Choose Your Tool: Two Project Development Resources to Support Workflow

         


   The tasks of project management are numerous and varied and can easily cause project managers (PMs) to feel overwhelmed (Walden University, LLC (Executive Producer), n.d.). Being equipped with tools and strategies to organize the sequence and assignment of tasks and task activities can assist with project navigation and guiding project teams. Whether as a team or individual, project managers are challenged to complete projects on time and on budget. Utilization of workflow schedules provides a visual representation of the project life cycle – initiating, planning, executing, monitoring/controlling, and closing (Adobe Experience Cloud, 2022) – and offers a framework for project development and completion.

            This post spotlights resources that may prove useful in planning an instructional design (ID) project schedule. Located through a web search, brief descriptions and evaluations of the identified resources are provided along with a perception of value and use. The landscape is packed with a variety of tools and resources available for purchase but also at no cost. I hope to equip you, the reader, with information that may help you make informed decisions in selecting tools that best serve your needs as a project manager within the instructional design domain.

             iSpring Solutions is a software company that works to empower instructional designers with eLearning software and services to meet their needs (iSpring Solution, 2022). iSpring Solutions publishes an instructional design blog that provides a series of articles and resources to support the professional development of eLearning professionals. In the article, “eLearning Project Management: Putting the “Pro” in Project” (retrieved from https://www.ispringsolutions.com/blog/elearning-project-management), Sydney Mansaray (2021) offers an overview of solutions to challenges that are commonly faced by PMs. In addition, a step-by-step guide for developing an eLearning project plan with detailed explanations and insightful tips are shared. A link to a sample eLearning project plan template that is free to download is also included in the article. As an additional benefit, the template is easily modifiable to accommodate personal preferences

            eLearning Art was founded in 2009 by a training consultant who found themselves required to build eLearning programs that included graphic designs (Jones, 2020). The eLearning Art website includes free access to the “Ultimate Guide to ELearning Development” (retrieved from https://elearningart.com/development/plan/). Of the nine sections of the guide, a link to “Basics of eLearning Planning” (retrieved from https://elearningart.com/development/plan/) is included to guide the development of a project plan for eLearning through the completion of 10 project phases and milestones. A link to download a free Excel project plan template is also made available.

            The information and resources offered by the websites referenced in this article are presented as advertisements and opportunities to examine the services that are available for purchase by the sponsoring companies. However, accessibility to examine guides and templates at no cost is often of benefit, in my opinion. The price tag certainly does not inhibit the exploration to determine if the tool suits the needs of the PM. In addition, a review of the free templates may offer a baseline of expectation if the decision to purchase proves to be the best option. So, you are encouraged to take the time to explore and examine options to support your ability to make an informed decision in selecting or creating project planning tools and resources that suit your design and management style.

References 

Adobe Experience Cloud. (2022). Project life cycle [Advertisement]. Retrieved from https://www.workfront.com/project-management/life-cycle.

iSpring Solutions, Inc. (2022). Providing superior technology to drive training forward. About iSpring Solutions, Inc. Retrieved July 28, 2022, from https://www.ispringsolutions.com/company.

Jones, B. (2020, August 4). About elearningart - learn more about the company, library, and Team. eLearningArt. Retrieved July 28, 2022, from https://elearningart.com/about

Jones, B. (2022, July 6). Create an elearning project plan in 3 simple steps (template included). eLearningArt. Retrieved July 26, 2022, from https://elearningart.com/development/plan/

Mansaray, S. (2021, September 14). [web log]. Retrieved July 26, 2022, from https://www.ispringsolutions.com/blog/elearning-project-management. 

Walden University, LLC (Executive Producer). (n.d.). Creating a project schedule [Video file]. Retrieved from https://class.waldenu.edu.

Comments

  1. johnchimbora2021July 31, 2022 at 6:50 AM

    Thank you for sharing great resources, I like the elearningart.com site. The site has great templates which they call quickstart templates, they do offer a quick and fresh start giving one exposure to a lot of ideas, customizing ready-to-use templates can be a good practice and a learning curve for beginners. Pre-designed templates are incredibly helpful tools for today’s instructional designers. They provide guidance and inspiration for almost all types of content and save precious time and energy. These templates are great, they make an Instructional designer want to get straight to work using an easier path.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Barry CoseyJuly 31, 2022 at 9:43 PM

    I too have to say thank you for sharing these resources. I do like the QuickStarts. They can be really helpful once you really begin to explore them.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Mel WmsAugust 1, 2022 at 4:49 AM

    The sites you speak about seem to offer great tools and resources for creating instructional design projects.

    ReplyDelete

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