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Ever wonder what sets apart truly successful freelance instructional designers from the rest? It's not just about being more skilled at the job — it's about how effectively they communicate. The most successful freelancers know that keeping clients in the loop and updated is absolutely essential for keeping projects on track and ensuring the client remains happy. They're proactive, not passive. They don’t disappear for days or weeks at a time, forcing clients to reach out and check in. They proactively share progress, anticipate questions, and address concerns before they become issues. This open line of communication keeps projects smooth and clients reassured. Here’s my advice: Always keep the communication channels open, and go above and beyond to keep your clients informed about your progress on the project. Update your clients regularly, not just on the big project milestones but with weekly updates or quick check-ins. It shows you're in control and committed to transparency. Remember, as a freelancer, your ability to communicate clearly and frequently can be as important as your actual instructional design skills. By ensuring your clients never have to ask for a progress report, you build trust and establish a professional standard that invites repeat business and glowing referrals. Are you a freelancer? How do you keep your clients updated? ----------------------------------------------- I'm Scott Winstead, a dedicated eLearning professional who helps instructional designers sharpen their skills and secure their ideal roles. Looking to kickstart or advance your career in instructional design? Download my free guide to landing your first instructional design job here: https://lnkd.in/gm5brKiN

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Did you know that one in four Americans has some sort of disability? That's 83 million people, or more than twice the population of California. Learn how to make your eLearning accessible to everyone. I include links in my article for further research. https://lnkd.in/e72mviVx #elearning #technology #accessible #work

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I don't use templates for writing branching scenarios. I use templates for a lot of instructional design and elearning work, including design documents, storyboards, Storyline layouts and interactions. But I don’t use templates for branching scenarios, especially not for writing the scenarios and mapping out the branching structure. I do create and use templates for development sometimes once I’ve written the scenario, but that’s after I’ve already built out the structure and written all the text. Using templates for writing branching scenarios can limit the structure, reduce alignment with content, and waste development time. Instead of using templates, save time and effort by using a tool designed for nonlinear content like Twine. Read more on my blog: https://lnkd.in/gM89nZpZ

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🚩🚩 Attention freelance instructional designers: beware of client red flags! Being a freelancer can be incredibly rewarding, making you your own boss and letting you choose projects that excite and challenge you. But if you want to make it as a freelancer, you have to learn to recognize the signs of potentially problematic clients early on... Identifying these red flags can save you from stress and ensure your projects run smoothly. Here are some common client red flags every freelance instructional designer should watch out for: --Vague Project Requirements: If a client can’t provide clear objectives or keeps changing the scope, it could spell disaster for project alignment and your workload. --Hesitation on Contract Details: A client reluctant to formalize agreements or unclear about payment terms is a risk you don’t want to take. --Poor Communication: Difficulty in getting timely responses at the outset may indicate how they'll handle communication during critical project phases. --Unrealistic Deadlines: If the timeline sounds too tight, it probably is. This can set you up for stress and rushed work, which is never conducive to quality. --Low Budgets: Stay away from rates that don’t match the complexity of the work. If it sounds too low, it might mean an undervaluation of your skills. Turning down a project can be tough, but protecting your business integrity and ensuring a mutually respectful professional relationship is key. Remember, not every project is worth your time, and recognizing these red flags can save you from potential headaches down the line. What are some other red flags freelancers need to look out for with clients? Share them by dropping a comment below. ----------------------------------------------------- I’m Scott Winstead, and I help instructional designers build successful careers by equipping them with the tools and insights they need to land big jobs and excel in the field. If you're aiming to jumpstart your career in instructional design, don’t miss out on our free guide to landing your first ID job. It has actionable tips and expert advice to help you make a great impression and secure your dream position. Grab your copy today and start paving the way to a fulfilling and successful career in instructional design: https://lnkd.in/gm5brKiN

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If you're new to instructional design and you hear the word "storyboard," you might think it’s all about writing a story, designing a narrative, or simply presenting visuals to show a story unfolding. But guess what? It's so much more than that! A storyboard is where we plan out how an entire course will be developed, combining text, visuals, interactions, and assessments to create a complete learning experience. Curious? Here are the key components of a storyboard—take a look! (Remember, these are some basic elements, you can add more as per the need of the course) #instructionaldesign #storyboard

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"When you use a template to draft [a branching scenario], it can force you to write the narrative to fit that template structure instead of making the structure fit the content." This is a really great post if you're writing branching scenarios!

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Instructional designers, How long should a storyboard take to write as a beginner/intermediate/advanced instructional designer? The outline provided has 14 sections of content with a 30 question quiz at the end.

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Technical Writer vs. Instructional Designer: What’s the Difference? Many people assume that technical writers and instructional designers have the same role—after all, both create materials to help people understand complex information. But these roles have unique skill sets and goals! 🖋️ Technical Writer • Focuses on documenting processes, systems, or products in a clear, concise way. • Creates user manuals, help guides, and product documentation. • Main goal: Ensure the end-user can understand and use the product without issues. 🎓 Instructional Designer • Specializes in creating learning experiences for a targeted audience. • Develops training programs, e-learning courses, and instructional materials. • Main goal: Facilitate learning and knowledge retention through effective design and engaging content. Why it matters: Both roles are essential for a comprehensive learning experience. A technical writer provides the “what” and “how,” while an instructional designer adds the “why” and “when” for effective understanding. ✨ Together, these roles ensure users don’t just know the product—they know how to use it effectively and why it’s valuable. 💡 Curious about the crossover skills that benefit both roles? Share your thoughts below or let’s connect to discuss how these two paths complement each other in building effective learning experiences! Hi, I'm Sachin Kedari, if you found this post helpful and want to know more about my journey 👇 ♻️ Repost to help someone 🔔 Follow me Sachin Kedari Design Thinking

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The implications of this Chrome Extension is pretty insane. I'd say about 80% of folks use or has used Articulate Storyline in the #edtech space. If you develop elearning using Articulate Storyline, watch this video to see how you can: Unlock navigation. Jump to any slide effortlessly. Highlight correct quiz answers (whattt?!!!🚀). Set passing scores to zero for quick testing (whatttttty?!!). Instantly view and edit course variables. Very impressive James Kingsley. Are you are working on a #firefox solution? #reviewmyelearning #elearning #devlearn24 #WTM24 #googlewtm

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Hey hey, instructional designers and eLearning devs! Would you like to join me for an advanced Storyline development workshop? It’s completely free and should be a lot of fun. Tomorrow at 10 AM PT, we’re going live to build an AI Haunted House in Storyline! This will be a great session for anyone looking to build their Storyline skills, learn more about JavaScript, or explore how to incorporate OpenAI models into Storyline 360. My vision for the session is to create an AI-powered ghost that we need to empathize with in order to escape the haunted house. If you want to take it in a different direction, though, then show up on time and we’ll decide on the details together. Finally, this will be my first Storyline development workshop in a while, so I may be a bit rusty. I’m setting the event for 2 hours to give us some time to develop this thing and probably leave some time left over for networking, but feel free to come for as long as you’d like! We go live on Thursday, October 31st from 10 AM - 12 PM PT. You can register for the session with the link in the comments! See you there 😄 #LinkedInWithDevlin #InstructionalDesign #eLearning #Learning #ArtificialIntelligence

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📢 Calling all Instructional Designers and course creators! 📚 I've developed a course design document template and am working on a free micro-learning course to go with it. What would you hope to find in these resources (specifically geared toward the design phase of the instructional design process)? A. Step-by-step guidance on writing clear and measurable learning objectives B. Tips for organizing and structuring course content effectively C. Guidance on choosing the most suitable mode of content delivery (e.g., text, video, interactive) D. Examples of effective course design documents E. Other (please specify in comments) 👇 Thanks y'all!

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𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗨𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗼𝗼𝗹𝘀 𝗗𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗹𝘆 Traditionally, Instructional Designers (IDs) create detailed storyboards that outline the structure and content of eLearning modules. Developers then use authoring tools to transform these storyboards into published files. However, the need for IDs to directly input their content into authoring tools like Articulate is growing. Here’s why this shift is becoming increasingly important. 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗜𝗗𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗠𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗼𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝗗𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗨𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗼𝗼𝗹𝘀? • Efficiency and Speed   • Enhanced Accuracy   • Increased Flexibility   • Better Collaboration   • Skill Development  𝗚𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗼𝗼𝗹𝘀 Training: Take advantage of online courses and tutorials on tools like Articulate to build proficiency. Practice: Regularly experiment with different features and functionalities to become comfortable with the tool. Collaboration: Work closely with developers and other stakeholders to integrate feedback and refine your skills. 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 As eLearning continues to evolve, the role of Instructional Designers is expanding beyond traditional storyboard creation. Directly inputting content into authoring tools like Articulate is becoming essential for efficiency, accuracy, and creative flexibility. By embracing this shift, IDs can enhance their contributions to eLearning projects and stay ahead in the competitive landscape of digital learning.  

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Can I use a YouTube video in my course? That's a question I've seen again and again in instructional design forums. So I wrote a blog post about it back in 2022, and it's still one of my most popular posts. In my original post, I listed some common misconceptions that come up when people ask this question. Unfortunately, I noticed that Google was misquoting my advice in search results—presenting the misconceptions as if they were true. So I updated the post today to remove that information. https://lnkd.in/egKXwa_g #InstructionalDesign #YouTube #Copyright

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You should be skeptical of eLearning courses you find online. There's a bunch of stuff out there. Long boring talking head video courses where a trainer stands and talks to the audience and explains ideas using their most successful cases. If they want to do that, by all means, be my guest. You will use your best scenarios in one place as a resource to explain the idea, obviously!! See, that makes sense right? But to me, that isn't what learners actually need. It's not what you need, It's not what I need. That's why when it came to creating an eLearning course for you, I decided to make it short and crisp with lots of practical examples for YOU to solve and learn through. No one-sided teaching. 3 reasons why eLearning is short and no-nonsense (and not a 1-hour talking video): 1. To become a better performer, you don’t need more advice - you need to practice more. 2. Nobody really cares about the concepts you know, just how well you apply them and if you do then you’re hitting the right spot. 3. Generally speaking, people’s favorite way to learn is to Do, not watch or read, so during my eLearning course you Do from start to finish. See, time is the most valuable asset, so let's not waste it indulging in dry content-based learning, and get into case study-based thought-provoking learning. See you on the other side of the learning world! #Unikrew #Learninganddevelopment #Traininganddevelopment #TnD #eLearning #NAB

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Sometimes I feel like Al Pacino in the Godfather III "When I thought was I out..." Don't get me wrong https://lnkd.in/eeUu5NPd one instructional design model does not address every possible condition in the world but, this is totally ridiculous and the fact that no one calls it out or that people even support this as factual is just sad. You don't blame a hammer because people use it as a paper weight. #LearningAndDevelopment #InstructionalDesign #TalentDevelopment #TrainingAndDevelopment #HigherEd

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As instructional designers, we are a curious bunch who are continually learning and growing. This month, something I’m working on is learning how to use WordPress statistics. I manage a technical training project hosted on WordPress and the built-in analytics are useful for reporting to the project sponsor on traffic, clicks, most heavily visited pages, etc. My team is exploring a plug-in to harness further metrics, like how users navigate to and around individual pages. Single Sign-On is another capability that would be helpful for tracking repeat visitors. Lots more to learn and explore! How about you…learning anything new? #TransitioningTeachers #CareerDevelopment #ProfessionalDevelopment #ProjectManagement #InstructionalDesign Image Description: A photo of a woman reading a book on an outdoor staircase, next to text that says “What I Learned This Month”

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I use Articulate to design elearning courses and presentations for clients. I mainly use Articulate storyline and Articulate Rise and Articulate review. Articulate is a cloud-based platform that enables businesses to create interactive eLearning courses. Content creators save time with prebuilt courses, lessons, and templates. The platform also has an easy-to-use review tool and live, on-demand online training. More on: https://bit.ly/4e9hGU5 #Articulate #Design #Learning Design #AuthoringTool #LearningDevelopment #eLearning 👩‍🏫 👩‍🎓 📚 Do you know any alternatives to Articulate? i am really curious! ❓❓❓

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