Sam Wilson
Mission: Irritable
OPWL 523, 551
Background
In OPWL 523 E-Learning Authoring, I made a scenario-based elearning in Articulate Storyline 360. The requirements were that we had to have a brief declarative knowledge component followed by a branching scenario that taught situated knowledge.
For my project, I chose to use material from a 1944 booklet on sabotage published by the OSS (United States Office of Strategic Services, the predecessor to the CIA). The booklet, titled The Simple Sabotage Field Manual (the "Manual"), was published and distributed to help regular citizens living under Nazi pccupation to learn how to perform acts of sabotage which could cumulatively impact the economies and war effort of the German occupiers.
This e-learning is a few of the lessons from the Simple Sabotage Field Manual combined into a single module.
Click the button below to download a copy of the Manual.
The Performance Problem
Simple sabotage, according to the Manual, involves regular people identifying the kinds of incompetence normally associated with their line of work or social status and amplifying them. Simple sabotage does not involve bombs and guns, but uses incompetence, a bad attitude, and being uncooperative.
The problem is, it is not obvious to the normal citizen that these subtle acts have any impact at all, and knowing when and how to perform these acts does not come naturally. Therefore, it is important to train people on three different topics.
-
People need to know that simple sabotage is impactful even if they do not see the effect of their own actions.
-
People need to perform acts of sabotage at appropriate opportunities and refrain from attempting sabotage when it is inappropriate.
-
People need to employ effective methods of simple sabotage.
Download the high level design document here:
Learning Theory
The topic of this module is foreign to most people and requires a significant change in one's mentality. As the Manual says, "The saboteur may have to reverse his thinking... Once he is encouraged to think backwards about himself and the objects of his everyday life, the saboteur will see many opportunities in his immediate environment which cannot possibly be seen from a distance. A state of mind should be encouraged that anything can be sabotaged." (page 4)
Transformative Learning Theory was be the most appropriate for the overall design of this experience. Transformative Learning Theory has the following ten stages:
-
A disorienting dilemma.
-
Self-examination with feelings of guilt or shame.
-
A critical assessment of assumptions.
-
Recognition that one's discontent and process of transformation is shared and that others have negotiated a similar change.
-
Exploration of options for new roles, relationships, and actions
-
Planning a course of action
-
Acquiring knowledge and skills for implementing one's plans
-
Provisional trying of new roles
-
Building competence and self-confidence in new roles and relationships
-
A reintegration into one's life on the basis of conditions dictated by one's new perspective.
This elearning scenario assumes that the learner has already gone through stages 1 through 4 in their real life (which I review in the introductory slides of the module). The scenario begins at stage 5, where I introduce the learner to new roles and actions they may take, demonstrate a new course of action, teach new knowledge and skills, and give learners a few low-stakes opportunities to explore those opportunities and skills.
Reflections
This module was really fun to make and I would love to go back and complete it later. It was mostly chosen for fun and it is not meant to be taken seriously. It was just a fun opportunity to practice making a branching elearning scenario using adult learning thory and the various tools like Camtasia, Audacity, and Storyline.
I created the characters and backgrounds in Midjourney. I tried to emulate the art style of Makoto Shinkai's Your Name (君の名は) and the design was inspired by Doki Doki Literature Club (don't be fooled by appearances, it's a horror game!) and the dialogue diamond was inspired by Mass Effect.
I would like to thank my professors on this project, Cara North who taught the storyboarding class and Dr. Rafael da Silva who taught the elearning class. They were both amazing teachers and guides and their feedback was inspiring and motivating. I hope to see much more off both of you in the future if the opportunity ever arises.