learning ay play | services

Transforming business goals and objectives into tangible e-business solutions with direct business impact for B2B, B2C, Intranet, Communities, Knowledge Management and Communication applications.

Design and development of the look and feel, information architecture, flow and interaction design in conjunction with branding requirements.

Creating shopping experiences including the use of fixed pricing, bids, order optimization, product comparison, vendor comparison, customer comparison, online cataloging, shopping cart management and consolidation, order placement and tracking, shopping cart memory, cross-selling and community tie-in.

Simulations utilize a learn-by-doing approach in an immersive setting enabling a performance-based solution to learning. At the highest level, the learner performs real world tasks and solves real world problems in the (simulated) context of the work. The learner is judged on performing the tasks and whether or not completion is reached (e.g. got the sale, fixed the problem, etc.). Simulations are excellent for developing critical and complicated skills in individuals.

Many simulations are built when the sponsor CAN NOT AFFORD to have the participants NOT perform at a certain level. Completing the simulation helps guarantee performance since the learner has already done the work in the simulated environment with real world tools and dealt with real world issues.

Some of the benefits of a well designed simulation are:

Ideal for Critical Performance, Problem Solving, Skills Training, Large Audiences, Ongoing/Refresher Learning, Distributed Audiences or Difficult Learner Schedules.

Often times where training is requested a performance centered solution is the right solution. Performance centered solutions come in the forms of application design and/or the use of Electronic Performance Support Systems (EPSS). Electronic Performance Support Systems allow the user to perform as if they had a wider knowledge base. Performance Centered Systems (PCS) are designed with the user's workflow in mind. This allows users to perform their work at a higher level of efficiency and competency. A Performance Centered System often incorporates the use of Electronic Performance Support and vice versa, as the two are complimentary.

For example, telephone information operators are able to perform as if they know thousands of phone numbers. Customer support call center technicians perform as if they have a larger knowledge base than they actually have independently of an EPSS.

Performance support systems are used in hard skill and soft skill solutions. They are also often a part of educational solutions that include training, either as support or in addition to the training.

Ideal for On-The-Job Performance, Just-In-Time Learning, Large Audiences, Ongoing/Refresher Learning, High Turnover, Distributed Audiences or Difficult Learner Schedules.

Not every situation calls for a full blown immersive simulation. Some situations require the authentic learning style of a Learn-By-Doing solution, but do not require a fully immersive environment. In these cases, Learn-By-Doing components can be integrated into more traditional learning environments such as CBTs, WBTs and classroom training.

Arguably the most critical element in the design process is the creation of the conceptual design. The conceptual design is the foundation for the programming, artwork, and detailed design. In a learning environment, it is inseperable from the learning strategy.

Tried true methods for brainstorming and creating the fundamental conceptual design will save time, money and very costly mistakes.

Learn-by-doing (LBD) design involves the learners in simulated, real world experiences so that the potential for real world failure exists, but the consequences of mistakes are kept in the learning environment. This learning approach is taken in high-end simulations. The four fundamentals of a LBD environment are:

Goals - Provide the learner with real world goals.

Context - Immerse the learner in a real world context.

Freedom - Provide the user the freedom to accomplish those goals.

Support - Provide support and guidance to be available as needed to support the learners achievement.

Using rapid development and prototyping techniques with the target audience increases application integrity, usability and effectiveness. This reduces training costs and provides effective implementation (users actually want to use the application). The net result is a savings to the organization in dollars and time spent developing and putting an unpopular and inneffective application in place, dollars and time spent developing and implementing unnecessary training and a savings in time and frustration for the users every time they use the application.

Formal, informal, formative, and summative usability testing is an integral part of user centered design. Usability testing allows the designers and developers to peek inside the minds and work processes of the users in order to develop the right solution for their needs. Without usability testing the design is at the mercy of the designer's best guess. Usability testing helps insure that the application developed is embraced and used by the user community, thus solving the problem and benefiting the organization as it was intended.

Heuristic evaluation services are normally included with consulting services but are also available independently.

If you are ramping up a development organization or are trying to bring new perspectives to your team, an interactive design workshop can play a critical role in shaping the concepts that create your future by providing the opportunity to establish common ground for the whole team. This is an investment to help pave the way for consistent delivery, better communications, and a common sense of philosophy and practice moving forward.

The workshop provides an understanding and appreciation for the benefits of iterative design, creative design, and usability engineering and promotes team-building within the real world context of design and development.

Workshops can be designed to compliment your methodology and current orientation pracices. Workshops range from one to three days depending on the depth and breadth of content that YOU choose to cover. A breakdown of workshop objectives is provided below.

Generate excitement and enthusiasm to "get to work" and apply skills and knowledge, whether gained from this workshop or prior.

Develop an appreciation for:
Innovative design
Iterative design
Usability engineering
Help insure that the team as a whole is working from the same basis in terms of process and ideology.
Learn how to evaluate and categorize multimedia in order to understand strategies, styles and techniques that can be directly applied to other designs (innovation).
Establish relationships with current practices and methodolgy.

Begin to work together on teams in the context of design and development.
Develop a better understanding of each other in terms of strengths, weaknesses, background, interests, and work style.
Build awareness, appreciation and respect for the responsibilities and deliverables of different roles on the team.
Build a comfort level for working together as a team.