I designed and instructed the course “Instructional Design for Managers” to equip organizational leaders and managers with the fundamentals of instructional design. The course aims to familiarize learners with the concepts and methods involved in the creation, implementation, and evaluation of various training programs for employees.

The curriculum covers various areas, including instructional design, adult learning theory, learning tactics, group learning, organizational strategy, and the technological resources necessary to promote workplace learning.

A project-based learning approach was used to ensure a comprehensive learning experience, where participants engage in practical exercises, scenarios, case studies, and collaborative assignments.

OBJECTIVES

Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs)
After this course, the student will be able to:

1. Summarize how learning can help companies gain a strategic advantage.
2. Conduct a needs assessment to determine whether learning is necessary and the appropriate solution for a business problem.
3. Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of traditional and 21st Century L&D methods.
4. Design an effective training plan.
5. Implement appropriate outcomes and evaluation design to measure learning effectiveness.
6. Outline the employee development process.

In addition, I employed a theme-based approach to enhance learner engagement. The class was structured as a training department, where each participant played the role of a training manager. I created the following video to introduce the plan.

Artifacts

Discussion Assignment: Learning & Development at Dow

The development of Dow’s diverse workforce is a crucial pillar of the company’s People Vision of having the world’s best people working together to make a difference. Dow’s employee development model reflects a continuous learning cycle embedded in everyday work, workplace relationships, and structured learning.

Dow invests in employees to keep them at the forefront of their respective fields. Opportunities range from daily on-the-job learning, participation in global cross-functional project teams, mentoring, classroom training, cultural training, online education, and involvement in employee networks.

Dow’s global scale and breadth offer the flexibility to seek multiple careers within one company. The employees experience career growth through development moves, stretch goals, special projects, cross-functional projects, or expanded responsibilities. As part of Dow’s employee development process, opportunities are provided to move within and across functions and businesses. Employees are encouraged to use our internal job application system to search and apply for jobs of interest.

Dow’s Leadership in Action initiative is an example of developing future leaders through a unique skills-based learning experience. Watch the video to learn more about this innovative L&D approach.

Dow Leadership In Action Video (1 min. 13 sec.)

Instructions:

1. Post your response to the questions below in the space provided or upload a Word document.

Reflection Questions

1. How does the Leadership in Action program promote the transfer of learning?
2. Imagine you’re a Dow employee. How do you feel about Dow’s training program? Is it beneficial?
3. Consider your answer to question 2. Do you think this unique approach to training would help you retain the knowledge and skills you’ve learned? Why or why not?

Project Example

Evaluate the Course

Over the past two weeks, you’ve learned a lot about course design and adult learning theory. In this activity, you’ll put everything you’ve learned into practice as you evaluate an e-learning training module. 

Instructions:

1. Select one or two of the courses below.
2. Work through the course as if you were a training participant.
3. Notate your initial feelings about the course.
4. Work through the course a second time from an evaluation perspective. Use the attached document to guide your evaluation.
5. Submit your evaluation using the submit link below.

Students were provided links to six professional development and training programs.

Team Training Design Project

Project-based Assessment

Training Project Instructions

Over the semester, you will work in teams to complete a Training Project proposal. Each week we will learn about the steps in designing training, and you will complete a segment of your final project based on that knowledge. Your final submission will be a completed instructional design document, a project proposal document, and a multimedia presentation.

Your teams will work together using methods typically used with virtual teams. You will find detailed information, tutorials, and examples of each on the Resources page.

1. Office 365
2. SLACK 
3. Various multimedia resources Resources (Adobe Spark, Rise 360, iMovie, etc.)
4. Video Conferencing
5. Canvas Group discussions

Students were provided detailed instructions on each element of the assignment.

E-Learning Modules

This work by Lynne MacBain is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at www.lynnemacbain.com