Jackie Van Nice

E-Learning Goodness by Jackie Van Nice

Show Your Work

When Gate Screens & Yodeling Collide

By 7 Comments

Select Image to Launch Demo

Select Image to Launch Demo

This Articulate challenge is to create a two-slide interaction that includes a content screen and a gate screen. Gate screens give learners some control and a chance to interact with the course, so they’re a nice touch.

The Idea

I wanted to use a gate screen to be sure the learner is ready for a final quiz.

Four-Quadrant Menu

Four-Quadrant Menu

The Design

I wanted one screen that was a tight title slide/main menu combo. As soon as I started playing with basic layouts I realized I had a big cross in the middle that looked like the Swiss flag, so that worked. And since travel in Switzerland is spectacular, I thought that should be the topic.

I was after a menu that made good use of hover states and the entire screen – so I split it into four quadrants and created three course sections and a final quiz.

Gate Screen In Use

Gate Screen In Use

Gate Screen Completed

Gate Screen Completed

The Gate Screen

One way to see if someone’s ready for a quiz is to remind them of what it’s going to cover, so that’s what I did.

Once the learner has checked off each item to confirm they’ve adequately reviewed it, the option to take the quiz becomes available. They’re also given the option to return to the main menu at any time.

See It!

I don’t know why I’m so fond of this one. Maybe my Swiss grandparents would have been proud? Who knows, but I like the compact, responsive design. It’s kind of like those little German (and Italian and French) cars that zip up and down the Alps.

Success!

Success!

Regardless, if you’d like to see it, it’s right here!

My Multidimensional (Yet Flat) Desk

By 16 Comments

Select Image to Launch Demo

Select Image to Launch Demo

This week’s Articulate challenge is to render your work space in simple flat-style images.

Oddly enough, it coincides with my move from a standard desk to a standing/walking/kneeling/sitting desk, so that’s what I illustrated in my entry.

The Problem and The Solution

I’d never seriously thought about doing this before, but I happened to glimpse an article on Facebook that was talking about standing desks. (Here’s the article. It has lots of good info including both high-end and very simple, inexpensive options.)

If you know me even a little bit, you’ve gathered I spend an insane amount of ’round-the-clock time at my desk. Leaving the house to move involves a 40 to 60 minute round-trip drive (more sitting) to go somewhere I can bike, take a walk, or go to a gym. When you’re in the middle of work you love, that’s a big disincentive to take a break.

The Walking Desk

The Walking Desk

When I lived in Chicago and Portland I could roll out my front door every day and walk for miles or go to a nearby gym. In Europe I’d go for walks or run errands on foot every day and it was fantastic. Where I am now makes me insane and my body is going to stop speaking to me completely if I don’t do something.

So the standing desk idea resonated with me, and once I delved into the topic I realized that making it into a walking desk (plus a kneeling desk), and a sitting desk were just what the doctor would order if I made it to the doctor before I gave out completely.

The Images and Interaction

The Kneeling Desk

The Kneeling Desk

Some of the pieces and parts of my new setup are still in transit, so I rendered the scene as I expect it to be. Much of it is already in place, so those things are pretty spot-on.

Since the whole scheme hinges on the desk raising and lowering to specific heights, that’s what I focused on in the interaction. I put in a flat person to illustrate, but also animate them out so you can just see the room. All you do to morph the desk is push a button to move it to a preset height, so that’s what I have the user do in the demo. It’s quick and simple to illustrate the concept.

Try It! (+ My Setup Details)

Select Image to Launch Demo

Select Image to Launch Demo

Here’s the quick interaction if you’d like to see it. Also, since some people have asked for the details of my setup, I’ve shared them below.

Desk: I chose the UpLiftDesk 900, 80″ wide – enough to accommodate both a treadmill and sitting/standing station below; though 72″ wide might be enough. Unlike other desks, you can decide when you put it together how far apart you want the legs. I chose the white top and white base to go with my other office furniture.

This desk had good reviews for its smooth lift motors, which are housed inside of the legs, and sturdiness. I believe there are four presets you can customize for different heights.

I didn’t choose to go with a keyboard tray for now, but if you want one on a regular full-sized slide you can get the 920 desk model instead. I thought the 900 might be a bit sturdier and knew I could use a half-track keyboard tray with it if I really wanted to.

I also chose the 12-year extended warranty. The last thing I want to figure out 10 years from now is where and how to get the motors in my desk legs repaired!

Treadmill: I chose the LifeSpan TR1200-DT3 Under Desk Treadmill. Seems to be the go-to choice. Several desk companies, including UpLiftDesk, sell this same treadmill for the same price if you want to buy from them – but all of the advice I found said to order from LifeSpan directly for ease of dealing with any warranty issues, etc. I went with the extended warranty on this, too.

Standing/Sitting Mat: I chose the UpLift Sit-Stand Desk Mat (an option you can choose when you order the desk) in the 3′ x 5′ size so it’s large enough to place a chair on it.

Monitor Arm: Since you want your monitors to swing to whichever side of the desk you’re working on you probably want them on arms like this. I went with the UpLift Single Monitor Arm (an option you can choose when you order the desk) for my regular monitor, but I’m hesitant to be swinging my iMac around on an arm! (Plus I’d have to find one that fits.) It’s just as easy for me to slide the iMac over from one side to the other, so that’s my plan for now.

Kneeling Chair: I already have the Jobri Jazzy Kneeling Chair; though I got it a few years ago and offhand don’t remember who I ordered it from. I like switching off between it and my regular office chair.

Regular Office Chair: I’ll give a shout-out to my chair since I’ve used it incessantly for an unbelievable 17 years now. It’s put up with lots of grief and it’s still a complete champ. I believe it’s Via’s Terra Low-Back chair. I bought it at a furniture store in Portland and they let me customize the fabric.

More Info & Videos: I think that’s it for my setup – but the UpLift site has some nice videos to give you a better look at how all of this works together, plus a whole lot more.

Let me know if you decide to revamp your desk in a similar way. I’d love to hear about it!

The Benefits of Sharing Your Work: A Reader Checks In

By 5 Comments

I’m so lucky I get to do work I love and share it here, and I’m delighted when readers tell me it helps or inspires them. Unfortunately I never know exactly how it’s been helpful, and sometimes that curiosity drives me a little bit crazy. If I knew that, after all, I could do more of it!

Zifang Su

Zifang Su

Enter Zifang

Zifang Su is an instructional designer in Adelaide, Australia who recently sent me this message:

Hi Jackie – Just want to say thank you for your awesome site! Your blog posts about your design process really help me in looking at another instructional designer’s perspective and design thoughts and process, and as a result I’ve changed some of the ways I’ve done things as well. Thank you! Cheers, Zifang

Aha! I perked up, wondering if Zifang could give me some specifics about how she’s changed what she does. So I asked! She was very kind and sent me four specific examples (beautifully organized, of course) of how she’s changed the way she approaches instructional design. Here they are:

Code of Conduct Training

Code of Conduct Training

1. Using Stories and Scenarios

One of the things that struck me when looking at your portfolios and some others, plus the course I’m taking at the moment and some books I’m reading, is that using stories and scenarios can be really effective. Looking at the examples helps me to see how topics can be presented in a fun and engaging way.

2. Design of Courses

I love seeing the examples on your portfolio because they all look very different! Frankly, it’s incredible to me that someone can design all these different looking courses. Currently, my courses look very similar – but that has something to do with the restrictions placed on me at work (i.e. the online course must look similar to the powerpoint slides…). So I’m using the designs as inspirations for work-in-progress – essentially reducing many many dot points and chunks of texts and using graphics instead.

Can You Motivate This Monster?

Can You Motivate This Monster?

What do I think of Storyline?

What do I think of Storyline?

A Radiantly Delicious Template

A Radiantly Delicious Template

3. Use of Colours

Your portfolio uses great colour schemes. I tend to be ‘traditional’ in the use of colours, e.g. black, blue, grey etc. but contrast works great (e.g. the CCAF design) so I’m reading about the use of colours, as well as experimenting on using brighter colours for my courses.

A Model Smart Enough to Teach Itself

A Model Smart Enough to Teach Itself

4. Sketching for Design Stage

I’ve tried using storyboard templates but found them stifling and it seems like I’m spending more time typing than actually designing. I then came across one of your examples, where you showed some sketches that you did for design and I thought yep, that’s a more flexible way to do it. So now I spend my design time sketching and showing it to my team rather than trying to fit things into a storyboard template.

Show Your Work: E-Learning Messiness By Me

Show Your Work: E-Learning Messiness By Me

Show Your Work: E-Learning Messiness By Me

Show Your Work: E-Learning Messiness By Me

What I Learned

I can’t tell you how grateful I was to get this feedback! It told me what sorts of things have been most helpful and exactly how it helped change another ID’s work. It may not sound like much, but this was huge for me and will help me going forward.

I’ve also learned that even the things I think might be too silly or messy to share can have value in helping someone grow, learn, and be successful. It encourages me to ignore the editorial voice in my head that’s always saying “you’re not going to post THAT, are you??” and motivates me to keep sharing all of the the potentially silly, messy results of my own learning process right here.

Thank you, Zifang!

You can be sure I’ll keep track of Zifang from now on, and if you’d ever like to share what’s been helpful to you here or if you’d like me to talk about a particular topic, just let me know! Zifang dropped me a line using this Contact form.