Sparrow Soap's e-Learning Soap Lab
Faced with a demand for online education, Sparrow Soaps was looking for a way to teach their customers the art of cold process soap-making. This interactive, e-learning module made in Articulate 360 solves this challenge.
- Key Skills: Instructional Design, e-Learning Development
- Audience: Sparrow Soap Customers and Beginning Soapmakers
- Technology: Articulate Storyline 360, Audacity, Learning Management Systems, SCORM/xAPI
- Budget: Medium
Experience the Demo
To access the e-Learning Soap Lab, please click the “Featured” course on the right.
You will be redirected to a new page where you can click the yellow “Enroll Course” button.
For the student login, please enter the username and password below:
- Username: student
- Password: Student123!
After successfully logging in, feel free to explore within the SCORM module and through the Learning Management System.
Alternatively, you can also experience the soap lab without the LMS feature by clicking the button to the right. Please note that introductory videos, learning outcomes, the supplies list, instructor bios, and FAQs are only available for viewing through the LMS.
Overview
My client operates Sparrow Soaps, a burgeoning soap-making
business located in the rural town of Putnam, Connecticut. A key area of growth
for Sparrow Soaps involves diversifying its revenue sources beyond personal
hygiene products. Previously, the business excelled in conducting in-person
workshops focused on crafting cold-process soap. These workshops garnered
exceptional praise and attracted numerous participants. However, there was a
growing demand for virtual and on-demand alternatives, accommodating diverse
schedules and geographical locations. This demand was particularly significant
due to Sparrow Soaps’ international shipping capability and substantial
customer base. Many individuals from different corners of the United States and
abroad expressed interest in learning from Sparrow Soaps but were hindered by
their inability to physically attend sessions at the Putnam storefront. Adding
to the challenge, Sparrow Soaps is a venture run by two proprietors, which
created complexities in managing new storefront operations, order fulfillment,
and workshop facilitation.
Following my participation in the in-person soapmaking
workshop, the team at Sparrow Soaps reached out to me with a request to aid in
transitioning their curriculum to an online platform. Subsequent conversations
led me to conclude that a scenario-based, branching eLearning experience could
effectively address their challenges while also generating passive income. This
approach would not only serve as a means of learning but also provide learners
with opportunities to practice pivotal decision-making skills and reinforce
essential safety protocols pertaining to lye handling—even before attempting
their initial soap-making endeavor at home.
This proposed solution was made after completing a needs analysis and
facilitating multiple collaborative sessions during which content and action
maps were created.
Action Mapping
Action mapping is a powerful, collaborative strategy that I use in my instructional design sessions with clients. Action mapping, as defined by author Cathy Moore of “Map It”, focuses on tasks that individuals need to execute, rather than fixating soley on theoretical knowledge. This process, when applied correctly, strategically avoids “information dumping” or inundating learners with excessive information and encourages consistent practice/application to improve performance or knowledge growth. In my client session with Sparrow Soaps; we set an overarching learning outcome or goal for the course and began to brainstorm how we might translate common issues experienced through in-person classes to the virtual space. The result was a combination of order-dependent and branching scenarios designed to allow the learner to “experiment” and feel confident in a safe environment before they practice using corrosive chemicals such as lye. From our conversations, I expanded our ideas and included “distractor” options to further to experimentation environment that Sparrow Soaps was looking for in this course. Below is the final draft of the action map that I used to develop the storyboard.
NOTE: Due to software errors on behalf of MindMeister, upon occasion you may experience an error in loading the embedded action map despite refreshing. If this is the case, please click HERE to view the entire action map for this project. We apologize for any inconvenience. Thank you.
Storyboarding
While action mapping is one critical tool in my instructional design toolbox; storyboarding is equally critical in ensuring that learning outcomes are achieved, and engagement is maximized. Below I have included a sample storyboard of the “Virtual Soap Lab”. In my storyboarding template, I prefer to include not only visual and Articulate programming notes; but achieved learning outcomes and instructional design theory to ensure I am applying best practices. As an instructional designer and learning and development professional; applying theory to my practice is a core value of mine and a way of ensuring that I am meeting the adult development needs of learners.
Visual Design
For Sparrow Soaps, maintaining the integrity of their brand was vital when creating this e-Learning. As such, when working with the team, I made sure to gather all branding kit materials to create a seamless experience between their website and the e-Learning. I also worked collaborative with the Sparrow Soaps team to develop the palette below to ensure colors were consistent throughout the course. While being branding focused is important, balancing learner understanding and prevent confusion is equally so. Therefore in some of the scenario interactions; we used supplemental colors to help differentiate choices. (For example, we used an orange button for the choice of “Grapefruit Glow” and a red button for the choice of “Lingonberry Spice” in the fragrance oil section.)
Filming
While I have experience in filming instructional design videos; the Sparrow Soaps team elected to leverage a past vendor for filming for branding continuity. A stylistic sample of this vendor can be found in video format under the “Sparrow Soap’s Virtual Soap Lab” course hosted on my LMS. Given the vendor and Sparrow Soap’s terms and conditions, the instructional video preceding the interactive e-Learning is not available for view.
While my client did elect to use a supplemental vendor, I found it incredibly important to show them how I could transform the vendor’s footage through Articulate Storyline 360. In the prototype, I imported stock videos and used cue points as well as markers to demonstrate how learners could gather extra information including tips, specific affiliate links to products used, and more. You can find these stock videos under the subsection entitled “Finishing Tips” when you take the course.
Prototype
After outlining the plan and creating a storyboard, I started developing the “Virtual Soap Lab” prototype using Articulate Storyline 360 as well as provided content and branding. In the prototype, I focused on the multimedia player to show my client how e-Learning can match their branding and provide a central place for various resources.
In the multimedia player, I included sections like “About Us,” “Resources,” and a “Glossary.” This design makes it easier for learners to access information compared to dealing with multiple PDFs or URLs. The glossary is essential because the course is for beginners, and there are complex soap-making terms that might confuse learners, like “false trace” versus “light trace.” The resources section is important because my client wants to ensure learners have access to good-quality supplies and accurate information for soap-making. You can see screenshots of the glossary and resources sections below, or you can explore them by trying out the project.
I also incorporated some important features into the prototype content itself. Since soap-making follows a step-by-step process, I made sure the course content is released gradually, so learners cannot skip ahead before mastering earlier steps. This approach is critical to avoid safety issues, like discussing additives and fragrances before covering essential lye safety. I also added a “hint” button for scenarios with greater experimentation and branches, which gives learners direction and useful information for applying the principles outside of the e-Learning environment.
Unlike traditional learning, Sparrow Soaps’ e-Learning focuses on understanding the process rather than just getting a high quiz score. That’s why the “hint” button is so useful in reducing frustration for learners. Beyond these features, I utilized “states,” “variables,” and “triggers” in the Articulate course. These elements create an interactive feel and keep learners engaged. Instead of a straightforward question, learners can drag oils to a virtual microwave for heating, with the microwave’s door opening and closing, making the experience more lifelike. You can see an example screenshot below, but to get the full sense of it, I recommend trying out the prototype.
Above: A screenshot of the prototype delivered to Sparrow Soaps. In this scene, learners are expected to apply knowledge from an instructional video and experiment with placing specific ingredients in the microwave. Using various variables, triggers, and states in Articulate; I made the learning experience more engaging through order-dependent drag and drop objects as well as making the microwave interactive.
Next Steps
After presenting the prototype to my client, I received a positive response, and we are currently in the process of gathering customer feedback to enhance the prototype further. One notable area for future development involves introducing an interactive segment that will enable learners to troubleshoot any challenges they encounter with their initial soap batches. To address this, we’re in the process of assembling images that showcase various soap issues like “caustic soap,” “ricing,” and “separation.” This inclusion aims to prevent learners from feeling disheartened and also enhance communication between instructors and learners.
Additionally, we’re exploring a couple of other intriguing possibilities. Firstly, we’re investigating the integration of OpenAI’s ChatGPT 3.5 Turbo into Articulate 360. This integration would leverage artificial intelligence to assist learners in adapting recipe calculations to suit their specific soap preferences. For instance, beginner vegan soap makers might want to create a soap based on coconut milk, necessitating adjustments to ingredient quantities. This AI-powered functionality could prove highly beneficial.
Lastly, I’ve initiated discussions with my client regarding potential avenues stemming from this experience. One potential direction involves leveraging the prototype to promote a certificate program through “The Soap Guild” organization. Furthermore, there’s consideration for crafting new courses, such as lotion making and lip balm creation, to expand the learning offerings and cater to a broader audience. This forward-looking approach aims to maximize the impact of the e-Learning experience and explore diverse avenues for growth.
