InstructionalDesign
Designing your “dream training program” can be much like designing your “dream home.” Sure, we might want certain luxury items – generous square footage, beautiful kitchen, a fabulous view and so on. But our budget dictates what we can build.
The same is true in training. With very little exception, companies have tightened training budgets year after year. As a result, learning and development (L&D) departments are forced to do more with less.
We have learned to harness our do-it-yourself instincts and turn to low- or no-cost alternatives to address several needs.
As learning professionals in this space, it occurred to me that if we all share ideas on what we are using or doing that fits into this “design on a dime” category, perhaps our combined knowledge truly can up our collective training game.
So, in this article, I’m sharing cost-effective solutions that can apply to a broad range of needs and have helped me “up my game” in subtle and sometimes more substantial ways.
I know readers love a good top 10 list, so here it goes:
Canva – This one was a game changer for me. Want to look like you have a graphic design background or hired someone who does? Try Canva.It’s a graphic design tool that is user-friendly and allows you to create professional-looking content that you can use for a variety of purposes. You can export the creations in various ways, including PDF or PNG.I’ve used Canva to create templates, newsletters, logos and more. One helpful feature is the ability to adjust the format of your creation according to how you intend to use it. For example, if I create a newsletter that will be sent via email, I can adjust the format to an “email” setting and when I download the PNG, it is sized properly for an email message.There is a free version of Canva as well as a paid version that is reasonably priced.
Forms in Teams – If your organization uses Teams, you may have access to Forms, a tool that can be used for many tasks from creating surveys to tracking requests made to your department. This tool is a great vehicle for collecting data of all sorts and provides an export feature into an Excel sheet for further analysis.I typically use Teams for surveys as you can generate a link or a QR code. One creative person I worked with even streamlined her catering order process by using Forms to collect meal orders from trainees during trainings.
Audacity – Looking for a free option for voice recordings and editing those recordings? Audacity is one of several tools in this category but by far the most widely used. While my experience using this tool is limited to recording voiceovers, the tool is also useful for editing podcasts.
Options for Assessing Knowledge – Perhaps you do not have a formal learning management system (LMS) in which you can create assessments. Or perhaps your LMS is not robust and is cumbersome.There are many options that may be able to help you such as Google forms or Typeform. These allow you to quickly create forms and assessments. Depending on your subscription level, you can access varying levels of data analysis as well.
PowerPoint – We all know that PowerPoint (PPT) is a tool for creating presentations, but have you had the chance to use the record feature in PPT yet? You can easily add narration to your PPT and save the file as an mp4. This mp4 could then be used to create a learning module in your LMS.In full transparency, this option doesn’t generate the highest quality elearning – far less interactive than using more robust elearning creation tools. However, if you are in a pinch and don’t have a budget for a designer, the record feature offers a quick and easy way to create and share materials with your team.
Jeopardy Labs – Who doesn’t love a good game of Jeopardy? It is a familiar game, it’s competitive and it allows you to assess several categories of knowledge.While Jeopardy Labs does charge a nominal fee, the benefit is that the site has some additional niceties, such as adding pictures and videos. You can also manage your templates in one place!
Other Game Templates – There are so many – a simple search will yield several results. I have used Family Feud, Pyramid, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire and many more. Lifewire and Class Point offer many options and can be great places to start!
Design on your own! There are plenty of engaging and fun activities you can create that cost absolutely nothing. Take a walk down memory lane and use concepts from old TV shows or movies.How about creating a Dating Game where reps identify the most appropriate “match” (solution) for a stakeholder based on their “dating profile” (needs)? Or a Guess Who game that helps them learn how to clearly identify their stakeholders through a series of clues?I once created a “Salesopoly” game board modeled after Monopoly and had it printed professionally to resemble the game. The $40 investment provided hours of entertainment and learning reinforcement.
Other Gamification Tools – If you are striving to add gamification on budget but want something different than game-show themed options, consider using Kahoot. With various subscription prices, Kahoot offers you customized options to fit your budget.This game is a fan favorite and is very easy to create. Learners love pulling out their phones (a typical no-no during training) to play in real time. Additionally, depending on your subscription, you can access and analyze the game results data.
LinkedIn Learning – For those fortunate enough to be part of an organization that provides free access to LinkedIn Learning, you truly have a handful of gems in your pocket. Use LinkedIn Learning to introduce new skills, information or concepts at various levels.For example, you can find learning that addresses the basics of Excel, using PowerPoint, learning about leadership styles, asking powerful questions and much more.LinkedIn Learning is a powerful learning tool yet, in my experience, one that is greatly underutilized. If you have limited funds for creating new learning modules for your organization, consider having learners take LinkedIn Learning courses and follow with virtual training that allows you to customize the message and training for true application.
These are just a few ideas on how to design on a dime that I have used. What are some of your best low-to-no-cost alternatives?
Let’s continue to uncover these hidden gems and share them with one another. LTEN is a fantastic network for sharing knowledge – we’ll gather these ideas together and follow up on this topic in a future issue of Focus.
We may work for different companies, but we are all in the same game – training. Let’s help one another up our collective game by sharing!
Jeanne Farley is manager, field sales training, for Philips Healthcare and a member of the LTEN Editorial Advisory Board. Email her at jeanne.farley@philips.com or connect through www.linkedin.com/in/aboutjeannefarley.
