INSTRUCTIONAL
DESIGN DOCUMENT
Ruth Crossman
Remote Communication Project
Project Context
A survey of managers working remotely revealed that 75% had lost confidence in their
ability to supervise their teams effectively. Surveys indicate that 54% of managers said
they struggled to communicate work objectives clearly over email, and 63% said they
are concerned about “Zoom fatigue” because of the number of online meetings they
attend. In response, the National Human Resources Society has commissioned an
online training course.
Course Purpose
The purpose of this course is to give managers new soft skills so that they can
communicate more clearly over email and use facilitation techniques to make their
online meetings less frequent and more efficient. Adoption of these soft skills in the
participating companies is expected to lead to a 25% reduction in the number of online
meetings held per week.
End Objectives
• Managers will be able to write a 5-sentence email including a call to action using
at least two of the strategies discussed in the training.
• Managers will be able to ground rules for online meetings
• Managers will be able to write a 4-step meeting agenda
Project Requirements
Cost: $1950
Timeline: Project to be completed within two weeks
Standards: Course must be SCORM compliant and mobile-device friendly
Learning Requirements
Audience Profile
The target audience consists of managers with an average of 10 years’ work experience
in their positions who have transitioned to working remotely within the past year. The
managers surveyed range between 35 and 60 years old and 45% were women. The
data also showed that they are comfortable with technology and 90% have participated
in at least one online course.
Learning Environment
This is an 100% online course which will be created in Storyline 360 and delivered via
LMS. It will be tablet and mobile accessible and will take approximately one hour to
complete.
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Course Objectives
Learning Outcomes
• Apply new drafting strategies to write work emails
• Summarize process for establishing rules of engagement
• Identify characteristics of strong rules of engagement
• Summarize the features of a virtual meeting agenda
Performance Objectives
● Given an objective and an audience, the learner will be able to (LWBAT) write a
5-sentence email including a call to action.
● Given a list of suggestions, the LWBAT identify effective and ineffective ground
rules with 80% accuracy
● Given a common meeting scenario, the LWBAT apply the correct facilitation
strategy with 80% accuracy
Instructional Strategy
Presentation Patterns
The course will use problem scenarios as an entry point for learner engagement.
Learners’ prior knowledge will be activated through the introduction of a problem, and
they will then be given skills demonstrations and opportunities to activate and integrate
their knowledge. The content will be chunked into 90-second slides using a combination
of animation and audio narration to engage the learner. The sequence of each module
will consist of the following steps:
● Introduction to course material through problem posing with visual illustration
Example: illustration of woman at computer looking confused. Narration: Alia just
received this email from her boss and she’s not sure how to respond. Look at the
message and see if you can guess why.
● Activation of prior knowledge. For example: knowledge check slide asking
learner what they think the appropriate length is for a business email.
• Demonstration of Material. For example: hot spot activity highlighting strategies
to edit an email for length, animated list of techniques for effective ground rules.
● Application practice such as drag and drops, open-ended questions synthesizing
information from knowledge checks.
● Integration of knowledge where learners are given a problem scenario and asked
to select the correct response.
The two modules can be completed independently, and the learner may choose which
one to complete first. Learners may also opt-out of either module if they feel comfortable
with the skills covered already.
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Media Strategy
The course will use animation features in Storyline such as flying text and dynamic
images. Hot spot and drag and drop interactions will be included to keep the learner
engaged. The course will have audio narration to accompany text and imagery.
Assessment Strategy
Since the modules are completely separate, each module will contain its own formative
and summative assessments. Formative assessments will take the form of ‘knowledge
checks’ and will not be counted towards course score. Learner results will be evaluated
via SCORM and their performance will be analyzed to develop a second course
iteration.
Formative Assessment Questions
1. What is the best length for an email?
A. 3 sentences
B. 5 sentences
C. 7 sentences
2. Which of these is not an effective way to highlight action items?
A. Using bolding
B. Using bullet points
C. Using all caps
3. Which of the following is not an effective ground rule?
A. All meetings should be less than one hour
B. Only one speaker at a time
C. Have a positive attitude
D. Use “I” statements instead of “you” statements
Summative Assessment Questions
2. Your team agreed on ground rules, but people keep breaking them during your
meeting. What should you do?
A. Remind them that rules are important
B. Send an email asking everyone to follow the rules
C. Post the rules in the group chat at the beginning of the meeting
3. You have a meeting every morning, but you keep getting emails from team members
who are confused about their work assignments. What can you do?
A. Ask someone to be note-taker.
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B. Document action items before the meeting ends.
C. Make the meetings shorter.
Formative assessments will consist of knowledge check questions asked in the middle
of the middle to gauge learner’s comprehension of the material. Summative
assessments will consist of a skills application exercise (module 1) and two scenario-
based questions with multiple choice answers (module 2).
Course Format
This course will consist of 2 modules with ten slides per module. Review to the diagram
below for the content strategy:
Welcome Slide
Introduction
Course Overview
Module 1:
Introduction
Module 2:
Activation: Introduction
Hot Spot
Activation:
Hot Spot
Demonstration:
Email Demonstration:
Strategies Ground Rules
Knowledge
Check
Drag and Drop
Question 1
Interaction
Content
Reinforcement
Demonstration:
Meeting Format
Knowledge
Check Scenario 1
Content
Scenario 2
Reinforcement
Summative End Slide
Assessment
End Slide
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Development Tools
This course will be created using Articulate 360 with voiceover work recorded in
Audacity. Graphics will be edited in Photoshop as needed.
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CLIENT PROJECT SIGNOFF FORM
Project Name: Remote Project Manager: Ruth Crossman
Management
Start Date: 7/15/2020 Completion Date: 7/29/2020
Project Duration: Sponsor:
Two Weeks National Human Resources Association
Project Goal: Develop soft skills eLearning course for managers covering email
writing and online meeting facilitation
Project Deliverables:
2 module SCORM-compliant eLearning course created in Storyline360
Clients:
By signing this document, I By signing this document, I acknowledge that I
acknowledge that I have delivered have received all the agreed-to deliverables at
all the stated deliverables and the stated quality levels.
agreed to the quality levels.
Project Manager Name and Sponsor Name and Signature:
Signature:
Date: Date:
Remarks:
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STORYBOARD
Ruth Crossman
Remote Communication Project
Title Script/VO Animation
Module 1
1.1 N/A Static Image + Begin Course
Welcome button
Screen
1.2 V/O: Working remotely has its perks, but managing Images entering left and then
Orientation remote teams isn’t easy. How do you respond to disappearing.
all the emails? How long should online meetings
be? In this course you’ll develop clear email
communication strategies and learn how to plan
effective virtual meetings.
1.3 V/O: This course has two sections. The first section Images for each course
Course is about email, and the second section is about section w/ floating state
Overview managing meetings. Let’s begin! buttons taking learner to
Module 1 and Module 2
Module 2
2.1 Email Strategies Static image + forward &
Introduction back buttons
2.2 V/O: This is Alia. She just received an email from Initial image of woman
Knowledge her boss and she’s not quite sure how to respond. sitting at desk, replaced by
Activation Click on the highlighted areas to see why. image of email text with
areas highlighted. Hotspot
interaction: when learner
clicks on highlighted areas of
email a post it note appears
indicating editing
suggestions.
2.3. V/O: OK. So, imagine you’re Stephen. What could Image of man writing an
Skills you do to make this email easier to read? First, you email, replaced by text boxes
Demonstration should keep it brief. Eliminate any extra for each bullet point. Text
information. Second, get to the point within the boxes slide in from left side
first two sentences. Third, identify action items so of screen.
that your reader knows exactly what they need to
do.
2.4 What is the best length for an email? Multiple choice slide with
Knowledge A. 3 sentences radio buttons.
Check 1 B. 5 sentences
C. 7 sentences
2.5 V/O: The best length for an email is 5 sentences. Image of woman holding
Content Not too long, not too short. pen.
Reinforcement
2.6 Which of these is not an effective way to highlight Multiple choice slide with
Knowledge action items? radio buttons
Check 2 A. Using bolding
B. Using bullet points
C. Using all caps
2.7 V/O: Bullet points and bolding are great, but stay Image of person opening
Content Review away from all caps. They can make you sound email
aggressive.
Assessment V/O: OK, now it’s your turn. Think about an email Each question slides in from
you have to write. What’s the main point? What right. Open-ended question
calls to action will you need to include? How can textbook appears for learner
you summarize it in 5 sentences? to type into.
End Slide Congratulations, you have completed unit 1
Module 3
3.1 Virtual Meetings Static image + next button
Introduction
3.2 V/O: This is Maria. Her last meeting did not go well. Image of woman looking
Activation 3 people didn’t participate the entire time, while unhappy replaced by image
two others got into an argument about project of someone shouting, then
specifications. The meeting took so long to finish clock with time going by.
that she had rush to catch up on her work when it
was done. What could she do to make her meetings
more effective?
3.2 V/O: There are two techniques you can use to run Two images appear one after
Demonstration1 effective virtual meetings. The first is establishing the other with buttons using
ground rules, and the second is having a good floating state
meeting format.
3.3 V/O: Ground rules, or rules of engagement can help Animation: each reference
Demonstration2 ensure that your meetings run smoothly without image flies in as it is
wasting time. Follow these steps to create them: discussed
Get Specific The best rules of engagement are
behavioral. They describe specific actions that team
members can take to act more effectively 2. Get
buy-in. Ask each team member to propose 1-2
ground rules. This allows the team to take
ownership of the process. [Link] the ground
rules and post them virtually during meetings.
3.4 Knowledge Let’s practice. Which of these is not an effective Drag and drop activity.
Check ground rule? Drag it into the box. Options on left side of the
screen, drawing of empty
Which of the following is not an effective ground box with fly escaping for
rule? learner to drag option into.
A. All meetings should be less than one hour
B. Only one speaker at a time
C. Have a positive attitude
D. Use “I” statements instead of “you”
statements
3.5 V/O: Lastly, establish a strong meeting format. Image of woman with
Demonstration: •Send the agenda in advance whiteboard. Each bullet point
Meeting Format •Keep meetings short meeting slides in from left.
•End with kudos
•Document action items
3.6 Julio’s team agreed on ground rules, but people Multiple choice slide with
Scenario 1 keep breaking them during the meeting. What radio buttons. Image of man
should he do? looking confused.
A. Remind them that rules are important
B. Send an email asking everyone to follow the
rules
C. Post the rules in the group chat at the
beginning of the meeting
3.7 3. Nidhi has a scrum meeting every morning, but Multiple choice slide with
she keeps getting emails from team members who radio buttons. Image of a
are confused about their work assignments. What man looking confused.
can she do?
A. Ask someone to be note-taker.
B. Document action items before the meeting
ends.
C. Make the meetings shorter.
3.8 V/O: Congratulations, you have finished the course Image of two people in
graduation gowns
