Business Context

New hire engineers had engineering degrees but lacked practical knowledge in power generation and practical design principles. To bridge this gap,  S&L provided a four-day instructor-led "bootcamp" covering foundational substation engineering concepts. However, to support engineers as they tackle new projects, our substation management wanted additional resources they could access on demand.

 

Solution Overview

Our solution was to create a searchable "reference library" of instructional videos summarizing key concepts. These videos use animated graphics and text to explain technical ideas simply and quickly, fitting into the concept of "microlearning," where employees get the exact information they need when they need it.

 

Video Development Process

Initially, subject matter experts in the substation group made content presentations using PowerPoint. These presentations were mostly text and audio, with a few static graphics, and varied in length from 10 to 60 minutes. We then rebuilt these presentations, keeping only the original audio.

As an instructional designer for this project, my role involved reviewing the content and suggesting improvements to the structure. I often broke down presentations into smaller, more manageable parts and ensured a smoother flow of information.

I worked closely with subject matter experts to understand the content deeply, allowing me to source or create graphics that clarified complex concepts. I also addressed any gaps between novice and expert knowledge in the original material. Using Articulate Storyline 360, I transformed the content into interactive video modules. This software, similar to PowerPoint but more advanced, allowed for engaging animations and interactions. I also used Descript to transcribe the audio and create closed captions.

The final videos were published on Vimeo and integrated into our technical library built in Articulate Rise 360, another e-learning authoring tool. Scenarios, learning checks, short reviews, and additional context or detailed explanations were also added to the video lessons in Rise as appropriate. This combination of tools allowed for customized course development and easy content delivery in a user-friendly format.

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Below is a banner promoting the reference library from the training department's intranet page.