In today’s society, there is constant pressure from social media – pressure to keep up with the Joneses, pressure to conform, and pressure to seek fame. Everyone wants to be a “somebody”! With so many influencers, each trying to outdo the other, it’s hard to feel happy just being yourself. In reality, a quiet life … Continue reading I’m Nobody! Who Are You?
Instructional Design Tips by Cats
As a cat lover and someone who has grown up with more than a dozen cats, I have a great deal of respect for felines. Their independence, cuteness, and cleverness never cease to amaze me. Is there another animal on the planet that can purr as adorably and hunt as fiercely as a cat? It's … Continue reading Instructional Design Tips by Cats
Deep Work Rules
According to Computer Science professor and author of the New York Times bestseller, Digital Minimalism, Dr. Calvin Newport, Deep Work is "the activity of focusing without distraction on a cognitively demanding task." When in school and college, I spent so much of my time doing deep work. I didn't have as many distractions and I … Continue reading Deep Work Rules
Good Things Take Time
Recently, I watched a Google Talk by an eminent Graphic Designer. It was a fascinating talk about how MIT got its logo. What amazed me was the more-than-a-year long journey it took to arrive at the MIT family of logos. I find so many clients telling me with a straight face that they want their … Continue reading Good Things Take Time
Male or Female?
When it comes to an e-learning voice-over, which works better? A male voice or a female voice? Sometimes our preference for a particular gender for voice is driven by tradition and conditioning. It's hard to find men being enthusiastic about lotions and lipsticks. Similarly, I'm not sure if a female voice can be too successful … Continue reading Male or Female?
Educating the Parrot
As an e-learning designer, I am fully aware of the power of e-learning. But when people equate a wholesome education with smart classrooms, the latest gadgets and glitzy learning apps, I'm reminded of The Parrot's Tale by Rabindranath Tagore. In the story, a bird that was meant to fly is "educated" by caging it in … Continue reading Educating the Parrot
The Story of the E-Learning Storyboard – Part 2
In part 1 of this blog post, I gave you a brief history and background of the storyboard. In this part, I'll talk about the popular storyboard formats and the steps for creating an effective storyboard. I shall end the post with my top tips on storyboarding. Popular Storyboard Formats Today, the two most common storyboards formats in the industry are … Continue reading The Story of the E-Learning Storyboard – Part 2
The Story of the E-Learning Storyboard – Part 1
When I entered the e-learning industry, the concept of the storyboard fascinated me. Here was a document filled with graphics, dialogues and instructions that formed the crux of the entire e-learning development process. I quickly figured out that the storyboard is the most important tool of an instructional designer. If an ID has carefully conceived … Continue reading The Story of the E-Learning Storyboard – Part 1
Instructional design… so what is it that you do?
“What do you do?” I’m asked. “I am an Instructional Designer (ID)”, I murmur, patiently anticipating the inevitable part 2 of the question. Part 2 is usually one of the following: “Err… what does that exactly mean?”, “Instruction what?”, or worse “Industrial designer?” Over time, I have invented half a dozen responses to the all-too-familiar … Continue reading Instructional design… so what is it that you do?
Anita Kumar 