CATEGORY: PROBLEM SOLVING
TITLE: COLAWORKS
PROJECT BACKGROUND: This project was a small subsection of a problem-solving course designed for a national client committed to boosting training for problem-solving professionals to a higher level. This dramatic, real-life scenario was designed to help learners focus first on appropriately defining the problem to be solved. A detective-type approach presents a myriad of facts the learner must evaluate to find a “smoking gun.” The concept for this project was built around a fictitious company called ColaWorks.
TECHNOLOGY USED: Articulate Storyline 2 (converted to Articulate 360 9/15/2017), PowerPoint 2013, Camtasia Studio 08
OUR DESIGN APPROACH: Originally designed to work in a facilitated environment where a group of people was tasked with solving a problem, we converted the original materials into an online format to make the course more accessible and scale it to a larger audience.
Our primary goals for the course included:
- Engage learners by providing real-world context that requires the application of problem-solving knowledge and skills.
- Provide a journal for learners to take notes as they work their way through the course.
- Incorporate creative interactions to keep the learner engaged as they collect evidence.
- Include closed-captioning capabilities.
PROVIDING A REAL-WORLD CONTEXT: After a brief introduction to navigating the course, the narrator immediately engages them in solving a problem. As the story evolves, the learner experiences the current problem from the perspective of the CEO and his Public Relations Officer. By tapping into the power of a narrative story, we incorporated dialogue, conflict, and a sense of urgency… all while providing a realistic context for the learner. After learning of the dilemma facing the CEO and his company, the real problem-solving starts. The learner proceeds with interviewing several key stakeholders anyone of whom may, or may not, have a piece of the puzzle needed to identify the real, root cause of the problem.
PROVIDING AN ONLINE JOURNAL: An integrated journal allows the learner to collect and record key facts and information as the investigation progresses throughout the course. The”digital version” automatically defaults to the appropriate person being interviewed. Key investigative questions were included to provide a basic structure to the problem-solving process.
ENGAGING/CREATIVE INTERACTIONS: Several creative interactions engage the learner as they collect evidence. For example, the learner must navigate a simulated iPad to collect email evidence, access the company’s inventory reporting system, and unlock the Director of Change Control’s “secret” file cabinet.
UTILIZING CLOSED CAPTIONING: We also designed a custom scrolling closed-captioning option for the course which can be seen below.
Do you have the need for a similar course? If so, contact us today! We would love to work with you and your team to design and deliver training that not only engages your employees but helps drive change within your organization.
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