Tuesday, July 23, 2013

A little animation fun!




A little something I made...

Check out my movie for some more information about me and creating training materials.

Universal Design Podcast

Listen to my podcast on Universal Design

Visual Design Virtuoso: Universal Design Podcast:

Thinking about differences...


As I read articles related to multiculturalism today, I realized that it is also important to recognize differences in skill sets. The other day I helped a colleague create the most simple word processing document, a welcome sign for new employees moving into the area. I showed her how to add clip art and word art, how to change colors and fonts until she arrived at a document she liked. I had always thought of this person as well rounded and never expected her to come to me with such a request. I was surprised to be able to help her learn something new.

As someone who likes teaching others and loves the possibilities of design, I really enjoyed the brief time I spent with her that afternoon, but it really made me think. You always need to be aware of differences and not assume that because something is almost second nature to you, it is that way for everyone.

Language

Language is a funny thing. There is a duality to language. Language includes the words we use to communicate; they are the nouns, verbs and adjectives that we use to connect with one another and the world we live in. Language is how we interact, how we teach, how we tell someone else how we feel and what we think.

Language goes beyond just picking a word to get our point across but our selection of words also makes something more special, making a deliberate choice of words can change the whole meaning.

Red shoes












Ruby red slippers









Authors like Mark Twain and William Faulkner could change language completely to tell a story, whether it is the adventures of a young boy on the Mississippi River in the 1800's or the story of a family experiencing the death of one of its own.

Just as authors can manipulate language to create characters and make them come alive in the mind of the reader, instructional designers need to be as careful in their selection of words.  The instructional designer needs to remember the audience and the reason for the instruction.  If creating an introductory course to a technical field, a designer cannot use words only an expert would know.  They would need to start with simple explanations and as the audience's knowledge grows, so can the vocabulary of the designer.

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Long and winding road...

It has took me a while to decide what I wanted to be when I grew up, but I finally figured it out, an Instructional Designer. My journey to this end has been long and filled with various experiences that I believe make me able to create outstanding training materials. My undergraduate degree is in Communications, so I have a background in design, layout and editing. Currently, I am pursuing my Master's degree in Instructional Design, so my knowledge base also includes learning models, educational psychology and instructional techniques. Additionally, I have been in the real world for 15 years, so while I remain passionate about training, I am also a realist.

 

The combination of these attributes makes me a go to person for varied, creative and effective training materials, a visual design virtuoso.