Sustainment Induction wip

Professional Diploma in Digital Learning Design

Assignment Title: Courseware Specialist Induction

by Holly Woodrow

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Index

Part 1 - Macro Design & Development

Part 2 - Implementation

Part 3 - Evaluation

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Part 1 - Macro Design & Development

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Introduction

Ascent Flight TrainingThey dream. We deliver. Providing integrated, flexible training solutions to create the next generation of military aircrew.

The Courseware Team

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For this project, I am basing the scenario on my experiences at the company I currently work for. Learner Personas have been generated based on team and leadership feedback, regarding the main role challenges for a Courseware Specialist after they have completed the induction process. No real employee names have been used and no one Learner Persona is based on any lone individual.

Disclamer

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Step 1The WHO of Learning

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Who?

Learning Design Professionals.

With experience of designing, writing, creating and maintaining high quality, creative and accessible learning material inclusive of:

• Computer Aided Instruction (CAI)
• Computer Based Training (CBT)
• Instructor, Student and Phase Guides
• Simulation and Flight Scenarios

With proven experience of:

• The training design and development environment
• developing instructional support documentation, including I Spec, A Spec, and FTS etc.
• Learning Content Management System (LCMS)
• Learning Management System (LMS)
• Presentation media software (Photoshop)
• Microsoft Office suite

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Learning Personas

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Nicholas Ebberson

Nicholas is an experienced Instructional Designer with a background of Multimedia Design in the aerospace and defence industries. A technically astute individual who is highly organised and process driven. Already familiar with the Ascent courseware,;he was part of a team of contractors that developed the original lesson content. He joined the company five years ago as a permanent Courseware Specialist and has focussed mainly on converting and updating existing lessons and assets in to our new LCMS.

Courseware Specialist

Goals and Aspirations:

• To excel in his role and rate highly against the "Full Competence" objectives detailed in his job specification.
• To expand on his knowledge of Ascent's other Programmes .
• To learn and understand the role workflows based outside of the LCMS.
• To improve existing processes.

Barriers to Learning:

• Is frustrated by vague tasking and assumed knowledge - requires clear, concise direction and an accompanying process document.
• A fear of the unknown - work for the company to date has not required he complete the "standard" admin tasks of the role.
• A wariness of programmatic nuaunces - work to date has been on only one of the four main programmes that the wider team work on.

Learning Preferences:

• Well organised and user-friendly SharePoint homepages.
• Tried and tested process guides.
• Likes to be able to feed back, with the aim of improving processes and helping others.

BACK

Technology and Digital Learning Considerations:

• Has advanced IT and multimedia development skills.
• Has used a computer for work for 30+ years.
• Knows what technology is available throughout the industry, is pro digital learning and has a personal interest in software development.

Ulrika Dace

Ulrika is an experienced Instructional Designer with a background across many industries but this is her first role in defence / aerospace. She spent her early career as a fully qualified teacher but retrained when she noticed how inflexible and old fasionioned secondary syllabus is. She joined the company one year ago as a Courseware Specialist and has now had the opportunity to work on three out of four of the Programmes. Due to unforeseen circumstances and other commitments since, she hasn't been able to attend a formal company induction and has had to learn as she goes.

Courseware Specialist

Goals and Aspirations:

• To understand how the Sustainment Team's activities fit in to the wider Ascent business.
• To understand the complexities of, and training pipelines of Military Flying Training.
• To fully understand the neccessity of the administrative and reporting tasks required of the role.
• Expand on her range of industry experience.

Barriers to Learning:

• Memory - she struggles to remember processes for elements of the role she doesn't enjoy. i.e. administration/logs and reporting.
• Does not benefit from or enjoy Microsoft Teams/Virtual learning but is a remote worker and evening carer who visits the office once every two months.

Learning Preferences:

• Prefers a faciliated/classroom environment.
• Would benefit from handouts so she could make/add her own notes to refer back to later.
• Would like access to video tutorials so she can revisit topics as required,

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Technology and Digital Learning Considerations:

• Has a smartphone but didn't grow up with a computer at home, had access to computers in the library throughout University but only uses a computer for work.
• Is pro digital learning due to its flexibility and customisable nature but it is not how she prefers to learn.

Step 2The WHY of Learning

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Why?

I joined the Sustainment team as a Courseware Specialist in 2022 from another department within Ascent. Due to my previous role I had the advantage of knowing how the Sustainment team managed their work and what tools they were using. My start coincided with the migration to a new LCMS/LMS which meant I was able to learn the system at the same time as most of the other Courseware Specialists. Upon joining, one my first tasks was to update the newly migrated courseware to be in line Courseware Styles & Standards. My previous experience meant I understood the content of and had experience navigating the Training Design Database.I already understood the need for the specific processes and how that subsequently fed company wide metrics.I already knew the team and key customers.

BECAUSE I WAS LUCKY!

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Why?

Hybrid Working

Administrative Tasks

Pipeline and Programmatic Nuances

No Formal Sustainment Team Induction Package

• As part of the HR led Company Induction, new starters receive generic departmental overviews.
• When new people join the Courseware Sustainment team, they typically receive two or three days of accompanied overview of the toolset and processes but the role is learned "on the job".
• There are pre-existing User Guides for the Toolset but no up to date Process Documents.
• Generating learning material is core to our business; we should have a package in place.

• Some people prefer face to face inductions and help but hybrid working means time in the office has to be pre-arranged.
• It is easier to hide if you are struggling and if there are no "on demand" resources to refer to people may get embarrassed to ask.

• Start up and close-down admin associated with every task.
• Different levels of change have marginally different process start and penultimate end points.
• There are pre-existing User Guides for the Toolset but no up to date Process Documents.

• Four main Programmes plus additional ad-hoc work streams.
• Limited documentation detailing programmatic nuances.
• An overview of the UK MFTS Training Pipeline (and resulting four main programmes) is not delievered as part of the overall team induction.

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Sustainment's Problem

The Sustainment Team has quadrupled in size over the last six years with potential to grow again. Courseware Change Managers report:

• Incorrectly scoped tasks can later result in "Flight Safety" issues.
• Repeat errors wrt process and administrative tasks cost time and cause frustration.
• Repeat errors or tasks not being complete quickly and correctly has the potential to cause reputational damage.
• A more remote environment means a reliance on people being open about their struggles or mistakes.

Courseware Specialists report:

• They didn't feel they received a "formal" induction to the role.
• "Nothing's written down".
• They don't know where to find things quickly.
• We have the skills and tools in house to produce engaging learning material so we should.
• The overview of the LCMS/LMS and susbquent "User Guides" don't reflect how we use the toolset.
• There is too much admin and they don't understand the point of it.

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Sustainment's Need

Aim: To create an Induction Package specific to the Courseware Specialist role within the Sustainment Team. A structured Induction that can be delivered by any nominated existing team member. One that can be delivered through a variety of formats to cater for individual needs and preferencessdjknfh lakndfijkandf ijkahdsf njsaf jadshfian flexible working uaihdflihdafiluouhads fiuohadnsiufhdskddhhhCourseware Change Managers need:

• To be able to demonstrate the importance of correctly scoping change to prevent any Flight Safety issues .
• To reliably direct new and existing Courseware Specialists to up to date Process Documents and User Guides
• To identify why repeat errors or delays to task completion occur
• Assurance that those who may be too shy to come forward about struggles have access to "on-demand" resources in the first instance.

Courseware Specialists need (the Learning Gap):

• To understand where the team fits within the department, to understanad what the Courseware Specialist is and how the role fits within the team.
• Access to clear, concise processes and user guides.
• Access to a centralised library for all process docs and user guides
• To be empowered to give feedback and make continuous improvement to the induction process.
• The opportunity to skill share and assist in the creation and maintanance of roel specific User Guides across the toolset.
• To be made aware of the Company's reporting and contractual needs and how the role's administrative processes inform both.

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Learning Outcomes

3. Apply

1. Remember

5. Evaluate

4. Analyse

6. Create

2. Understand

To define key tasks and responsibilities of the role and recall relevant processes.

To identify the change type and full scope of a change request.

To complete courseware change with minimal supervision and error.

To identify opportunities for courseware efficiencies and continuous improvement.

To relate the change request, processes, and associated admin with the overall business plan and reporting needs.

To develop and maintain effective workflows you can apply to any commited or ad-hoc programme.

Step 3The WHAT of Learning

Course Structure

The courseware Sustainment Team's purpose:

Ascent

To provide all encompassing specialist courseware development, maintenance and delivery for the complete portfolio of courseware deliverables and documentation at the highest quality standard. Maintain compliance to role requirements through accurate analysis and lesson data management in consultation with all relevant stakeholders, maintaining configuration management of all relevant documentation and courseware.