Bringing the power of media, visualization and interactive experiences to your training and exercises.
Michael McGar Creative
Process of Development
I specialize in innovation, engagement, behavioral change, implementation strategy and technology. I identify issues and opportunities, develop solutions and make them happen.
I love solving problems that challenge both the creative and technical sides of my brain and connect people through technology. That is how I can create stunning visual experiences while at the same time being awarded a patent for a breakthrough technical application that expands the learning boundaries.
My process of project development has been successfully implemented over several years in many projects from very large to small. All projects start with sound instructional design.
Instructional Design requires a repeatable and consistent process that ensures engaged learning, and on-target to the learning objectives of the training. This critical step in the production of effective training informs the process and ensures smooth production with expected outcomes.
The process of development consists of several distinct steps that link together to create efficient and predictable production. The steps are:
Discovery/Requirements
Planning and Design
Production and Testing/Evaluation
Delivery/Reporting
Each of these steps require attention to detail, client collaboration, and effective project management. The vision for the training activities and matching the training to both the learning objectives and the audience profile are the responsibility of the instructional designer.
The instructional designer must carefully research the audience profile from several perspectives, culture, language, literacy levels, prerequisite knowledge, training environment and technical skills. All these factors are considered and matched against the learning objectives and business drivers to arrive at a training plan and design that will match the training audience perfectly.
A few notes about effective learning design and methods:
Behavioral Change:
All learning is behavioral change. If you want someone to learn a skill, you are changing their behavior. A mere presentation of facts will not change behavior, if this were true, no one would ever smoke cigarettes—we all know the facts about cigarettes. Changing behavior is a far more difficult process and requires a step-by-step set of skill acquisition that engages the user and involves them in the process.
Engagement and Media:
The best training has to engage the learner or no learning will take place. Just because a learner has to be there, does not mean they will engage with the training and absorb the lesson. When we hear a story or better yet, are engaged in a story or challenge, we remember the lesson more completely and incorporate those lessons into our memories. Effective use of media engages the user and draws them into the material in a way that they will remember and adapt the learning as part of their behaviors.
Discovery/Requirements
Prepare conceptual design documents
I have extensive experience developing conceptual design documents for educational products from small courses to large on a variety of subjects from Physics to Homeland Security training. Most projects have involved extensive long range planning and large teams.
Review and understand business drivers
Using research and a collaborative Discovery Workshops, I help clients discover and understand their business drivers and develop clear, measurable Learning Objectives in order to improve performance.
Planning and Design
Participate in completion of detailed training designs based on high-level requirements
Using a proven Process of Discovery through extensive research and in-depth interviews with key client decision-makers and Subject Matter Experts (SMEs), I have the ability to both discover high-level Requirements and engage the client in the process to ensure early buy-in. I then produce detailed training designs based on measurable Learning Objectives while including the client in the collaborative process in order to gain easy approval and minimal changes.
Develop instruction modules and materials based on design specifications
Using the design specifications and the Learning Objectives outlined in the Requirements Document, I create instruction modules that fit the audience, delivery mechanism and optimal time allotted for each module.
Conduct audience and needs analyses to confirm appropriateness of learning objectives
Each course has to be tested against the intended audience for appropriateness, learning abilities, cultural differences and setting of the training environment. I have developed educational courses for illiterate factory workers as well as Chemistry students, each has a unique set of parameters and needs that must be understood completely in order to meet the Learning Objectives.
Facilitate content gathering from Subject Matter Experts(SMEs) to create course design
I use Discovery Workshops where I bring the SMEs into a collaborative environment, work on whiteboards to explore all the relevant course design possibilities and settle on the best course design for the subject, Learning Objectives and the audience.
Confirm Client Subject Matter Expert (SME) agreement of detailed schedule and involvement throughout process, set expectations for remainder of project
Using extremely detailed Gantt Charts, I create a schedule that details every task and every person’s role in the project with timelines, effort and costs. In order to set expectations, I then identify detailed Learning Objectives for each course based on business drivers and performance goals and map course content to appropriate learning objectives.
Review deliverables for completeness, compliance with standards, and consistency with the detailed design; prepare materials for manager review
Throughout the development process the Gantt Chart is the bible for production, all milestones and deliverables are constantly measured and confirmed and any changes in schedule are included and adjusted to keep the delivery date firm and inviolate.
Provide oversight on content revisions given feedback from client subject matter experts and field trial participants; manage work effort to maintain scope
As leader of a project it is my job to manage the client expectations as well as keep the project on-scope. Any client instituted revision requests are given consideration and the impact of those requests are communicated to them in terms of time and costs. Early extensive planning and engaged client collaboration in the process leads to fewer changes.
Production and Testing/Evaluation
May provide classroom training and fulfill other training assignments as needed
Some training is best delivered live to a classroom, as a former Chairman of a college department and over 20 years as a college classroom instructor, I am quite comfortable with designing and delivering training directly to a class.
Support training solutions development process
As the leader of a training development team, it is my responsibility to support the development process. By keeping the team focused on development and helping the client engage in the process through me, I keep the client happy and keep the team focused on their development process.
Coordinate project activities between all disciplines including media, technology, project management, client onsite or business interlock and delivery teams
Having led large development teams across all disciplines and personally been involved in each process of development, I have the unique ability to both keep a high level view of the development as a whole or dive deep into the processes of each part of the process, from the client relationship, to media development, instructional design, project management and technology. I see big pictures and I have big ideas, but at the same time I love getting completely immersed in the details that allow me to execute those ideas.
Identify continuous improvement areas based on lessons learned; modify process steps as appropriate for client situation with direction from manager
The process of development is a continuous loop of discovery, planning, development, testing and revision. No training is complete without in-depth examination of results and improvement based upon deployment and use.
Collaborate with team, peers and Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) via professional communication channels to maintain relationships
Early integration of the SMEs in the process of discovery and planning helps me establish and maintain open and collaborative communication between the team and the myself. No matter where the team member is located, I use numerous professional tools and technologies (i.e. SharePoint, Skype, Google apps, Evernote, etc.) to keep my team connected and informed. In today’s internet connected universe, we are connected in real-time better than at any other time.
Monitor course assessment (performance-based test) results against expected service level agreements and business drivers; recommend actions for course improvement
Continuous testing and feedback provides a tangible and measurable metric for judging the efficacy of the product measured against the expected outcomes and Learning Objectives determined in the planning stages of the product development. This testing provides feedback and recommended actions to improve the course.
Complete project administration tasks
As a team leader it is my responsibility to ensure that all necessary reporting and administrative tasks are properly completed in a timely manner.
Report status including estimates to complete work; identify potential risks and recommendations for mitigation
Effective management of the Gantt chart as the project moves forward is essential to be able to report progress and identify possible bottlenecks or problems well before they occur and mitigate any issues before they arise.
Request feedback related to deliverables and own and team performance, suggest action items
Copyright © Michael McGar Creative. All Rights Reserved.
Michael McGar Creative
Michael McGar
Phone: +1.5124221275
Twitter: @mikemcgar
Email: michael26mcgar@gmail.com
Kim Stephens
Phone: 732.492.0093
Twitter: @kim26stephens
Email: kim26stephens@gmail.com