1. Defusing Landmines
in eLearning Projects
© 2011 BlueStreak Learning, LLC 1

2. Event Vision
The purpose of today’s event is to:
Provide a forum for eLearning professionals in the
Chicago area to share their knowledge and
experiences with each other.
Create a space where event participants can view the
latest eLearning technology products and get to know
local eLearning supplier/partners.
Create a community of eLearning professionals who
work together on eLearning projects.
© 2011 BlueStreak Learning, LLC 2

3. Session Objectives
At the end of this session you will be able to:
List common issues that can sidetrack an eLearning
project
Use a list of scoping questions to assess potential
issues before the project starts
Facilitate a project kick-off meeting that sets
appropriate team member expectations
Use tracking and communication techniques to
address issues before they blow-up
© 2011 BlueStreak Learning, LLC 3

4. Please Participate
Interactive presentation
Discussion points noted along the way
Learn from our collective scars
It’s about
our
community
of practice
© 2011 BlueStreak Learning, LLC

5. eLearning Landmines
We’ll discuss four common types of landmines:
Course delivery (LMS)
SME time
Revisions
Scope creep
© 2011 BlueStreak Learning, LLC 5

6. Course Delivery Story
One of my worst days ever!
Project: IBM Partner Training
© 2011 BlueStreak Learning, LLC

7. Course Delivery: Lessons Learned
Test the delivery platform (LMS) early in the
development process
Load a prototype in the LMS
Test on target audience computer or similar
Focus on items that may stop or distort the
course
Firewalls
Corporate IT policies
OS, browsers, screen resolution
Resolve any issues you find early in the course
development process
© 2011 BlueStreak Learning, LLC 7

8. SME Time Stories
.
Tell us about this incident and what you think
caused the problem.
© 2011 BlueStreak Learning, LLC

9. SME Time: Lessons Learned
Common misunderstanding:
SMEs don’t realize how much of their
time is required to develop a solid
eLearning course.
© 2011 BlueStreak Learning, LLC 9

10. SME Time: Lessons Learned
Explain the options for gathering and revising
content and the risks with each method
You read, research & interview/SME reviews & revises
SME writes/You revise & reformat
Do NOT expect the SME to be the eLearning designer
Based on the selected method, explain the time you
need from the SME early and often
Initial development
Reviews and verification
When you’re not getting what you need, discuss:
Issues and possible resolutions with SME
Options with management and/or stakeholders
© 2011 BlueStreak Learning, LLC 10

11. Revision Stories
Two New System Training Projects
For both, the cost was double the estimate
How many
times do we
go back and
forth?
Newton’s Cradle
© 2011 BlueStreak Learning, LLC

12. Revisions: Lessons Learned
When you have more than one or two reviewers:
Appoint a decision-maker to consolidate revisions
into one list.
Hold a revision discussion meeting to make
decisions about which revisions will be made.
Keep your revision cycles and versions clear.
When working with unstable content, consider
delaying the project start until the content stabilizes.
Make sure you discuss the cost of the revisions (time
& money) and gain agreement from managers and
stakeholders.
© 2011 BlueStreak Learning, LLC 12

13. Scope Creep Story
Project: 18 Lesson Healthcare Curriculum
This issue affects
over half our
eLearning
projects
© 2011 BlueStreak Learning, LLC

14. Scope Creep: Lessons Learned
Compare scope to current status regularly
Determine the root cause of the scope creep
Course length/amount of content
Content changes/revision cycles
Level of interactivity or media
Review issue with stakeholder ASAP
Present problem in factual, data-driven manner
Offer options to increase time, money, change deliverables,
or better control project elements
Agree and communicate action plan to team
members
© 2011 BlueStreak Learning, LLC 14

15. Your Turn
Raise your hand if you want to provide a
tip for dealing with one of these potential
landmines:
• Course Delivery (LMS)
• SME Time
• Revisions
• Scope Creep
© 2011 BlueStreak Learning, LLC

16. Scoping eLearning Projects
Six types of items to assess
Stakeholders/Owners & Results
The Needed
most important way to defuse
landmines iseLearningthe right &
Previous to ask Experience
Expectations
questions before you start the
project Targetplan according to the
and Audience and Course
Delivery
answers you get.
Existing Content
Course Development/Production
Read over the first 1 ½ pages of
the handout. What questions or
comments do you have?
© 2011 BlueStreak Learning, LLC 16

17. Kick-off Meeting Agenda
Team Introductions
Goals for the Project
Work Process/Deliverables
The second-most effective way to
Roles defuse landmines is to get the
and Responsibilities
Toolsentire project team on the same
and Templates
Branding/Style Guidelines
page at the beginning of the project.
Visuals and Media Elements
File Sharing and Version Control
Action Items and Next Steps
© 2011 BlueStreak Learning, LLC 17

18. Kick-off Meeting Agenda
Team Introductions
Goals for the Project
Work Process/Deliverables
Roles and Responsibilities
Tools and Templates
Branding/Style Guidelines
Visuals and Media Elements
File Sharing and Version Control
Action Items and Next Steps
© 2011 BlueStreak Learning, LLC 18

19. eLearning Project Tracking
100 % Project Completion
Deliverable Budget Actual Difference Overage
Hours Hours Rationale
Design Document 12 10 +2
Storyboard The third most effective way to 50%
20 36 -16 Lesson
defuse eLearning landmines is to plan
longer than
Lesson production
establish40 tracking system and50%plan
a 50 -10 Lesson
longer than
Alpha, beta, QAmonitor16the projectIf regularly.
12
the lesson is 50%
+4
longer than planned,
revisions
does it make sense
Meetings & calls 4 7 that we’re 25% to reduce
-3 Trying to
Earlier in the countdown = more timeover defuse
content
budget?
Project management 8 10 -2 Lesson size issues
Project Status 98 123 -25
© 2011 BlueStreak Learning, LLC 19

20. eLearning Project Tracking
100 % Project Completion
Deliverable Budget Actual Difference Overage
Hours Hours Rationale
Design Document 12 10 +2
Storyboard 20 36 -16 Lesson 50%
longer than plan
Lesson production 40 50 -10 Lesson 50%
longer than plan
If the lesson is 50%
Alpha, beta, QA 16 12 +4
longer than planned,
revisions
does it make sense
Meetings & calls 4 7 that we’re 25% over reduce
-3 Trying to
content
budget?
Project management 8 10 -2 Lesson size issues
Project Status 98 123 -25
© 2011 BlueStreak Learning, LLC 20

21. eLearning Project Tracking
30 % Project Completion
Deliverable Budget Actual Difference Overage
Hours Hours Rationale
Design Document 12 10 +2
Storyboard 20 36 -16 Lesson 50%
longer than plan
Lesson production 40 0 +40
If you don’t address this,
Alpha, beta, QA 16 0 +16
the production team will
revisions have 43 hours to do a
Meetings & calls 4 4 56 hour job or Trying to reduce
0 you will
be over budget.
content
Project management 8 7 +1 Lesson size issues
Project Status 98 55 43
© 2011 BlueStreak Learning, LLC 21

22. Your Turn
Raise your hand if you want to provide a
tip about:
• Scoping an eLearning Project
• Kick-off Meetings
• Project Tracking
© 2011 BlueStreak Learning, LLC

23. Q&A
What questions do you have?
© 2011 BlueStreak Learning, LLC

24. Contact Information
Jennifer De Vries, CPT
BlueStreak Learning, LLC
jennifer@bluestreaklearning.com
630-842-1865
Thank you for your time and attention.
© 2011 BlueStreak Learning, LLC 24