The most crucial readings from this unit are Chapter 10 and 11 from Cennamo and Kalk, where they discuss the demonstrate, develop, and deliver phases. Chapter 10 is the Demonstrate phase while chapter 11 covers development and deliver. These phases tell you how you’ll interact with your client, SME’s, and users.
Once a project has been approved after the Define and Design stages, the project moved into the Demonstrate phase. The demonstrate phase can be confusing because of all of the information, documents, data, and records that you have created. To organize everything you have documented, you can organize it into content chunks, grouping similar items together. You can then define what is in each content chunk and how you will deliver each content chuck. This organization into one document is the treatment. The treatment helps you communicate with other people about the project. This is what’s considered a conceptual prototype.
Developing a user scenario can also be helpful in communicating with the client. The user scenario helps the client understand what a user would go through during a lesson. Production documents should also be created at this stage. Production documents are the documents that will be used in the actual project, like a script, templates, or a storyboard. Templates require specifications, or display specification, so that a graphic designer or programmer can help you with it. A wireframe, or sketch of what you would like the screen to look like may also help. These products are working prototypes which can be organized into a template guide. External and internal experts can often offer a great deal of feedback. Things you should consider are the product’s ability to be translated or provide accessibility to all users.
The development phase is often the part where you have to work with several other people to get your final project launched. The production process requires you to meet regularly with collaborators and make sure that the documents you wanted were created to your expectations. You can also use media assets that already exist rather than producing them on your own. Some existing media require you to purchase licensing to sue or sell. You should also set a timeline for completing your work. This can help minimize project creep, or when a new task is unexpectedly apparent and it’s not clear who is responsible for it. Formative evaluation is where you assess the impact of your project for further and continuous improvement.
The remaining readings can be helpful for someone who wants to become a designer but does not know how. Chapter 9 of Carliner & Driscoll discusses the contents of development. To understand your clients, you have to clarify their expectations. Figure out what services they need and what you can offer. You’ll also need a project plan to execute each service.Chapter 12 of Cennamo and Kalk as well as chapter 10 of Carliner and Driscoll discuss the professional designer as an individual. Professional designers can work for large or small companies or even contractors. Designers usually start as staff instructional designers. Professional designers can also be project managers or producers. Some professional designers choose to get degrees in instructional design, but it’s not always required. There are many settings that you can choose to work in as a professional designer as well.