The AGILE Method at Work
The Agile method of instructional design can be hard to conceptualize as its fluid nature can leave the model feeling vague. However, when the steps of the Agile method are broken down the process becomes clearer.
Every project starts with a meeting between stakeholders, clients, creators, designers, and any other employees involved in the project. This initial meeting is where brainstorming begins, and a loose plan is formulated. The non-negotiable elements and objectives of a course are hammered out and all parties leave the meeting comfortable with the planned direction of the course.
After the initial meeting has laid out the project goals, development begins. Agile projects are commonly worked on in short bursts or sprints. One element of a course is iterated and rapidly prototyped before being sent to the client for feedback and testing. The course element is then changed according to feedback and test results. Course designers meet frequently, sometimes daily, during this phase to ensure all team members are on the same page and that changes can be implemented quickly. This process is repeated for each element of a course until it is time to bring the project together as a whole.
The design team meets to bring the project together into a rough whole that is then shown to the clients. The Alpha build of the course is then tested extensively and changed until the client is satisfied, which brings the course into the Beta stage. The course is refined until all parties are confident the goals have been achieved and the project ends when the course is launched.
The AGILE Method
The Agile process of creating a course is different from other popular models for a few different reasons. Agile projects iterate a design until the desired outcome is achieved. The iteration phase of Agile design often works in a circular fashion where a basic design is quickly made and then tested. The results of those tests inform the next iteration where the cycle starts again. The waterfall design method moves in a straight line which requires that the previous step is completed before moving on with iteration only occurring at the end of the project. Other popular models tend to work on one design continuously with testing coming at the very end of the design process while Agile utilizes testing phases much earlier.
In Conclusion
Agile eLearning development is different from traditional design models, but Agile’s unorthodox structure makes it capable of handling complex modern design problems. The Agile design model does take some adjustment, even the best design teams can use a helping hand. Skillsource’s instructional design consulting services help your team create the best course material possible while making full use of the Agile design method.
