Instructional Designer

Michael Weston

Instructional Designer

********@*****.*** • 512-***-****

Summary

Innovative Instructional Designer with an extensive background in developing learner experiences that utilize adult learning principles and methods to solve learning challenges. Expertise designing learner-centered, performance-based courses, modules and training materials for delivery across multiple modalities, including ILT, vILT, OLT, videos, facilitator guides, and other instructional content. Adept at identifying interdependencies between issues, data, and outcomes, melding pieces together to create “big picture” solutions. Proven track record of effective use of Vyond, Articulate Storyline, and Rise 360. Engaging communicator, able to forge solid relationships with key internal and external stakeholders and foster collaborative partnerships across multiple operations, varied perspectives, and cultures, actively seeking to empower these perspectives.

Qualifications Summary

At Ignite, I collaborated with Stakeholders and SMEs to develop learning experiences, including original courses, course content, microlearning, assessments, masterclasses, and videos for a variety of organizations, including a large social media company, a cloud services provider, a multi-national construction company, and a State agency among others. Developed learning experiences for a wide variety of learners, including technical teams and engineers.

Designed, developed, and delivered new instructional materials for instructor-led classroom (ILT), virtual training (vILT), and online and blended learning programs for analysts and developers at Meta.

At University of Chicago, supported and trained faculty in best practices for using the LMS and other technologies to rapidly move in-person courses online, ensuring that courses were able to be delivered online while still meeting learning outcomes.

Professional Experience

Instructional Designer (freelance), November 2022 – present

Ignite Learning, Austin, TX

Providing Instructional Design and Project Management services to a variety of clients, focusing on course development and redesign:

At a large state agency, I’ve developed videos and Quick Resource Guides (QRGs) for a major software system upgrade that affects a large cross-section of stakeholders. All videos were developed in Vyond and Storyline.

Working with an innovative B2C technology company, I developed onboarding courses for new employees in several different technical and engineering business units. In addition to course development, I also worked with SMEs to develop just-in-time learning for technical employees. Some work involved creating slide decks, some work involved creating Articulate Rise courses and some work involved creating training using Storyline.

Working with a large provider of cloud-based services, I performed an analysis of the existing certification courses and certification exam to quantify whether the certification exam fully maps to the content delivered in the courses, and vice versa. I also developed an introductory course that university educators can utilize in their courses to introduce the basic concepts of cloud computing to non-technical audiences.

Working with a construction management company, I completely redesigned a Train-the-Trainer course to include adding measurable learning outcomes, a summative assessment, updating the slide deck, participant workbook and revising the in-person component of the course. I developed a companion Articulate Rise course to add the flexibility of both a self-paced and hybrid delivery modality in addition to the ILT component.

Working with a utility provider, I updated and performed a light redesign of 24 different Storyline courses as well as mapping out a go-forward plan for the next iteration of the courses. We were focused on standardizing the learner experience across the curriculum, making the learning objectives SMART, adding interactivity, updating the team file management system and implementing a basic project tracking workflow.

Instructional Designer (contract), February 2022 – October 2022

Meta, Austin, TX

Technical proficiencies: Articulate Storyline, Vyond, Captivate, Articulate Rise, Cornerstone LMS, SCORM

Collaborated with SMEs and Training and Development colleagues in the Global Security organization to lead projects involving the development of original content for technical training, systems training, onboarding, microlearning, upskilling, e-learning courses, and videos across a 500+ employee division. Facilitated relationships with key cross-functional partners to ensure that training materials were accurate, effective and updated based on changing needs and timelines.

Using the ADDIE model and SAM models, designed and developed new learning experiences, managing challenging timeframes and shifting criteria to always deliver projects on-time.

Improved onboarding and other training for new employees reducing attrition and shortening time-to-productivity.

Revised existing training materials to improve learning outcomes; aligning learning objectives and assessments, editing for clarity, brevity, consistency, and accuracy to ensure optimum knowledge transfer and improve employee learning experiences.

Wrote and edited new instructional content to be effective, concise, engaging, pedagogically sound and properly targeted to learners.

Conducted needs analyses to identify performance-based training opportunities, identifying learning objectives, and designing prototypes; resulting in four new Masterclasses being developed.

Senior Instructional Designer (contract), August 2021 - February 2022

Risk Management Association, Philadelphia, PA

Technical proficiencies: Microsoft Office Suite, Vyond, Articulate Rise 360, Docebo.

Designed and developed effective train-the-trainer program for facilitators delivering professional development and continuing education courses in the Financial Services and Banking industry. Additionally, analyzed effectiveness of curricula and delivery modalities, identifying current and future performance requirements, feasibility, and costs. Collaborated with SMEs to produce courseware for online and blended programs, including instructor guides, presentations, tests, and simulations.

Created engaging content for multiple courses, including Global Cash Flow, Writing the Credit Analysis, and Analyzing Financial Statements.

Conducted analysis and developed rapid prototype for in-house "train-the-trainer" program for new instructors, designing and developing both ILT and vILT course materials.

Worked as the ID for an LMS pilot using Docebo, building parts of the user interface, developing course templates, course design best practices and building courses.

Senior Instructional Designer and Course Developer (contract), October 2020 - April 2021

University of Chicago, Chicago, IL

Technical proficiencies: Vyond, Articulate Rise, LMS, Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Suite, MacOS, Microsoft Office Suite, Quality Matters, ADDIE, Camtasia

Designed, developed, and implemented curricular materials in collaboration with faculty SMEs, delivering learning objects, online labs, quizzes, videos, graphics, and other materials for online courses. Conducted content editing and Quality Assurance review of complex subject matter. Conducted research on current trends in instructional design and advances in teaching and learning with technology.

Developed user documentation addressing specific pedagogical challenges and recommended appropriate technology tools and strategies to meet learner needs.

Designed, developed, and delivered ongoing faculty training in online instructional techniques, course design, and effective instructional strategies.

Senior Instructional Design Consultant (contract), June 2020 - October 2020

Northeastern University, Boston, MA

Technical proficiencies: ServiceNow, Canvas, Microsoft Teams, Google Suite, MacOS, Microsoft Office Suite, Quality Matters, ADDIE

Contributed to LMS transition of over 400 courses in School of Engineering from Blackboard to Canvas, providing course-development templates and training on pedagogically sound best practices for delivering courses in online modality. Facilitated informal drop-in sessions supporting faculty course migration work. Conducted quality assurance review of course content, supporting continuous improvement.

Spearheaded successful migration of content from Blackboard to Canvas, creating online documentation and training materials; completed project ahead of schedule.

Instructional Designer, February 2013 – May 2020

St. Edward's University, Austin, TX

Technical proficiencies: Canvas, Salesforce, ADDIE, SAM, Adobe Captivate, Camtasia

Promoted to Lead Instructional Designer in 2018, working on cross-functional team charged with providing solutions to teaching and learning challenges. Led to complete revision of the courses in MBA program and development of new master’s degree program. As Lead ID, conceptualized and planned workflow processes designed to provide consistent and scalable development process.

Played key role as departmental SME and UX team member in configuration and deployment of Salesforce.

Developed strategic online and blended course-development framework that was scalable and measurable, leveraging recognized best practices for course design and project management in ADDIE and SAM environments.

Planned and managed course review processes and documentation for Munday School of Business as part of preparation for AACSB accreditation.

Served as Project Lead for design and development of Business School's faculty development program in blended instruction (FlexMBA).

Designed and developed in-person workshops and outcomes-based self-paced Canvas courses that modeled best practices for adult learning.

Education & Credentials

Master of Arts, Communication

University of Houston, Houston, TX

Bachelor of Arts, Liberal Arts

Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO

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