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Performance Support Tool: Digital Workbook 

June 2023

About the Project 

This digital workbook, designed as a Performance Support Tool (PST), simplifies access to technical content for learners in the classroom and on the job. It replaces the complex NFPA 99 Fire Safety Code book with an interactive format featuring easy navigation, expert-written definitions, and engaging case studies. The PST supports learners in understanding and applying the material during training and in real-world situations.

The Learners:

This resource caters to adults with varying backgrounds, including those with experience in Electrical Commissioning and others transitioning into technical fields. Participants underwent a demanding 40-hour in-person training, often involving travel. Feedback from Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) revealed that most learners preferred digital materials and had smartphones. The training aimed to impart a comprehensive understanding of technical concepts rather than memorization, focusing on equipping learners with the ability to locate information efficiently for on-the-job application.

Skills for this Project:

This project required skills in the follow areas: 

  • Instructional Design 

  • Graphic Design

  • User Experience Design 

  • Stakeholder Negotiation 

  • Design Thinking

  • Active Listening 

  • Project Management

  • Feedback Receptiveness 

Software Utilized for this Project: 

  • Visme

  • Canva

  • Excel 

  • Word

  • Adobe 

Project Brief:

This project started with an Instructional Design Consultation request from the Director of Training (DoT) at a major corporation handling national balancing, building, and environmental certifications. Collaborating closely, we identified a key problem and developed a pilot solution to present to stakeholders. With stakeholder buy-in, the aim was to overhaul training programs to meet new standards. Addressing past concerns about digital materials, we designed a dynamic digital workbook as a proof of concept, aiming to revolutionize the organization's learning and development approach.

Development Overview 

  • Review of entire training program/curriculum

  • Determine overarching painpoints from learner perspectives 

  • Evaluation of need’s from DoT and stakeholder perspectives. 

  • Narrow focus to moving program into a blended/flipped model of learning

  • Decision to adapt primary text/code book into a dynamic multimedia digital workbook

  • SME Prepared “take-way” paragraphs from each section of code in an effort to make the technical language more accessible, with ID guidance.

  • SME provided authentic case-studies which displayed historical evidence of the need for the specific fire-safety code

  • ID developed the workbook with content provided by the SME using Visme

  • 8 iterations of the workbook were developed based on SME and stakeholder feedback

  • Final version approval 

Take a Closer Look 

Asset Development Highlights

For this particular asset, balancing client expectations with learner needs was crucial. The learners experienced cognitive overload, yet the client preferred a traditional training approach with paper-based materials. The solution was to introduce a bite-sized concept demonstrating how a digital adaptation of analog tools could enhance the learning experience rather than merely replacing it. By transforming the complex codebook into a multimedia learning tool, available in both paper and digital formats, we fostered learner engagement, peer interaction, and self-assessment on a small scale. This approach garnered stakeholder buy-in for further development and Instructional Design support.

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