Dr. Carl's E-learning Surgery

Got an e-learning problem?

Need a quick and dirty solution? You’ve come to the right place.

I’m a creep

Dear Dr. Carl,

I’m working on project for a client, and what started as a straightforward course has spiraled out of control. We agreed on a few interactive quizzes and some video content, but now the client is asking for all sorts of extras – animations, gamification, and even some weird dancing mascot. The project is becoming a monster, but the deadline and budget haven’t budged.

How do I stop this madness without offending the client or getting myself fired?

Dear Scope-Creeped,

Ah, classic scope creep – the instructional design equivalent of being asked to cook a five-course meal when you only signed up to make a fish-finger sandwich. Suddenly, you’re knee-deep in orders for soufflés and lobser bisque but no one gave you more ingredients or extra time in the kitchen!

Here’s the secret sauce: set boundaries. Have a chat with your client and remind them of the original scope. It’s all about being polite but firm - “This is what we agreed on, and this is what we have the time and budget for.” Then, you can gently guide the conversation toward the extras. Sure, you can add that dancing mascot (though, personally, I have questions about that decision), but let them know this will need more time and resources.

Essentially, you’re not saying “no” – you’re saying “yes, but with conditions.” They’ll appreciate the clarity. Plus, you’ll avoid burnout from trying to juggle impossible demands like a sous chef on Ramsey’s Kitchen Nightmares.

Stay strong, set those boundaries, and keep the dancing mascots under control!

Lost in the woods

Dear Dr. Carl,

I’ve just started working on an e-learning project, but there’s a huge problem - the client has no clear idea of what they want their learners to achieve. No learning objectives, no specific outcomes, nothing. I’m pretty sure they just want to try make money selling courses and have no real interest in the actual learners. I’m just guessing what they need, but every time I think I’ve nailed it, the client throws another random request my way.

How can I get them to clarify their learning goals without sounding like I’m totally lost (even though I am)?

Dear Objective-ly Frustrated,

The mysterious case of the Missing Learning Objectives, eh? It’s like setting off on a road trip without a map, just hoping you end up somewhere decent. Unfortunately, this approach doesn’t exactly scream “effective learning.”

Here’s what you do: take the lead. Instead of relying on the client to magically know what they want (spoiler: they won’t), help them clarify the objectives. Ask targeted questions like, “What do you want your learners to be able to do by the end of this course?” or “How will you measure if the learners have succeeded?”

Don’t worry about sounding lost – you’re actually steering the ship in the right direction. By getting specific about the goals, you’re helping the client avoid a lot of frustration down the road. And hey, they’ll probably be relieved that you took the initiative to ask - the paying learners certainly will!

So, grab that metaphorical map and guide them toward clear outcomes. You’ll look like a genius and save yourself a lot of guesswork.

Need Dr. Carl’s help with an e-learning dilemma? Send your problems to dr.carl@dirtywordmag.com