Ellen Brodsky, eLearning Specialist
eLearning Specialist / Instructional Designer
- Certified instructional designer and award-winning eLearning specialist skilled in developing and producing effective and motivating interactive learning experiences.
Career History and Highlights
Sr. Instructional Designer, H-E-B Grocery Company (June 2009 - present)
Design a variety of blended and eLearning courses using Articulate and Captivate. Perform gap and task analysis, design storyboards, create eLearning modules, facilitator guides, group activities, assessments and job aids.
- Spearheaded use of scenario-based, highly interactive, visual approach to learning, with frequent short practice opportunities and integrated system simulations.
- Created and delivered a workshop to train instructional designers how to use Articulate Studio 09 Suite for the Austin ASTD (Society for Training and Development). Also taught the H-E-B Instructional Design Team how to use Articulate Studio 09.
Instructional Design Consultant - Telemark Productions (Feb 2007 - June 2009, when not employed full time)
- Designed a highly interactive 4 module Lectora course about Emergency Response for a Fortune 500 client.
- Developed a new version of client’s Security Awareness course using Articulate Presenter, Engage, and Quizmaker. Added new performance-based features to improve results and enhance learner buy-in.
- Worked with Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) as a member of the Center for Effective Performance (CEP) team to perform analyses and develop proposals, training and job aids for various high profile clients.
- Learned the vocabulary and requirements for a medical ultrasound manufacturing process in just a few weeks and wrote 50+ accurate job aids for the new hire training program at the plant. Planned and conducted several pilots of the new materials.
- Performed job performance profiling, performance analysis, and task analysis and then wrote job aids, objectives, and assessments for customer service representatives at a major energy company call center.
- Consultant on four tutorials for online multi-player game. Helped with instructional design, writing and editing, music sound track editing and development, and QA. Led interaction design on CD-ROM to help health care providers prevent lawsuits.
Instructional Designer – IASA, Austin, TX (Mar 2008 – Jan 2009)
Developed eLearning courses for software architects. Established a complete set of processes and standards for the IASA Training program.
- Learned Articulate software suite (Presenter, Engage, and Quizmaker) and produced a 60-slide eLearning module in the first 2 wks on the job, including instruction, interactions, practice, and quizzes. Managed 6 authors simultaneously and helped them to develop their materials while also doing production on their courses, including audio, graphics, animation, Camtasia, 2D simulations, PowerPoint, Articulate, and Learning Management System integration.
Director, eLearning - Harcourt Achieve, Austin, TX (2005-2007)
Supervised the development of educational software for teachers and students including Internet, CD-ROM, and handheld products. Worked closely with SMEs and Editors to define products. Managed department budget over $2.5 million.
- Introduced and established user-centered design and informal usability testing process. Award: First product using the process (Rigby ELL Assessment Kit Data Management Tool) won the 2007 CODIE Award.
- Mentored department Producers to help improve estimating, budgeting, and scheduling skills.
Interaction Designer (Contract) - LeapFrog Enterprises, Emeryville, CA (2003 - 2005)
Produced and designed educational interactive books, primarily for adults. Developed curriculum. Developed and administered user tests.
- Sed de Saber: Lead interaction designer, co-curriculum developer, and co-author for 6-book interactive series funded by Coca Cola to help illiterate and low-literacy Hispanic food service workers gain English competency. Beta tests on Book One showed learning improvement of 85% after three weeks of self-directed use. Award: Best Technology Innovation in 2004 (California Restaurant Association)
- Afghan Women's Health Book, funded by US Dept. of Health and Human Services. Lead interaction designer and co-author. Worked with Afghan woman doctor and design team to create culturally sensitive, informative interactive book for illiterate women in Afghanistan.
- 5th Grade Title for Quantum Pad Platform: Curriculum developer and lead interaction designer. (proprietary)
Senior Producer - LeapFrog Enterprises, Emeryville, CA (2001-2003)
Key player in developing user-centered interaction design for the LeapPad Plus Writing platform. Managed eight Producers and Associate Producers.
LeapPad Plus Writing:
- Awards: Oppenheim Toy Portfolio, Gold Seal and Snap Award, 2003, Toy Wishes All Star, Education & Learning Category 2003, Toy Wishes Hot Dozen Award 2003, iParenting Media Award, 2003, Great American Toy Test/KTVU award, 2003, Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Seal Award, 2004.
Quantum Pad Interactive Books (4th Gr. Science and 3rd Gr. Math):
- Turned around two floundering projects and delivered on time.
- Portions of both achieved "Best of LeapFrog" status, were presented companywide, and saved in archive for future use.
Senior Producer, E-Commerce - The Learning Company, Novato, CA (Jan 2000 - Aug 2001)
Led cross-functional teams to design and produce major strategic projects for 20 Learning Company Web sites. Managed 4 Producers. Created and supervised all departmental user tests. Enhanced universal electronic registration for Web sites and CD-ROM products.
- Redesigned technical support Web site interface, growing web support from 14 to 65% of all technical support.
- Added Bargain Buys section for additional $250K in first year Web sales.
- Developed first in-house user testing program for E-commerce division.
CD-ROM Producer, Reference - The Learning Company, Fremont, CA (Aug 1996 - Jan 2000)
Worked with marketing to develop product parameters and feature sets. Developed and maintained relationships with clients such as DC Comics (MAD Magazine). Identified vendors and negotiated contracts. Wrote project specifications. Created and tracked schedules and budgets to $750K. Led multi-disciplinary teams of up to 20 people. Spearheaded interface design efforts. Developed and implemented user test programs. Managed project media and media databases.
Totally MAD (tm) - an interactive archive of all the MAD Magazines from 1952 to 1998.
- Awards: Gold Medal, Invision New Media Competition 2000; Gold Medal, Cindy Awards 2000; Winner, Best Interface Design and Best Entertainment CD-ROM, North Bay Multimedia Association New Media Contest, 2000.
Compton's Encyclopedia 2000 - a major encyclopedia for families.
- Identified and negotiated contract with the Exploratorium in San Francisco to provide a high-value / low-cost link in the product to their online science interactivities.
Three International Encyclopedias: Oxford Interactive Encyclopedia (British), Le Médical (French), Infopedia 3.0 (German)
- Established inexpensive video-cam conferencing and communication protocols for distributed multi-cultural teams
- Identified and negotiated contract with India firm that triple-typed entire Oxford paper encyclopedia cheaply to convert to electronic form.
- Selected and licensed 5000 photographs to enhance Oxford Interactive Encyclopedia. Created 10 slide shows and designed Timeline product feature.
Co-Founder, Producer - Telemark Productions, Austin, TX (1994-present)
Co-created, directed, and edited Telemark's Guide to Dogs CD-ROM v.1.0 and 2.0. Established contacts with 75+ reviewers, writers, and media sources. Wrote 50 articles and 168 breed profiles. Oversaw media production. Developed and managed media content database. Digitized and compressed video, recorded, digitized, and edited audio, created slide shows, scanned photos. Designed browser-based interface. Set up and maintained web site, including small online store.
Telemark's Guide to Dogs CD-ROM:
- Award: 1997 National Educational Media Network Silver Apple Award.
- Negotiated contract with Learning Company, to publish product as Complete Guide to Dogs with 45K+ copies sold.
- Produced a Web version and negotiated license with the IAMS Company.
Technology
Platforms: Fluent on Macintosh and Windows platforms. Moodle Learning Management System. Management Tools: MS Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint, MS Project, MS Access, Visio, Dreamweaver and others. Media Tools: Articulate Presenter, Quizmaker, and Engage, Adobe Captivate, Adobe Photoshop, some hands-on experience w/Lectora, Illustrator, Premiere, ProTools, Camtasia and Flash. Experienced with professional recording and sound editing software and equipment. Programming/Coding: Strong HTML. Basic Cascading Style Sheets.
Professional Affiliations
Member, San Antonio ASTD (American Society for Training and Development)
Member, eLearning Guild
Education
Lectora Training, Intermediate and Extreme–Trivantis Corporation, March 2009.
Essentials of Adobe Captivate – Adobe Certified Training, January 2009.
Certified Project Manager (PMP) - Project Management Institute, Feb. 2008.
Certified Instructional Designer - Center for Effective Performance, September 2007.
Stanford University - Doctor of Musical Arts
Cal State University, Chico - Master of Arts (Music)
Stanford University - Bachelor of Arts (Music)
Download printable version (.pdf)
|
