Toolkit Instructional design pro Megan Torrance addresses the importance of instructional designers accessing and applying learning and performance data—from how to design learning experiences with data collection in mind to how to use the data to improve and evaluate those experiences. With the advance of new learning technologies and data specifications, instructional designers have access to more and richer data sources than ever before. With that comes the question of what to do with the data. While most data and analytics books focus on their application for measurement and evaluation and assume a prior baseline understanding of what learning data and analytics mean, Data and Analytics for Instructional Designers delves into the foundational concepts that will enable instructional designers and L&D professionals to use data in their roles. Split into two parts, the book first defines key data and analytics terms, data specifications, learning metrics, and statistical concepts. It then lays out a framework for using learning data for planning how to gather data and to building scale and maturity in your data operations. Megan reassures readers that basic math skills with some computer assistance is what you’ll need to get going. So set aside any math anxiety! Through a “If I can see it, I can be it” approach to learning data and analytics, the book blends practical what-is and how-to content with real-world examples and longer case studies from practitioners. Chapters conclude with opportunities for you to put these techniques to work right away, whether you are in a data-rich environment already, or whether you are just getting started and working on hypotheticals.
Your Fix-It Guide to Training When you need to repair an appliance on the fritz, you can consult the instruction manual. But if you’re stuck when designing or facilitating training, what resource can you turn to for solutions to your problem? Part troubleshooting guide, part introduction to training design and delivery, Troubleshooting for Trainers delivers in-the-moment fixes and longer-term solutions for common challenges at every stage of the learning and development process. Pull it out when you’re in a predicament, flip to the related challenge listed in the table of contents, and find some immediate relief. Better yet, use it to discover tips and strategies that will help you proactively avoid the crises new trainers face. Covering more than 40 challenges, the book offers solutions for when: you feel a lack of personal and professional credibility training isn’t well regarded you don’t have enough resources you have minimal learning design expertise you’re uncertain about measurement and reporting metrics live training surprises throw you for a loop you encounter challenging participants. Perfect for the busy trainer, each chapter briefly describes a challenge for trainers, offers a series of solutions for overcoming it, and includes some resources to go deeper about the topic. Job aids and sample worksheets accompany the solutions. “If only I knew this when I was starting out.” Experienced trainers often express this sentiment later in their careers. Why wait? The next time you’re at a training impasse, troubleshoot your way out.
Artificial intelligence adoption is accelerating across industries, but many learning teams may not be moving the needle fast enough. Now is the prime opportunity for learning teams to prioritize its usage. However, although some L&D professionals have experimented with generative AI tools, few know what the game-changing technology really is. In this issue of TD at Work, Myra Roldan shares: A simplified explanation of how AI works The difference between traditional AI and generative AI Sample use cases for L&D professionals to think about A brief overview of how to get started using AI Some notes on privacy and ethics The Tools & Resources in this issue are an Artificial Intelligence Tool Evaluation Worksheet and an Artificial Intelligence Project Planning Checklist.
You'll find in short order that this book isn't a how-to book. It's a guide, a reference, a companion piece to your project management. Some of it applies to whatever project approach you're using. Some of it is Agile-specific. I hope you'll find it as a resource when you need to: * Get inspired * Get out of trouble * Use LLAMA for the first time * Share LLAMA with others * Start up a project * Assess project status * Debrief a project * Teach your team * Teach your clients * Take notes and reflect on an idea * Attend a LLAMA workshop
Get real results for your business – maximize your training and development programs Corporate learning and development programs play an undeniable role in successful business endeavors, but only when they're done right. The significant revisions in the third edition of The Six Disciplines of Breakthrough Learning add fresh, timely elements to a resource that has become known globally as a trusted guide for professionals determined to get the most of their companies' training and development programs. All-new examples, tools, guides, and insights combine to make an excellent, all-in-one resource for everyone from workplace professionals and HR managers to training development providers and businesses leaders looking to maximize the return on their enterprise's learning budget. Infused with current research and recent case studies, this resource serves as a practical guide that recommends concrete actions for producing tangible results. Tools, guides, and checklists in every chapter ensure that readers walk away with meaningful strategies that can be implemented right away. The book includes: A complete review of research drawn from thousands of insights, goals, and lessons learned Specific strategies and actions that can be put into effect quickly for immediate results A focus on ROI for business leaders wanting to make a clearer connection between dollars spent and new skills gained Checklists in each chapter to help learning organizations perform quality audits of new and existing learning programs The third edition of The Six Disciplines of Breakthrough Learning contains so many new resources and so much thoroughly-revised content that even those who own previous editions will find its reinvigorated approach highly beneficial. Strengthen the link between your learning efforts and your business goals with this increasingly popular, globally recognized resource.
The updated issue of “Teaching SMEs to Train” addresses the skills and traits trainers should look for in the SMEs they wish to collaborate with—including less tangible assets such as enthusiasm—trainer competencies to consider if the SME will be conducting the training session, and training delivery methods and their advantages and disadvantages. Specifically, this issue will show you how to prepare a SME to train, explain course design and development to SMEs, and help SMEs deliver and evaluate training.
