Efficient Video Content Creation

This scenario-based eLearning experience helps marketing assistants manage video content creation projects more effectively. This learning experience is based on my own experience as a marketing assistant, and it is something I wish I had at the time.

Experience it

Design Document

Overview

Audience: marketing assistant who is involved in creating video content

Responsibilities: Instructional Design, eLearning Development, Visual Design, Storyboarding, Action Mapping, Prototyping

Tools Used: Articulate Storyline, Adobe XD, Adobe Illustrator, Wondershare EdrawMind, Google Docs

Problem and Solution

mGroup (a fictitious client for this concept project) has an increasing need for creating video content to educate potential clients. Without an efficient video production process, the marketing assistant struggles to deliver video content on time.

After analyzing the current workflow, I determined that the marketing assistant lacked the necessary skills to efficiently coordinate the video production project. I proposed a scenario-based eLearning experience in which the marketing assistant could practice managing a project and completing content creation on time.

Our goal is to increase video production efficiency and meet the growing demand for educational content by providing a risk-free environment for marketing assistants to make decisions and see the results. This allows students to connect their choices to real-world consequences. I also included a gamified "possibility meter" that shows the marketing assistant's chances of finishing the video on time. Finally, I added a battery to indicate the time elapsed; this mirrors the time constraint that usually comes with a project.

Features

Custom Visuals: I sourced each visual asset from an image repository and edited them in Adobe Illustrator to maintain immersion and a consistent look. This included graphics resizing, layer editing, individual element recoloring, and asset merging.

Prescriptive Feedback - Mentor: For each question, the learner can seek help from a mentor named Sarah (the content marketing manager) for tips on each situation (the questions). This mentor guides the learner toward the correct behaviour while explaining why that choice is effective. I created a mini scenario involving texting the mentor for advice, which mirrors the current remote-working culture when seeking help.

Gamification - Possibility Meter: I used the possibility meter as light gamification to increase learner engagement and simplify the effects of multiple factors in a project. Seeing the meter move alongside choices provides immediate feedback on whether or not the content was completed on time.

Because the learning is based on my previous experience, I served as the subject matter expert (SME) in developing the action plan and establishing the overall goal for this project. I've decided to track progress by displaying the likelihood of completing the video on time. I then identified the actions required to help the marketing assistant coordinate the video creation project.

After identifying all of the high-priority observable tasks and behaviours through action mapping, I began working on a text-based storyboard that incorporates these key actions into a cohesive narrative.

I framed the scenario as the first day on the job for a marketing assistant. I double-checked the scenario to ensure each element was grounded in reality.

Although there are many things that can go wrong when coordinating a content creation project, I chose video content creation because of the complexity of both internal and external stakeholder engagement. As the learner progresses through the scenario, questions prompt multiple choices with varying outcomes. I incorporated a mentor to provide assistance and simulate the guidance of real-world marketing managers.

When I was confident that my storyboard outlined an engaging and learner-centred experience, I moved on to the visual decision step of the process by creating visual mockups for the scenario in Adobe XD.

I started by creating a colour palette to achieve both visual appeal and text readability. From the background to the characters, I kept a consistent visual style. After completing a style guide, I created a slide for each changing situation in my learning experience. I made an intro slide, a mentor intro slide, a texting mentor slide (ask Sarah), a question slide, and a consequence slide. I iterated on these slides until all the visual and instructional information flowed together seamlessly and made sense for the learner.

When I am satisfied with the look and feel of my mockups, it’s time to recreate everything in Articulate Storyline 360 to further refine the elements and add interactivity.

Although the visual mockups helped me see a clear vision for my design, creating the interactive prototype truly brought the experience to life. I created a prototype in Articulate Storyline 360 to collect feedback on functionality and development.

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I included several interactive slides and layers in my prototype for the intro scene and the first question scene. I added triggers, variables, animation, and a possibility meter. I've also added/changed the states of several elements to make the prototype more user-friendly.

Another consideration was to remind the learner that they could reach out to the mentor at any time. After the learner makes a choice, a speech bubble appears to grab the learner's attention. The mentor’s help is in the format of text messages that show tips in two parts. The learner can choose to answer the question after reading the first tip or both tips. The mentor’s tips explain the reason why the learner should perform certain tasks rather than provide the correct answer directly.

One challenge I gave myself was to make the choice selection and submission process more user-friendly. I used a variable to keep track of whether or not a choice was selected. When a choice is made, the submit button will be activated, and the mentor icon will ask the learner if they are confident with their decision, reminding the learner that they can contact the mentor at any time. Choices are mutually exclusive, so the learner can only select one at a time.

The challenge was more time-consuming and complicated than anticipated. Nonetheless, I thoroughly enjoyed the problem-solving aspect of the challenge and felt a great sense of accomplishment and pride once I overcame the challenge.

This was my favourite part of the process because it was where I pushed myself the most, which resulted in me learning a lot more about the features of Articulate Storyline and gaining more confidence as an eLearning developer.

The interactive prototype revealed many features that users appreciated, but I also received a lot of feedback from my network that assisted in making the experience more functional and immersive for the learner. For example, on the text messaging (ask Sarah) layer, I added a "close button" (UI hotspot) based on a former UX designer's suggestion. This change allowed the learner to exit the text message screen whenever they wanted. I also changed the copy for some of the buttons to make them more concise while maintaining the conversational tone I intended.

Michelle Wang

Efficient Video Content Creation

Overview

Problem and Solution

Features