Q. Who is Millennial ID?
A. My name is Christina Stephenson. I am a millennial myself, with over 5 years of experience in Human Resources and Training in both non-profit and for-profit companies.
Q. What is a millennial?
A. Millennial refers to the Millennial Generation, also known as Generation Y, which follows Generation X. While there is some debate over when this generation begins and ends, birth dates range anywhere from mid 1970′s to mid 1980′s. This generation is most known for it’s familiarity with communication, media and technology.
Q. What is an ID?
A. ID stands for Instructional Designer. Instructional Designers specialize in creating training materials, ranging anywhere from training manuals to instructor-led training to online learning, and everything in-between.
Q. How does being a millennial affect your work as an instructional designer?
A. The most common characteristic of millennials is our comfort with technology. This is a huge benefit when it comes to instructional design, because I am committed to utilizing all of the technology out there to ensure that what I deliver is cutting-edge and innovative. Another characteristic is our need to be “connected.” I regularly connect with other learning experts out there through social media sites such as Twitter, LinkedIn and other online communities. By doing so, I’m able to stay up-to-date with the latest learning trends, share insights with others, and ensure that my courses are in-line with industry standards. I see these as the two main benefits of being a Millennial Instructional Designer.
Q. What type of experience do you have in Instructional Design?
A. I have been designing training since my first job out of college. While my focus is on eLearning, I have also developed Instructor-Led Training (ILT), interactive online webinars, Job Aids, video screencasts and workbooks. I also have experience facilitating and conducting both Instructor-Led Training sessions and webinars for groups up to 100 participants, as well as utilizing social media sites to facilitate and reinforce learning.
Q. What types of training do you specialize in?
A. I specialize in eLearning and online training. This involves creating learning that is concise, just-in-time training that learners can access anytime and anywhere.
Q. What programs do you use to create your training?
A. I use all PowerPoint-based programs to ensure that whatever content I create can be easily updated and manipulated by my clients after they receive the source files. This means that if I create a course for you and two years down the line you road to make an update, you won’t need to reach back out to me to make the necessary changes. You’ll be able to make all edits on your own quickly and easily, with a program you’re already familiar with.
Q. What other programs do you have experience in?
A. I have extensive knowledge of SharePoint 2007 and am very familiar with creating and laying out various SharePoint sites. I am also proficient in the InterCall and LiveMeeting conferencing systems and have some basic HTML experience. In addition, I am familiar with Cornerstone OnDemand and SuccessFactors, as well as ADP and ReportSmith.
Q. What process do you follow to create your courses?
A. The first thing I do is meet with my client to identify their needs and goals for the course. From there, I work with the client and other applicable Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) to begin gathering content and information, which I then put into a storyboard outlining what the course will look like, what will be included and how it will flow. Basically it is a road-map, or written version of the course. I then have the client and SMEs review the storyboard to ensure that it fits their needs and everything is covered. After it has been approved, I then develop and create the course, put it through one more review to ensure everything is accurate and then hand it off to the client!
Q. What do you like best about Instructional Design?
A. I love the creativity I get to explore while creating new courses. Each course is a new opportunity to try something new and engage the learner in a different way.
Q. Where can a potential client go to learn more about you?
A. Well they’re already in the right place! Take a look around this website to see examples of my work and hear from past clients. Also, feel free to check out my profile on LinkedIn or follow me on Twitter to see what I’m up to.