205 Don’t Let Your Interface Get in the Way of Your User
1:15 PM - 2:15 PM Wednesday, October 29
Raphael 1
It’s hard enough to get learners to engage with the content of your eLearning course. This issue is compounded even further when learners can’t figure out how to use the course in the first place. All too often, new eLearning designers put their focus solely into designing the learning content, while at the same time ignoring the interface it’s encapsulated in. This leads to confusion on the part of the learner and disrupts the learning process.
In this session, participants will explore five simple rules for designing an eLearning user interface that promotes engagement, interaction, and learning. Using real-life examples, you will examine how simple interface changes can remove visual distraction and redundancy. You will leave this session able to improve your eLearning courses by removing user interface distraction and promoting intuitive action by the learner.
In this session, you will learn:
- How bad user interface decisions distract from the learning process
- Five rules for designing effective eLearning user interfaces
- How to visually distinguish interactive elements from your course content
- How to promote intuitive action by the user through visual cues
Audience:
Novice and intermediate designers and developers with a basic
knowledge of the purpose and use of eLearning.
Technology
discussed in this session:
Articulate Storyline, Articulate Studio.
Tanya Seidel
VP, Finance & Technology
Artisan E-Learning
Tanya Seidel is a vice president of finance and technology at Artisan E-Learning and has over 10 years of experience in the eLearning industry. In addition to managing Artisan’s finance, technology, and marketing landscapes, she is involved in the development and delivery of eLearning courses for a variety of clients and is well-versed in accessibility (Section 508 and WCAG), responsive design, SCORM, and xAPI. Tanya spent more than seven years working for Trivantis, the makers of Lectora. She has been involved not only in creating instructor-led and web-based training programs and materials, but also in leading the design and development of eLearning authoring software and LMSs.
Tim Slade
Creator
The eLearning Designer's Academy
Tim Slade is a speaker, author, award-winning freelance eLearning designer, and creator of The eLearning Designer's Academy. Having spent the last decade working to help others elevate their eLearning and visual communications content, Tim has been recognized and awarded within the eLearning industry multiple times for his creative and innovative design aesthetics. Tim is also a regular speaker at international eLearning conferences, a recognized Articulate Super Hero, and author of "The eLearning Designer's Handbook."
405 Using Simulations to Capture and Deploy Experience
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM Thursday, October 30
Cézanne 1 & 2
Experience is the most meaningful type of learning learners can engage in. Experience implies using skills in context and applying critical thinking to any situation. We have to provide as realistic an experience as possible to learners without putting people at risk. Multiple-branching and multiple-outcome simulations help learners develop critical judgment to address what to do in real scenarios, creating true experiences that will translate easily to real-life situations.
In this session you will learn the distinction between experience and instruction and explore the methodology of experience design. You will explore scenarios from simulations that provide insight and help you better understand the tools and levers of experience design and how you can leverage them. You will begin to develop a simulation by applying the concepts of experience design to a business or performance challenge. You will also review some of the different tools that are available in the market to develop applications without the need for programming.
In this session, you will learn:
- To understand experience design as a tool for achieving the development goals of your organization
- How to determine when to use simulations to support your overall learning objectives
- How to make the simulation experience “sticky” to support learner retention and application
- How to effectively capture and deploy experience in a simulation format
Audience:
Novice and intermediate designers, developers, project managers,
managers, and directors.
Technology
discussed in this session:
Simulations.
Joe Ganci
President
eLearning Joe
Joe Ganci is the owner and president of eLearning Joe, a custom learning company. Since 1983, he has been involved in every aspect of multimedia and learning development. Joe holds a computer science degree, writes books and articles about eLearning, and is widely considered an eLearning development guru. He consults worldwide and also teaches at conferences and client sites. Joe writes tool reviews and has received several awards for his work in eLearning, including a Lifetime Achievement Award in 1999 and an eLearning Guild Master Award in 2013. His mission is to improve the quality of eLearning with practical approaches that work.
Glenn Bull
CEO & Founder
Skilitics
Glenn Bull is the founder and CEO of Skilitics, which is the creator of an enterprise training development platform designed for integrated learning measurement. The Skilitics platform is fast gaining attention globally for its disruptive and innovative approach to training design and measurement. Glenn is the visionary behind this cloud-based solution and spearheads the company’s global strategy. He is also the editor of TheNewID.com training comic, contributed to by many of the industry’s key thought leaders. Glenn is one of six members of The eLearning Guild Academy’s Advisory Council.
505 Designing User-friendly Navigation for eLearning
1:15 PM - 2:15 PM Thursday, October 30
Tower 6
Have you ever reached a slide in an eLearning course where you were unsure what to do, or where to click? If so, you were the victim of bad navigation design—a common eLearning problem. One of the most challenging aspects of eLearning development can be designing clear and cohesive navigation that is easy for learners to follow, and that doesn’t lead to dead-ends.
In this session you will learn tips and best practices for designing user-friendly navigation in your eLearning that ensures users never have to guess about where to go, and can focus on the content. You will learn great ways to test your navigation and find out if it really works or not. You will learn the importance of incorporating a clear exit from your course, and how to create one.
In this session, you will learn:
- How and when to add navigation instructions
- Tips for designing consistent course navigation
- Best practices for incorporating a clear exit from your course
- How and why to thoroughly test your navigation
Audience:
Novice and intermediate designers, developers, and project
managers with basic eLearning knowledge.
Technology
discussed in this session:
Powerpoint and Storyline.
Nicole Legault
Community Manager
Articulate
Nicole Legault is a community manager at the software company Articulate. Nicole has a varied skill set that includes expertise in instructional design, eLearning development, and more. She has written hundreds of articles on the topic of eLearning and instructional design. She is a skilled public speaker and has delivered many hours of training and presentations on a variety of topics related to training. Nicole strives to create engaging sessions based on practical skills that can be used immediately on the job.
