Ashley Chiasson, M.Ed

Instructional Designer & Consultant

Instructional Design

3 Tips for Submitting Speaking Proposals to L&D Events

I’ve spoken at a number of Learning and Development (L&D) events, and while I’ve never sat on a proposal selection committee, I have a few tips to share based on my experiences. If you’re interested in submitting a speaking proposal, DO IT! Seriously – the worst that can happen is that your session won’t get selected; no harm, no foul. Here are three quick tips for submitting your proposals to L&D events:

1.Review Trends

The first thing I do each year when it comes time to submit speaking proposals is to look at the topics from several like-conferences (e.g., DevLearn/ATD ICE/Learning Solutions) for the past few years. This helps me review popular trends in sessions that were successfully added to conference programs.

In reviewing trends, I also note who is delivering sessions that are similar in topic to the one I wish to submit. The reason I do this is to 1) differentiate my session description and outcomes to leverage it against competition, and 2) avoid wasted effort – what I mean by this is that if an industry heavy-hitter has consistently delivered a specific session each year for several years, I will avoid submitting a proposal that closely resembles elements covered within theirs as they are most likely to be chosen over me (if they submit on that topic again…which is always a risk).

2.Identify a Need

In reviewing trends you will be able to identify pockets of like-sessions. Here, you are essentially doing a mini-needs assessment by looking at the gaps in the conference program. How can you fill these gaps? Submit speaking proposals that will allow you to bridge a conference program gap as there will be a higher likelihood that your proposal will be accepted if it’s differentiated from all of the other submissions.

For example, In October I will deliver a pre-conference certificate workshop at DevLearn 18: Introduction to Instructional Design. The reason I submitted to deliver this workshop is that I had observed many sessions related to Instructional Design, but they ran the gamut and none were specifically targeted at the introductory level or at providing a comprehensive overview of the field as a whole. I identified a need, and my proposal was accepted.

3.Create a Catchy Title

This isn’t a requirement, as can be illustrated with my Introduction to Instructional Design workshop. However, it can help set your proposal apart from similar proposals submitted by people other than you. Think about pop culture and maintain some level of sanitation or appropriateness.

For example, this year at DevLearn18, I’m also delivering a Bring Your Own Device session, called “Let’s Get Variable”, which is a play on a very dated Olivia Newton John song (Physical). I don’t know if the session title got it selected or not, but I’m sure it didn’t hurt.

Don’t Forget!

If you’re interested in learning more about Instructional Design, head over to Sprout E-Learning to check out Essentials of Instructional Design.

Check it out on Sprout E-Learning!

If you’re on the fence, be sure to check out the Course Outline and Course Brochure!

Privacy and Student Data

As I drove to work earlier this month, I heard a story on CBC Radio from a parent who refused to sign a consent form for their child to use Google Classrooms in their school. They had privacy concerns and were upset that there was no alternative considered for those who may not sign the consent form. In this scenario, the student was able to complete their work, using Google Classrooms, signed in as the teacher – obviously not ideal.

The parent is also from British Columbia, so as I researched the article further and realized this, I understood some of their concerns. In Canada, British Columbia and Nova Scotia have some of the strictest privacy regulations when it comes to storing student data. In most cases, the data must be stored within Canada; however, in this scenario Google Classrooms information was being stored in the United States.

I understand the concern for privacy, but my reservations are here:

  • How valuable is the data of K-12 students (this situation)? I’m sure someone well-versed in data analytics might be able to explain this to me. I admittedly am ignorant in thinking “how will that student’s book report become monetized or valued otherwise?”
  • With all of the skimmed through and accepted privacy policies for everything we interact with online, I feel as though education is a smaller fish to fry in terms of sharing information. Am I wrong?
  • Where will we be 10-20 years from now if we refuse to allow our children to access valuable resources within the classroom?

I pushed all of this aside for a few weeks, and then last night I ran into this interesting Educause article, Setting the Table: Responsible Use of Student Data in Higher Education, and it got me thinking about student data again. This article is related to student data use in higher education, so it’s a bit different than the concerns discussed in the CBC article, and the article is written from an American lens, so I’m confident there would be further implications related to student data use in Canada (at least in British Columbia and Nova Scotia).

In any event, the Educause article discussed a project aimed at generating a set of principles “that might frame institutional policies on the use of student data in the digital era.” (Kurzweil & Stevens, 2018) The article further discussed innovative ways institutions are using student data, such as admissions, enrolment management, and to enhance overall student performance. From their research, four main tenets emerged:

  1. Shared Understanding
  2. Transparency
  3. Informed Improvement
  4. Open Futures

These tenets are meant to guide the responsible use of student data across institutions, which is great. However, I’m still left thinking that there is a lot to do in terms of institutional policies with regard to use of student data, and I still don’t think the framing principles respond to the concerns of vigilant K-12 parents.

Basically, I’m confused. How do institutions move forward and ensure student data is protected and that privacy regulations are respected, while attempting to leverage innovative technologies that may increase student engagement, performance, and overall satisfaction? If you have any insight, please leave a comment, because all I have are questions upon questions.

Also, if you’re interested in learning more about Instructional Design, I have a 10-module comprehensive course (Essentials of Instructional Design) launching over at Sprout E-Learning on July 13th. You can save $150 on this course until June 29th.

Check it out on Sprout E-Learning!

If you’re on the fence, be sure to check out the Course Outline and Course Brochure!

Instructional Design – A Mythical Unicorn?

When I meet new people and they ask me what I do, I tell them I’m an Instructional Designer, and it’s usually met with very confused looks. Very few people I’ve encountered know what Instructional Design is – heck, I didn’t even know what Instructional Design was at one point!

Most Instructional Designers I know still don’t have a concise explanation for what it is that they do. When I was working on military contracts, I used to say “I develop aircraft maintenance training.”…and when people found out that I didn’t have a military or aircraft maintenance background, they were immediately concerned.

Now, my typical jokey response is “I make training suck less.” My realistic response is “I use instructional design principles and theories to develop and deliver effective training.” The jokey response is typically better understood from those outside of the industry.

As I mentioned previously, when I first started my career in Instructional Design, I didn’t know what the heck Instructional Design was, and I spent a long time developing myself, learning, and practicing the theories and principles.

I’ve since determined that I want to spread the gospel of Instructional Design, and I know there are many aspiring Instructional Designers out there, or individuals working as Instructional Designers who are just trying to figure it all out like I was. For the past three years, I’ve been part-time faculty at a local university where I teach Introduction to Instructional Design as part of a Masters of Education program. I also work as a full-time Instructional Designer at a local college where part of my role is to teach faculty members how to teach/facilitate online courses.

Knowing that there is a huge training gap for many Instructional Designers and wanting to offer an economical, but thorough solution, Essentials of Instructional Design was born. Essentials of Instructional Design launches on July 13th, and for only three more days is available at a $150 discount (plus bonuses), and is a comprehensive 10-module course that explores the theoretical underpinnings and principles of the unicorn that is Instructional Design.

My goal with this course is to provide aspiring Instructional Designers or those new to the field with an in-depth exploration of the principles and theories involved in a practice near and dear to my heart. I never aspired to stand in front of students and teach (a la K-12 style), but as soon as I discovered that I could work behind the scenes in the field of education, I was SOLD, and I know there are a lot of people out there in a similar situation.

If you’re interested, check out the Course Outline and Course Brochure, and register for Essentials of Instructional Design!

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Will I receive a certificate? Yes. You will receive a certificate of completion from Sprout E-Learning.
  • How long will I have access? Indefinitely. If any changes are made, you will be notified, but you will have access to this content indefinitely. You will also be notified if updates are made to course content.
  • Do I need to complete the course within a certain period of time? No. This course is 100% asynchronous. You can complete the course and assignments on your own time.

Essentials of Instructional Design

I’ve been working on this project for awhile, and I’m excited to be able to finally share it!

As many of you already know, my passion is Instructional Design, but it’s an enigma of a field for many. I decided long ago that I wanted to spread the gospel of Instructional Design and E-Learning with as many people as possible, and now I finally have the ability to do so!

Enter: Essentials of Instructional Design. This course is a self-paced,10-module course that will become a first of several. It aims to take you behind the scenes of Instructional Design to provide a comprehensive overview of the processes and principles of this rapidly growing field!

If you’ve ever been interested in Instructional Design or are new to the field, I encourage you to check this course out.

Note: I have taught this course as an elective for a Masters of Education program, and a condensed version of this course will be features as a pre-conference certificate program at DevLearn 2018.

This course will launch on July 13, 2018, and for the next four weeks I will be offering it at a $150 dollar discount. The discounted rate is $345, and will only be available for the next four weeks, so if you’re interested, get on this deal!

Heck Yes, I’m Interested! (Click Here)

E-Learning Advice: How to Get Started

There are a lot of questions I get about Instructional Design, E-Learning, Development – they’re all over the place, but the questions I get the most are:

  1. How do I get started (in Instructional Design or E-Learning)?
  2. How do I find work?

So I thought I would take some time to discuss each of these questions, starting with “How do I get started?”

There are a lot of ways of answering this question, and I’ve written about my origin story before. However, I’ll give you the short version of my story here:

I didn’t know Instructional Design was a profession, and I studied Psychology and Linguistics in school, hoping to become a Speech-Language Pathologist. A friend I knew worked as an Instructional Designer, referred me to apply at the company for which she worked, and I fell in love with the role. My start was an unconventional start.

Some folks fall into Instructional Design with backgrounds in Human Resources or Training Coordination, some Instructional Designers are former teachers, or have teaching backgrounds, and some take a more direct approach (and those methods certainly don’t encompass all means of becoming an Instructional Designer).

First Things First – Research

Are you even interested in Instructional Design or E-Learning? My first piece of advice is to do your research. There are a ton of places to do this research, but my top two would be:

  1. Talking to someone who is already working within the role, and asking them questions about their day-to-day.
  2. The Instructional Design subreddit – there are tons of helpful nuggets in there.

Other places you might want to look:

Education (Paid)

I would say that the most direct approach would to complete higher education degrees or diplomas within the field of Instructional Design, E-Learning, or Education. While I don’t believe this education is 100% necessary to become an Instructional Designer, it certainly helps. Some great programs are offered through OLC and ATD, and there are many options available at universities and colleges. I did eventually obtain my Masters of Education (Post-Secondary Studies), and it has helped me acquire Instructional Designer roles in higher education. However, for corporate/private sector, I don’t believe such credentials will make or break your chances.

There are also some great MOOCs available that let you get a feel for the principles behind Instructional Design/E-Learning Development:

Education (Free or Low-Cost)

Lynda has a great Become an Instructional Designer learning path, and there are so many great Instructional Design/Education books available:

2017 Recap and 2018 Goals

2017 Recap

I hope everyone is having a great New Year’s Eve! Our little family has spent the last week in quarantine with the flu, but I can’t say I’m complaining to much about having a New Years Eve in. Overall, I feel like I hit the business goals hard, but definitely slacked on the personal goals.

This year, I maintained consistent relationships with my long-term clients and added a few other clients, I networked per usual, attended ATD ICE and DevLearn, spoke at DevLearn, and facilitated a week of Articulate Storyline 360 training. My husband and I traveled to Calgary and Toronto, and I traveled to Atlanta, Las Vegas, and Newfoundland. I would have run the Bluenose and participated in the relay race; however, the dates fell in line with when I was away for ATD ICE.

Personal goals:

  • Slow down and take more time to enjoy the present;
  • Maintain a consistent exercise schedule;
  • Register for run the Bluenose Half Marathon and a relay race; and
  • Travel to Calgary and Toronto with my husband and plan an anniversary vacation.

Business goals:

  • Maintain relationships with my long-term clients, and continue building a small network of clients.
  • Continuing networking with colleagues I respect;
  • Attend 2-3 conferences;
  • Speak at 1-2 e-learning events;
  • Get Sprout up and running;
  • Learn a new skill;
  • Participate regularly in the Articulate E-Learning Heroes Challenges; and
  • Blog regularly.

2018 Goals

For 2018, I really want to focus on some of the personal goals, and more maintenance when it comes to business goals.

Personal goals:

  • Slow down and enjoy the present;
  • Maintain a consistent exercise schedule;
  • Be more mindful of the food I’m putting into my body and make positive dietary changes;
  • Run the Bluenose Half Marathon and participate in a relay race (should be do-able since I won’t be attending ATD ICE this year); and
  • Travel to Toronto with my husband for the Blue Jays Home Opener and plan and execute an epic 5-year anniversary vacation.

Business Goals:

  • Increase business income by 25%;
  • Attend 2 conferences;
  • Speak at 1-2 e-learning conferences;
  • Participate in the e-learning heroes community challenges (period – not regularly, just participate);
  • Blog regularly;
  • Break 1,000,000 views on the blog; and
  • Get more courses up on Sprout.