Audience: New training Specialists

Responsibilities: Instructional design, storyboarding, mockups, prototype,

visual design.

Tools Used: Articulate Storyline 360, Freepik, Canva, Google Docs, Chat GPT, Artistly AI.

Training Decisions: Joseph’s First Project

This eLearning experience follows the story of Joseph, a newly hired training specialist, as he takes on his first major project. Designed as an interactive, scenario-based course, it places learners in Joseph’s shoes, guiding them through the decision-making process of developing job-specific training. From conducting client meetings and gathering information to identifyinghazards and designing engaging content, participants make choices that shape Joseph’s success.

The project blends storytelling with interactive activities—such as walkthroughs, branching scenarios, and knowledge checks—to immerse learners in real-world challenges. By combining narrative, visuals, and practical decision-making, this course not only introduces Joseph’s journey but also equips learners with the skills to create effective, customer-focused training

solutions

Problem

New training specialists often struggle to develop effective training materials, which has led to repeated customer complaints and forced other trainers to redo their work—resulting in wasted time and resources. In my role as a training specialist, I observed these recurring issues firsthand while working closely with the training manager, subject matter experts (SMEs), and newly onboarded specialists. Common mistakes included a lack of understanding of company needs, miscommunication, overuse of technical jargon, and the development of text-heavy presentations lacking visuals or interactive elements. In some cases, training was created based on assumptions rather than clearly defined client goals—leading to costly rework. These observations inspired me to design a scenario-based eLearning experience that helps new training specialists make informed decisions about creating effective training. By using a story- driven approach, this eLearning simulates real-world consequences and challenges, making the learning experience more engaging, practical, and memorable—ultimately encouraging the adoption of best practices in their future work.

Solution

I developed this project using the PADDLE in the Pond model, a problem-centered approach that begins with real-world challenges and builds learning activities around solving them. I started by defining the core performance problem and, with input from the Training Manager (my SME), gathered essential information that became the foundation for the storyboard.

Drawing on my own experience creating job-specific training and recalling the challenges of starting a new role, I designed realistic scenarios and decision points that promoted problem- solving and reflection.

The storyboard went through several iterations with feedback from the SME and experienced instructional designers, ensuring accuracy, consistency, and a strong learner experience. Once approved, I moved into visual design and media development, producing a supporting video that demonstrated the walkthrough process and highlighted safety hazards in the carwash environment.

To build the course, I used Articulate Storyline 360 for interactivity, Freepik for voiceovers, AI Artistl and ChatGPT for video and image creation, and Canva for design. The final product integrated storytelling, scenario-based learning, demonstrations, knowledge checks, and visual cues—guiding learners step by step through the process of creating effective job-specific training while engaging them with real-world challenges.

Result

The result of this training was an engaging, scenario-based eLearning experience that allowed learners to step into the role of a new training specialist and practice making real-world decisions. By applying the PADDLE in the Pond model, the course emphasized problem-solving from the start, helping participants connect theory to practical workplace challenges.Learners gained a clear understanding of how to research a company, gather information from

client meetings, and transform that knowledge into effective job-specific training materials. The use of storytelling, interactive scenarios, demonstrations, and knowledge checks not only improved engagement but also reinforced retention, ensuring that new hires and team members could confidently apply what they learned to their own projects.