Deviation On a Project vs. An Out-of-Scope Request

     In this blog, you will discover the differences of a deviation on a project vs. an out-of-scope request. As you may have a general understanding of what each are here you will find examples of each and explanations as to why each fall under the category. 

1. What is a Deviation On a Project? 

    A deviation on a project is a minor change in schedule that does not hinder the completion. A project deviation may include adjustments such as fixing the kinks in a project or adding a little more glamour to the design. Two examples that may occur in a project are a change in material costs and an incorrect assessment of the time necessary to complete a task. The alteration in material prices depends on how much the expense is, but if it's within the budget, it's merely a deviation indicating that the project will continue. The incorrect assessment of the completion of a task needs to be "analyzed and undergo integration into an interactive decision-making mindset"(COR 1). These two examples fall under the category of a deviation as the issues need a slight adjustment and do not interrupt the completion of the project.  

         

             Photo by Annie Spratt

2. What is an Out of Scope Request?

   An out-of-scope request is a major change in schedule that can slow progress, restart projects from scratch, or implement new ideas that will create extreme changes in an impossible amount of time. One issue that may follow an out-of-scope request is project scope creep which is "the addition of many different and extra requests or adjusting of requirements during a project" (Project Management 1). Two examples of this request include new employment to the design team and asking a journalist to cover a new story while working on the current contract. With the hiring of a new employee, let's say a new boss, they may not like the direction that the project is going and decide to either throw out the whole thing or change almost every aspect of the design. In this case, the project would become overwhelming and result in creating new ideas, contracts, prototypes, etc., which would be time-consuming and stray away from the deadlines set. Following the scenario about the journalist, they would need to draw up a new contract, set new deadlines, and determine the fees following the new contract. These two examples fall under the out-of-scope category as the requests from the client will alter many things, such as deadlines, costs, creation of new contracts, etc. 

            

                Photo by Jason Goodman

Conclusion

   I hope you enjoyed reading this blog and that it helped clear your thoughts on deviations and out-of-scope requests. The main takeaway from the reading is that deviations are minor changes, while out-of-scope requests are major modifications to the design and final product. No matter what project you're working on, beware of scope creep to ensure that the project and team are on schedule. 

Resources

How to Visualize the Deviations in your Projects, Estimated vs Logged Hours

Out of Scope in Project Management (With Examples)

Project Management for Instructional Designers

Instructional Design Models: What They Are and How You Can Use Them.

In this blog, you will discover the three Instructional design models and the similarities and differences that they share in relation to each other. As you read over the information, think about how you can use these models in your career. 

        1. ADDIE Model 

The ADDIE Model abbreviated for Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, and Evaluation is well-known as it establishes a framework that "is versatile enough to design any learning experience for any audience, from cellular biology lessons to corporate training programs" (Lastiri, 2021). In the image below, you will see how each phase is implemented and the requirements for each stage. 

 

                  Photo by Futuristic Playground 

 Advantages and Disadvantages of Implementing ADDIE into Your Design Project

         Advantages                                            

• High quality                                         
• Effective                                               
• Structured 
• Easy modification

          Disadvantages 

• Time-consuming
• Overly-detailed
• Challenging

As you can see there are more benefits of implementing ADDIE than there are disadvantages. In the end, though it may be time-consuming ADDIE will provide a great final product that you will be glad that you spent the extra time on creating your design. Other benefits that designers will receive are guidance through the process of creating your design using ADDIE. These guiding benefits "allow for an iterative process, complete each stage before going to the next, pay attention to your original course objectives, and act on feedback from your team, client, learners, and instructors" (Lastiri, 2021). The ADDIE Model can be used "for industries such as manufacturing or construction but poses a significant challenge for innovative industries such as Instructional Design" (The Virtual Training Team 2021). 

        2. SAM Model

The Successive Approximation Model (SAM) is a "simplified version of the ADDIE Model designed specifically to elicit feedback and build working models earlier in the process" (Kennesaw State University). In the image below, you can see that the SAM Model is made up of three parts being the preparation, iterative design, and iterative development. 

             Photo by Kennesaw State University 

With the SAM Model being simple one can use the model for various uses such as creating or revising an assignment or paper. The process of doing so would include: 

"Step One: Gather Materials

Step Two: Meet with your Team (Colleagues, students, etc.)

Step Three: Create a Prototype of the Assignment

Step Four: Ask for feedback

Step Five: Make changes" (Kennesaw State University). 

Advantages and Disadvantages of Implementing SAM into Your Design Project

          Advantages                                            

• Continuous reevaluation and assessing of materials 
• Provides feedback from all parties
• Rapid development 

          Disadvantages  

• Lack of cohesion due to feedback from all parties 
• Engagement is more targeted than effective learning

        3. KEMP Model 

The KEMP Model also referred to as the 'Morrison, Ross, and Kemp Model' is an "informative approach to instructional design by virtue of it's non-linear structure, and the interrelated nature of its components" (Kurt 2016). The KEMP Model can be used to design flipped classrooms to increase student performance and assessments. In the image below, you will see the circular structure of the KEMP Model which "allows instructional designers a significant degree of flexibility, because they are able to begin the design process with any of the nine components or stages, rather than being constrained to work in a linear fashion" (Kurt 2016).  

                Photo by Educational Technology

The KEMP Model is composed of nine core elements: 

1. Determine the specific goals, and also identify potential instructional issues

2. Identify characteristics of learners that should be taken into account during the planning process

3. Clarify course content, and analyze the proposed task components in relation to the stated goals and  purposes of the course

4. Define instructional objectives and desired learning outcomes

5. Ensure that content for each instructional unit is structure sequentially and logically to facilitate      learning

6. Design instructional strategies to enable individual learners to master the content, and achieve desired learning outcomes

7. Plan the instructional message and the appropriate mode of delivery

8. Develop evaluation instruments suitable for measuring and assessing learners’ progress towards achieving course objectives

9. Choose the appropriate resources that will support both teaching and learning activities

Advantages and Disadvantages of Implementing KEMP into Your Design Project

          Advantages                                            

• Non-linear
• Interdependent 
• Cyclical
• Learner-directed

          Disadvantages 

• Focuses on development of curriculum not single instruction
• Can't overcome obstacles of administrative support 

        4. Comparing the ADDIE, SAM, and KEMP Models 

ADDIE vs. KEMP

• Begin with identifying problems, objectives, and audience.
• Features designs, development, implementation, and evaluation steps. 
• Formative evaluation throughout design process.

KEMP vs. SAM

• Both are non-linear
• Both allow feedback from parties 
• Both are flexible

ADDIE vs. SAM 

• Both create learning courses using text, storyboards, graphics, audio, and video.

        5. Differences in the ADDIE, SAM, and KEMP Models 

ADDIE vs. KEMP

• ADDIE works sequentially vs. Kemp is iterative. 
• KEMP features confirmative evaluation while ADDIE does not. 
• KEMP is learner centered while ADDIE is designer centered.

KEMP vs. SAM 

• KEMP contains nine core elements while SAM is made up of three parts. 

SAM vs. ADDIE

• SAM is non-linear while ADDIE is linear
• SAM is more flexible than ADDIE
• SAM is faster than ADDIE which is time-consuming

        Conclusion

I hope this blog has provided you with the ability to determine which model is best for the project you're working on. There are many benefits to using each model and many ways they can be used to enhance learning through various platforms. 

        Resources

• Addie vs Sam 
• ADDIE vs. SAM: Which Learning Methodology Is Better For Design?
• Comparing Instructional Design Models: ADDIE vs. The Kemp Model
• Instructional Design and Models: ASSURE and Kemp
• Kemp Design Model
• Kennesaw State University
• Should We Use the ADDIE Model in Instructional Design?
• The Design Phase of ADDIE
• What is the ADDIE Model For Instructional Design? Everything You Should Know   

Instructional Design: Are You Including These Elements On Your LinkedIn Profile?

In this blog, you will discover the top five things Instructional Designers should include in their    LinkedIn profiles. As you read over the information, think about how you are showcasing your      profile and if any changes are necessary to put yourself in the view of hiring committees.

1. Profile Picture

While the last selfie you took may have looked great, it may not be the best way to go when selecting a profile picture. Future employers want to see a professional applicant headshot with a smile rather than someone making duck lips wearing Gucci sunglasses. In your profile, use a headshot with a neutral background while wearing neutral shades of clothing (for example, black, navy, beige, etc.) Let's be honest when trying to capture that perfect headshot, you may think you'll nail the photo on the first or second shot, but more than likely, you'll take ten pictures and still be stuck on which to use. A FREE application called Photofeeler allows users to upload their profile photos for voters to rate them based on likeability, competency, and influential factors. If you haven't used this before, I suggest you try it and see if the profile photo you have posted or thought of using is suitable for your LinkedIn profile.



Photo by Highline West


2. Headline


When choosing a headline on your profile, while it's okay to put your job title, you want to catch the eyes of potential employers. You can enhance your headline by including your job title, company name, keywords, and a zing factor. Employers may use specific keywords when searching for your profile, so including keywords will help promote your profile in the eyes of employers. The zing factor intrigues employers to want to know you better and can serve as a conversation starter.





Photo by Cultivated Culture


3. Summary


In the summary of your profile, you can add a little about what you do, the services you provide, and links to various media sources to provide more information to employers about your success and experience. Another helpful tip is to add at the bottom of your summary "AKA/Common misspellings" to include your name, nickname, and former names. By doing this, employers can find your profile even if they accidentally misspell your name or receive your name through another party with the incorrect spelling.



4. Skills


When determining which skills to spotlight on your profile, you need to decide what skills you want to be known for having. These may include various hard and soft skills ranging from computer programming to communicating effectively. When putting yourself under the microscope, think to yourself, what skills would I want my employees to have?

Photo by Melissa Ling / The Balance


5. Experience


To best show your experience, use your resume to select the key points of your past employment history. While you would think to include details from each job that you had in the past, some may not be relevant such as working fast food when you were sixteen years old unless, of course, you received a manager role and while on the job, you learned hard and soft skills that you believe sets you apart from others. In other words, include what's relevant and what you would like to see if you were an employer. Don't sell yourself short. If your job title is general manager, yet you perform different duties/roles, include each of those roles as a job title entry.



Photo by Unsplash


Conclusion


I hope this blog has found you well and that you will consider looking at your LinkedIn account and updating or tweaking a few things to enhance your profile. As for those without a current LinkedIn, take these points and make your profile stand out to increase your chances of receiving the best employment options. Remember to correct/update the top five things Instructional Designers need on their LinkedIn profile, such as a profile picture, headline, summary, skills, and experience. Most importantly, when accepting an interview, be yourself, show your personality, and give it a day or two to finalize your decision.