This document introduces the concept of Agile Project Management for instructional design. It advocates using Agile methods like iterative development, prioritizing work based on customer needs, and frequent collaboration to manage instructional design projects. The document outlines Agile concepts like writing learner personas and stories to define project scope, using story mapping and action mapping to plan work, and iterating through alpha, beta and final phases to catch errors early.

1. LLAMA
Agile Project Management for
Instructional Design
Megan Torrance
mtorrance@torrancelearning.com

2. mtorrance@torrancelearning.com
@MMTorrance
@xAPIGnome
@Tlearning
@MyEleventure
linkedin.com/in/megantorrance

3. 3
You can buy this shirt on Amazon.com

4. 4

5. Think about your
best project ever.

6. "Do more of what works,
& do less of what
doesn't."
Kent Beck, author of
Extreme Programming (XP) Explained
6

7. How do you currently
manage projects?
7

8. Our projects are complex
& we have to keep up
with an
ever-increasing rate
of change.
8

9. Source: Wikimedia Commons
NASA_Space_Shuttle_Atlantis_landing_(STS
-110)_(19_April_2002).jpg
9

10. The first day of a project
is the worst day to plan
what the end product will
be (and how much
it will cost).
10

11. 11
Photo credit: ThinkStock 115796521
Squirrel !

12. Every day you learn
something new about
the project you're
working on.
12

13. iStockphoto.com/10587442
13
ANALYZE
DESIGN
DEVELOP
IMPLEMENT
EVALUATE
TIME

14. 14
A
D
I+E
D
I+E
D
DD D
TIME

15. Agile is …
An iterative, incremental method
of guiding design & build projects
in a highly flexible & interactive manner,
focusing on maximizing customer value
and fostering high team engagement.
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16. 16

17. LLAMA is …
An iterative, incremental method
of guiding instructional design & build projects
in a highly flexible & interactive manner,
focusing on maximizing customer value
and fostering high team engagement.
17

18. The Agile Manifesto:
We are uncovering better
ways of developing
software by doing it and
helping others do it...
18
source: www.agilemanifesto.org

19. We are uncovering better
ways of creating learning
experiences by doing it
and helping others do it.
19

20. Through this work we
have come to value:
Individuals and
interactions
over
processes and tools
20
source: www.agilemanifesto.org

21. Through this work we
have come to value:
working software
over
comprehensive
documentation
21
source: www.agilemanifesto.org

22. Through this work we
have come to value:
customer collaboration
over
contract negotiation
22
source: www.agilemanifesto.org

23. Through this work we
have come to value:
responding to change over
following a plan
23
source: www.agilemanifesto.org

24. 24
Dollarphotoclub_25873819

25. Write learner personas
Use learner personas as a guide to keeping
training design & your project focused.
25

26. 26
http://www.elcidweddings.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Real-Weddings.jpg

28. How do you choose just
one persona?
• Quantity
• Impact
• Business Risk
• Opportunity
• Degree of Difficulty
• Priority / timing for phases
28

29. Define scope with stories
Write learner stories and story cards to define
scope and plan the project.
29

30. Stories capture business
needs and performance
outcomes in a format
that's useful for planning
& production.
30
Story Cards 3 Things

31. 31

32. 32
As a
I want
so I can
<who>
<what>
<why>

33. Use Agile
story mapping
for building
tools, things &
software.
33

34. Use
Cathy Moore's
Action Mapping
to define stories
for Agile
learning
projects.
34

35. 35http://blog.cathy-moore.com/

36. !
Design a solution to
meet stated needs
!
Remove a kidney
stone
!
Provide verbal
feedback to
teammates
!
Collect & enter
data accurately
!
Nail roof
shingles safely
Practice in
Training
Business Goal
that solves a
Business Problem
Adapted from: Cathy
Know . . .

38. 38

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41. 41
Script: Megan Torrance. Illustrator: Serge Ratten

42. Plan the work visibly
Prioritize and schedule work
42

43. Define at the
outset what
type of project
this is.
iStockphoto.com/4689051 43

44. Zero-Surprises Project
Management
1. Break big things into little ones.
2. Plan from the big to the little.
3. Work from the little to the big.
(if they don’t match, start talking)
4. Make it visual.
44

45. Work iteratively
until the work is ‘done’
Prioritize and schedule work
45

46. Make small mistakes
faster.
Skip the big mistakes.
Agile Explained, Menlo Innovations
46

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49. 49
A
D
I+E
D
I+E
D
DD D
TIME

50. Do the simplest thing
that could possibly
work.
50

51. The
Minimum
Viable
Product
51
M.V.P.

52. Why
iterate?
52
You always have
something usable.
You catch errors early.
It’s easier to estimate.
It’s psychologically way
more satisfying.

53. How to
iterate?
53
Alpha > Beta > Final
By Project Phase
By Delivery Medium
By level of finish/functionality
By language
By audience

54. Megan’s Rules for
Iterations
It does real work.
Someone else has to use it.
You gather data.
Data informs the work to do in the next iteration.
54

55. 55

56. mtorrance@torrancelearning.com
@MMTorrance
@xAPIGnome
@Tlearning
@MyEleventure
linkedin.com/in/megantorrance