Lori Arndt Consulting

Training Project Production Process

1. DEFINE
Goals for this stage: 1) to learn as much as possible about the proposed project(s).

Training
What training course will be developed or redesigned?
Is this training required or elective? Will this training course be
part of an online program?
How often will this training be offered?
Does the training have prerequisites? Will the training be a
prerequisite?
Will the new training be offered concurrently with other training?
Audience
Who is the target audience?
What is the anticipated enrollment?
Are there cohorts? Sections?
Content Experts involvement and availability
Who will deliver this training?
What are the instructors teaching preferences?
Who should approve recommended instructional models,
strategies, and developed materials?
What will be the availability of the instructors during the project?
Will the instructors be the subject matter experts (SMEs) for this
project?
Content
Who will provide content source files to the instructional design
team?
Is there existing content? If yes, where is it stored? In what
format(s)? Do existing content files need to be changed/revised?
Project management
Who will be the point of contact for the instructional design
team?
Who has to authority to approve this project, the work, and
outcomes?
What support is available? (e.g., interns, clerical support,
technology support, funds)?
Are there any copyright/ownership/legal agreements to consider?

Identify project leads and team members

Identify roles and responsibilities: instructional design, SME,
media production, site design, testing, etc.
Outline a communication plan for team members

2. BRAINSTORM AND GATHER

Goals for this stage: 1) to gather existing materials for repurposing and
2) generate ideas for new materials to be developed.

Create an inventory of existing course materials

Identify and collect existing assets to be used for media
production (e.g. slides, images)
Review multimedia presentation samples
Generate and compile ideas for new materials
Start collecting copyright permissions and release forms
Purchase images, pay membership fees, or set up accounts for
using media from other sources.
Test technologies and tools for media/content development and
teaching
Identify content gaps and new topics and units to be added
Create a list of materials to be developed
Identify supplemental training documentation required (e.g.
quality expectations, work guidelines, grading rubrics, examples
of learner work, etc.)

3. DESIGN
Goals for this stage: 1) to develop drafts of course materials, 2) to
organize assets to be used in course materials
Course structure

Determine training time frame and structure (dates, instructional

units/modules, topics, etc.)

Course content

Draft, revise, and review content

Develop recommendations for preparing content for media
development and web delivery
Create storyboards for content files
Review for accessibility

Decide on additional content resources to be used for the

course , i.e., epubs, eReserves, open textbooks, ereferences

Course activities and assignments

Organize existing learning activities and assignments into
modules/topics

Draft new learning activities and assignments

Select tools to be used for course activities and assignments

(i.e., Storyline, Captivate, Moodle activities and resources, etc.)

Select communication and interaction tools for instructor-learner

and learner-learner interaction (e.g., online discussion, chats,
video)

Training media
Identify and collect existing assets to be used for media
production (e.g. slides, images)
Make a list of new media files to be developed
Collect release forms
Production plan
Create a course production plan for modules that includes:
timeline, milestones, check-ins to create, update, revise and
develop materials
Coordinate other team members schedules to plan enough time
for the project tasks
Develop a check-in process to track progress and meet
deadlines.

4. BUILD
Goals for this stage: develop and finalize all course materials
Guiding Questions
What technologies/tools will be selected to develop media files?
Which media format(s) should be used? (e.g., video, audio,
animations)
What will be the learning contexts/situations for these resources
(e.g., if used for online discussion, are there guiding inquiry
questions, or if used for knowledge checks, what would happen if
pass/fail, etc.)?
Media production
1. Treatment: Write overview and determine approach

2. Pre-production: Write scripts and storyboards, create schedules,

identify recording location(s), collect assets
3. Production: Record, capture, animate
4. Post-production
1. edit, synchronize, assemble
2. design for accessibility, caption
3. get SME feedback and approval
b. Publish/store
Content production

Create handouts, case studies, notes, and other content files

Write and finalize activities and assignment descriptions and
guidelines
Develop course documents: module/unit overviews, rubrics,
discussion questions, interaction guidelines, quality expectations,
samples of quality work, evaluation criteria, etc.

Course site development and testing

Select course site layout from the options available on an LMS or
other site
Upload, link, and organize the files on the course site
Add activities and assignments tools
Create course assessments
Set groups and groupings to support learner interaction

5. EVALUATE
Goals for this stage: 1) determine that the course is ready to go live, 2)
identify changes needed for future iterations
Completion
tests for navigation and usability
tests for content accuracy and usability
Final review, sign-off by those authorized to give approval
Training for instructors on using course technologies and tools, if
needed
Plan for troubleshooting
Create a maintenance and revision schedule
Ongoing

Learner engagement: review level and quality of student

engagement with the instructor, course materials and with each
other
Course organization, layout: note if learners had any difficulty

Will CEU or other credit be given for participation/completion? If

so, what system will manage enrollment/completion?