Simple, concise and consistent

I was fortunate enough to learn about how Articulate works. We showed our subject matter experts on converting PowerPoint lectures to e-learning using Articulate Studio (now 360). The great opportunity there was to allow flexibility for our learners so that they could watch these modules at their own time. Our learners are medical students, so imagine the load of medical information they have to learn in a given amount of time.

After getting feedback from our students, we learned a big thing. A game-changer is that we want to make sure that we show them we value their time. We focused on learner-centered experience. Much to our great surprise, our students appreciate it and felt like they were more in control of their learning when the modules are simplified, concise, and consistent. This also made our subject matter experts happier because it helped them organize how they delivered the material in a meaningful way. The bottom line is to keep things simple yet concise and useful and keep this consistent. All the fancy buttons and transitions are merely distractions. Content, when written well, speaks for itself. Learners (users) will take away more from what we expect. Have faith. Instill confidence and cultivate the power of curiosity. People are inherently curious. Adults want to drive their own learning. It is amazing what happens when we give them space and freedom to figure things out and let them question things than reading and listening to the bulleted points word for word. Value both of our learner and our subject matter experts. Allow the possibility to facilitate a relationship between the teacher and student. We can also save money by keeping things simple. At the end of the day, all learning materials are products. When we design products with a lot of features, we can lose sight of the message of the product.

These are my own thoughts and views from our personal experience working closely with subject matter experts and students. We learned so much from the value of simplicity, the power of people, curiosity, and desire to learn. We are thankful for the honor working at the Ohio State University College of Medicine.

Your brand is authentic

Let me sit down and take this moment to express gratitude for my dad, who always takes the opportunity to teach us something. He has a way of talking that makes you stop and laugh. If you come from a different frame of mind, soul, and heart or perspective, he can be easily misunderstood. I love when and how he takes out his post-it notes and pencil to share knowledge and wisdom. I can see the joy in his eyes when he writes things down. You can tell he gets all lit up with numbers. Left-handed and writing numbers upside down. Then after a few minutes of writing as he explains ideas and thoughts to me, he realizes and acknowledges, he is better off flipping the post-it around to face him — the right side up. Imagine that for a second. See if you can visualize it. We are sitting at the kitchen table just after having dinner, and this is happening. That energy takes some intelligence and ultra awareness. I always say how he would be a great teacher. Do you sense that?

…Let me take you to another scene, a library full of people from all over the world learning about brand presence from a remarkable woman, Miss Denise O’Brien (aka Queen of Joy), oozing with you guessed it: joy. She starts by taking us on a journey where she takes the wrong exit and explains how she sees an elderly man, who tells the story of a little girl. Can you guess who that little girl he is referring to?

Moments come and go. People come and go. Ideas come and go. Stop and take notice. Who do you talk to every day? Who did you go see today? What have you learned? How does it make you feel learning something new? What are you grateful for? You are the creator. Make. Express. If there is a hesitation, it’s okay. Explore. Write. See where it stems, observe and don’t follow. Feel it. You are the maker. It is a great doorway of opportunity. Much love in your discovery. Feel free to share your story. Thanks for being here.

Spotify playlist that puts you in the zone at this moment: Brain Food

Music is love my friends. I get fired up with music and get in the writing process when I put on my headphones and lose myself to writing. Do you get that way too? #musicislove #ramengirldonthesitate #Aikolove