The lines between roles can also overlap as project sponsors, Subject Matter Experts (SMEs), and instructional designers (IDs) collaborate closely, often working together in each other’s domains and with the whole learning team— educational technologists, graphic designers, developers, media producers, voice artists, and project managers. Walden strongly believes that blurring the lines between phases and roles creates the most effective, innovative, and tailored learning product possible. Below is a snapshot of what the sponsor, SME, and ID do.
DISCOVER
A digital learning development project starts in the Discover Phase. The team gathers information to clearly understand the sponsor’s vision, audience, and requirements. This involves consulting interested parties, communicating desired behavior, and defining a learning business strategy. The team reviews existing materials, considers technical constraints, and develops a detailed project plan. Discovery aligns goals among all interested parties.
FOUNDATIONAL
In the Foundation Phase, the team uses the knowledge uncovered during the previous stage to set measurable learning business goals and overcome project constraints. It also sets the course’s visual style, tone, and branding and selects the educational technologies. The project scope is finalized by prioritizing content, outlining the course, and writing learner outcomes and a course description. The sponsor approves the foundational elements, providing a roadmap for the storyboard and development stages.
STORYBOARD
The Storyboard Phase involves translating the outline and outcomes into a blueprint that guides development. A storyboard includes text, visuals, interactive descriptions, and navigation details that serve as the team’s visual and textual guide. It ensures alignment on course flow, design elements, and multimedia components. Stakeholder reviews and approvals are crucial during this phase to confirm that the proposed course meets learning objectives and design expectations before development begins.
ALPHA
The Alpha Phase is the first stage of course development, where a rough draft of the course is created based on the approved storyboard. This version includes placeholder visuals, preliminary functionality, and basic interactions to demonstrate the course’s structure and flow. The sponsor and SMEs review the alpha version to identify content or design issues, provide feedback, and ensure alignment with project goals. This phase ensures the course framework is solid before progressing to the next stage.
BETA
The Beta Phase delivers a near-complete version of the eLearning course, incorporating refined visuals, finalized content, and fully working interactions. This version is rigorously tested for learner usability, technical functionality, and instructional effectiveness. Feedback from stakeholders, users, and quality assurance testers is collected to identify and fix any remaining issues. The Beta phase ensures the course is polished and ready for final adjustments before launch.
FINAL
The Beta Phase delivers a near-complete version of the eLearning course, incorporating refined visuals, finalized content, and fully working interactions. This version is rigorously tested for learner usability, technical functionality, and instructional effectiveness. Feedback from stakeholders, users, and quality assurance testers is collected to identify and fix any remaining issues. The Beta phase ensures the course is polished and ready for final adjustments before launch.
