Practicing Mindfulness -
Achieving An Ideal Work/Life Balance In Nursing
Are you a nurse feeling overwhelmed by the weight of responsibility that comes with a demanding, yet rewarding, career? This interactive eLearning module is designed and developed to help learners achieve an improved work/life balance. Learners are presented with a scenario where they assume the role of a nurse who is completing a shift at their local hospital. Throughout their nursing shift, this experience explores the fundamentals of mindfulness, identifies common workplace stressors, and learners are encouraged to employ tangible strategies in order to prioritize mindfulness throughout their workday. By completing these hands-on scenarios, learners can assess their own mastery of the content and achieve that work/life balance balance that we all strive for.
The Problem.
The client, a hospital that is a cornerstone to their local community, has been struggling with a significant loss of nursing staff due to burnout and exhaustion caused by the sudden influx of COVID-19 patients.* When the pandemic hit, the hospital quickly mobilized to meet the needs of their community and put measures into place to ensure the safety of both patients and staff. As COVID-19 cases surged, the hospital saw an unprecedented influx of patients. This factor put a strain on their already stretched nursing staff. Despite the long hours and immense pressure, the nurses continued to show up day after day - determined to provide the best possible care to their patients. However, the prolonged exposure to high levels of stress and trauma began to take a toll on their mental and physical well-being, and many nurses began to experience symptoms of burnout.
The Solution.
After conducting a thorough needs analysis with the client, I concluded that the primary problem was the high turnover rate of nursing staff due to burnout and exhaustion caused by long hours and demanding workloads. To address this, I recommended an interactive eLearning module that would help learners to prioritize self-care and manage stress in the workplace in order to achieve a better work-life balance. This learning experience will feature highly engaging elements such as interactive quizzes and multimedia content that help learners to retain interest and feel empowered in their learning. The target KPI is to increase the hospital's nursing staff retention rate by 10% in the upcoming 6 months as RNs implement mindfulness strategies to successfully seek a work-life balance, resulting in fewer resignations and a more stable nursing workforce.
*denotes fictitious scenario for project's purposes
My Process.
I designed and developed this immersive eLearning module from start to finish. My process involved creating an action map, developing a storyboard, and designing visual mockups before moving on to
full development.
Action Mapping.
The Problem.
After receiving approval from the client for an interactive eLearning module focused on the well-being of their nursing staff, I recognized the importance of incorporating two distinct perspectives. Thus, I collaborated with two Subject Matter Experts (SMEs): a licensed, clinical psychologist with expertise in human behavior and psychology, and a registered nurse with practical knowledge in the nursing field. Together, we developed a comprehensive action map that drew on both areas of expertise. Both SMEs' insights helped to ensure that the learning experience was relevant and applicable to nurses to achieve a better work-life balance.
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To create a truly impactful learning experience, I knew we needed to start with a clear and focused learning objective. Thus, we crafted a Key Performance Indicator (KPI) that was not only measurable but also tailored to the specific needs and goals of our learners. This KPI served as the foundation for my action map and provided a definitive benchmark for success - guiding every aspect of the learning experience from the scope of the module to its accompanying activities.
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To truly elevate the learning experience, we identified a comprehensive list of specific tasks and behaviors that our nursing staff would need in order to master the KPI. These tasks and behaviors weren't just crucial to achieving the KPI, but they also formed the very backbone of our learning objectives. Each objective was thoughtfully categorized into sub-actions. This provided a clear roadmap for our learners to follow as they progressed towards mastery of the content.
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View the action map below made with Mindmeister to see the KPI, learning objectives, and tasks/behaviors branching out:
Design Document.
The Problem.
Upon completion of the action map, I gained a comprehensive understanding of the critical observable tasks and behaviors necessary to achieve the intended Key Performance Indicator (KPI) for this learning experience. The action map received approval from my client, and then I proceeded to craft a design document for an interactive eLearning module. This design document served as a concise blueprint that outlined the overarching course plan and contained essential details such as:
Learning Objectives
Target Audience
Deliverables
Delivery Format
Evaluation Plan
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This document was my trusted ally in maintaining organization and precision throughout the development process. Its comprehensive coverage of all critical components ensured that no aspect was overlooked. Additionally, this document served as a powerful tool in mitigating potential misunderstandings or obstacles that may have arisen throughout creating the learning experience. It acted as a well-defined roadmap that guided each step of my development process from start to finish.
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Text-Based Storyboard.
The client approved my design document, and from there, I embarked on creating a text-based storyboard that skillfully wove together critical actions into a seamless and realistic narrative. The ultimate goal of this learning experience was to maximize learners' progress and success in achieving the Key Performance Indicator (KPI) while avoiding information overload. Therefore, it was vital that I anchored the core content in real-life scenarios. My text-based storyboard incorporates on screen text (OST), visual, and programming prompts.
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To guide learners through the learning experience, new content is introduced with a fictitious, introductory scene. Learners find themselves immersed into various, challenging real-life scenarios
within the hospital. By including these scenarios, new concepts and terminology are introduced in a gradual, methodical manner and build upon the solid foundation established in previous sections. To help learners consolidate their understanding, I integrated formative assessments after each concept is introduced. This provides a low-stakes environment for learners to practice and refine their skills and allows learners to directly identify areas that require further attention while the content is still fresh in their minds. Finally, a summative assessment tests learners on all the content covered throughout the learning experience to ensure that they are fully prepared to apply their knowledge in real-world scenarios.
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In my design process, text-based storyboards play a pivotal role as they offer stakeholders an early glimpse into the envisioned experience. By creating a textual representation of the course, I am able to identify potential areas of improvement and ensure a streamlined development process. Additionally, the text-based storyboard provides a solid foundation for the development of visual elements, interactive activities, and assessments that are directly aligned with the course objectives. Overall, text-based storyboards are an indispensable tool for bringing the envisioned course to life.
Visual Mockups.
The Problem.
After obtaining approval for my text-based storyboard, I dove into crafting the visual mockups to enhance the learning experience. Although the text-based storyboard was thorough and detailed, the visual mockups were necessary to make the learning experience come to life. Visual mockups provide a clear representation of the experience's appearance, functionality, and interactivity and serve as a crucial bridge to making the learning experience effective and empowering.
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As part of my effort to expand my design tool resources, I utilized Canva, in addition to Adobe XD, to manipulate background scenes and developed characters for the visual mockups of my project. The ability to leverage Canva's intuitive design tools and extensive library of templates and graphics allowed me to efficiently create visual elements that aligned with the project's overall aesthetic. I intentionally used Canva to streamline the design process. My aim was to align the designed scenes with the fictitious descriptions included at the beginning of each new content introduced so learners could fully immerse themselves into the narrative and feel as if they were really there at the hospital. By utilizing Canva, I was able to create high-quality visual elements that added a sense of realism and depth to the learning experience.
Interactive Prototype.
The Problem.
With the approval of my visual markups in hand, I turned to Articulate Rise to bring my immersive eLearning module to life. I built upon the foundations laid out in my text-based storyboard and design document. The use of an initial prototype proved to be invaluable to me as it enabled me to test and refine my ideas before committing substantial time and resources to full-scale development. It also allowed me to assess the feasibility of the experience, and I was able to identify any potential challenges or areas for improvement.
The initial prototype included an introduction to the experience's learning objectives, an overview of what to expect from the experience, and a sample of content learning. Within this sample, the prototype walked users through defining terminology, interactive flashcards, and a formative, multiple choice practice opportunity. Once I gathered feedback from the two SMEs I collaborated with and received approval from the client, I moved on to full-scale development.
Full Development.
The Problem.
As I finalized the learning experience, I leveraged the power of Articulate Rise to develop an engaging and interactive online course. With its intuitive interface and built-in functionality, I was able to easily create scenario-based experiences such as matching activities, flashcards, interactive charts, and much more. The written word proved to be a powerful tool in conveying information in this learning experience. After refining and testing the course multiple times, learners were able to complete the experience and receive a certificate of completion.
Key Features.
The Problem.
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Articulate Rise Elements: As an e-learning authoring tool, Articulate Rise provides a variety of features that makes creating relative learning experiences much more accessible. Using Articulate Rise, I had the opportunity to integrate realistic moments into this experience such as conversations with virtual characters, including a nurse. The feedback feature enabled learners to receive immediate feedback on multiple choice and fill-in-the-blank questions, which helped to reinforce their understanding of the content. Additionally, I incorporated the use of organization charts, flashcards, and matching activities to help learners visualize the relationships between different concepts or stakeholders within the learning experience.
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Custom Visuals: I can attest to the pivotal role that Canva played in the creation of this learning experience. This robust design platform provided me with the essential tools to obtain and manipulate visual elements from an extensive image library - resulting in a seamlessly cohesive aesthetic throughout the entire course. With its powerful features, Canva allowed me to resize, manipulate layers, recolor individual components, and merge assets with ease. I relied on this software to create several crucial visual elements in my course. With the help of Canva, I was able to unleash my creativity and create an engaging and visually stunning learning experience for learners.
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Storytelling As A Powerful Tool: I believe that the written word is a powerful tool for conveying information. And, by incorporating storytelling into this learning experience, I have witnessed firsthand how this approach elevates the effectiveness of information delivery to an even higher level. I intentionally integrated a fictitious narrative centered on a nurse's experience in a hospital throughout the learning experience in order to enable learners to form a more profound connection with the content material. This narrative approach to learning and educating creates a captivating environment that fully immerses learners into the material and imparts knowledge in a manner that is both memorable and impactful.
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Personalized, Strategic Feedback: I had the opportunity to implement a powerful, personalized feedback mechanism within each formative assessment learners practiced with. This strategic feedback, tailored to each learner's responses, proved to be a highly effective tool that recognized and reinforced correct answers and also guided users who answered incorrectly towards the correct action/consequence. The benefits of this approach were two-fold: learners solidified their knowledge and boosted their confidence. This type of personalized, strategic feedback is a key factor in the success of this learning experience.​
Results & Takeaways.
The Problem.
The Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) and the client all felt that this immersive eLearning module embodied the expectations and visions they had at the beginning of this process. Through incorporating hands-on activities, sharing personal stories and experiences, and aligning this learning experience with a strategic Key Performance Indicator (KPI) in mind, I was able to construct an environment that challenged learners to critically think and empowered learners to take that level of thinking outside of the box. Additionally, the course's specific and actionable feedback enabled learners to identify and correct their errors while minimizing any potential risks. With an inclusive and accessible design, this experience has proven to be a valuable learning resource for all learners. Overall, this project taught me several valuable lessons, and I'm excited to share some of my key takeaways:​
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Collaborating Is Creating: The complexity of this learning experience's topic required me to enlist the expertise of two Subject Matter Experts (SMEs): one to delve into the intricate workings of human behavior/ psychology, and the other to shed light on the nuances of the nursing field. By leveraging the knowledge and expertise of multiple individuals, I was able to craft a learning experience that far exceeded what I could have achieved alone. This has reinforced my belief that, in order to achieve greatness, we must not shy away from seeking out diverse viewpoints, and instead, work together towards a common goal.
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Learner-Centered Principles: Creating an immersive learning experience has taught me the importance of prioritizing the needs and preferences of the learner. Just like tending to a garden, where the care and attention given to each plant determines its growth, a learner-centered approach ensures that each individual receives the guidance and support they need to thrive. I was given the opportunity to cultivate a learning environment that fosters engagement, self-reflection, and personalized pacing. This environment empowers learner to take ownership of their learning journey. The success of this learning experience derived from my ability to understand that the learner is the seed, and that with the right care and nurturing, they can blossom and flourish. I want to carry this sentiment with me.
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Consistency and Coherence In Design: I have learned from this project that consistency and coherence are two vital principles that cannot be overlooked in the design process. I realized early on that I needed to have consistency in design with elements such as font, color, imagery, and visual structure/ organization. These elements work in unison and provide learners with a clear and logical framework that fosters comprehension and retention of knowledge. By prioritizing consistency and coherence in design, I'm not only creating a visually appealing environment, but a learning experience that is empowering, easy to navigate, and achieves its intended learning objectives. This realization has made me committed to implementing these design principles in all my projects. ​
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Real-World Examples: As I progressed through this project, I began to appreciate the power of connecting abstract ideas to practical applications. I presented learners with real-world scenarios that illustrated theoretical concepts, and this provided them with tangible examples of how the material could be applied to their everyday work. I carefully crafted these scenarios to represent situations that could take place during a shift at the hospital, making the content both relevant and impactful for learners. As I saw the learners engage with these scenarios, I realized the immense value of this approach. The ability to connect abstract concepts to practical applications is a key factor in creating effective learning experiences that have a lasting impact on the learner.
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This project was not just an opportunity for me to showcase my technical skills and knowledge as an instructional designer and eLearning developer. It was also an opportunity for me to fully express my passion for creating meaningful and engaging learning experiences. I approached this project with a sense of personal investment, knowing that the end result would be a reflection of my own creativity, expertise, and dedication.
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Working closely with my colleagues and Subject Matter Experts (SMEs), I was able to push the boundaries of what's possible in the field of eLearning. My focus on innovation, attention to detail, and willingness to take risks allowed me to create a final product that exceeded expectations. Throughout the process, I sought out feedback and collaboration, always striving to incorporate new ideas and perspectives.
I would love to make an impact, together.