eLearning: Nonprofit New Volunteer Orientation
The Project
Client: Cy-Fair Helping Hands (CFHH), a nonprofit that serves the homeless and hungry in the northwest Houston area.
Goal: Offer a warm welcome to new volunteers before they arrive for their first shift and provide basic information about Cy-Fair Helping Hands, its structure, expectations, and mission to help them feel comfortable and confident when they arrived. CFHH wanted the course to be completed in less than 15 minutes and not include any challenging assessments.
Tools: Articulate Rise, Canva, Google Slides, Articulate Storyline
The Process
We worked through a very clear, iterative development process during which I provided a Learning Design Brief, a storyboard with a mock-up, and the final product. I received feedback from the client, as well as from my professional network, at each stage to keep the project on track. Even though the course is straightforward and quick to complete, I employed several effective adult learning principles, such as self-direction, including information relevant to the learner, and providing a realistic scenario through which learners could apply the information they just learned.
Discovery Meeting
Initially, the client did not want any interactions or assessments. I was able to explain how they give the learner a chance to review the information and apply what they have learned to increase retention. This changed their minds, so we included a drag-and-drop activity as well as a scenario with a knowledge check.
Storyboard & Mock-Up
The storyboard went through two iterations as we clarified which interactions the course should include, as well as the best phrasing so that the course retained the homeless clients' dignity.
The storyboard included key design elements such as the color palette, fonts, and icons, all of which were based on the client's brand.
Including the mock-up in the storyboard saved time and helped refine the scenario before creating the final course.
The Result
Volunteers reported they were able to complete the training within the desired timeframe and knew what to expect when they arrived, thereby increasing their confidence.
The problems that were solved for CFHH include:
CFHH was able to easily communicate helpful and necessary information to new volunteers, which made the volunteers feel more comfortable and confident.
Volunteers were able to conveniently access and complete the training, and completing the training online beforehand saved CFHH staff valuable time.
CFHH is able to easily keep a record of volunteer training.