Introduction to Actian DataConnect 12.2

Education Team Internship Experience

Overview

As an Instructional Design Intern with Actian Corporation during the summer of 2024, I had the opportunity to design, develop, and publish eLearning content for their Learning Management System (LMS), Actian Academy. Throughout this 12-week internship, I gained hands-on experience with technical content, learned to navigate innovative tools, and created impactful learning solutions for Actian’s customers, employees, and partners.

The Audience: Actian customers, employees, and partners
Role: Education Team Intern, Instructional Design
Tools: Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, LEAi by LearnExperts, Skilljar LMS

Capstone Presentation.mp4

I had the opportunity to present the outcomes of this project to Actian's executive leaders and employees. This 30-minute presentation sums up my internship experience. You can watch a recording of the presentation here, or download a PDF version.

The Problem

Actian customers, employees, and partners needed accessible, accurate training on the new version of DataConnect (12.2).

The Solution

I designed a multimedia-enhanced eLearning course to help users understand how to effectively use DataConnect's features.

My Process

I followed a systematic instructional design process for each lesson I created:

Analysis: I reviewed and analyzed content provided by SMEs, ensuring alignment with learning objectives and verifying the accuracy of technical details.
Design: I created detailed storyboards that included scripts, production notes, image references, and graphics, using PowerPoint and LEAi. Peer reviews were conducted before development.
Development: I collaborated with graphic designers and instructional designers to bring lessons to life, developed supplemental activities and quizzes, and used LEAi’s AI tools for efficiency.
Implementation: The final content was published in Actian Academy (via Skilljar), where it was made available to internal users, customers, and partners.
Evaluation: Though formal evaluation was not part of my role, feedback from customers and partners will help measure the success of the content in the long term.

Key Projects

Download, Install and Apply DataConnect License

Objective: Download, install, and apply the software license to DataConnect version 12.2 on a Windows Operating System
Type: How-To
Length: 6 Minutes

DataConnect Project Creation

Objective: Create a project in Actian DataConnect Studio
Type: How-To
Length: 3 Minutes

Install DataConnect on Linux

Objective: Install DataConnect on a Linux system
Type: How-To
Length: 6 Minutes

DataConnect Process Designer Basics

Objective: Explore DataConnect workflow tools and process designer
Type: Informational
Length: 13 Minutes

DataConnect Map Designer Basics

Objective: Explore the fundamentals of Map Designer in DataConnect
Type: Informational
Elements: Text, images, videos, interactive elements, activities, and quizzes

LEAi Integration

During my internship, I was one of two members of Actian's education team to trial LEAi by LearnExperts, an AI-powered course development tool. This new tool transformed our content development process by:

Creating dynamic, multi-element courses: LEAi allowed us to blend text, images, quizzes, and videos for a more varied learning experience.
Speeding up content creation: LEAi’s AI tools assisted in structuring the course, writing scripts, and even generating learning objectives, making the entire process more efficient.
Improving engagement: By breaking up long-form content into smaller sections with interactive elements like tabs and callout boxes, I was able to create more engaging and learner-focused content.

LEAi offers several AI tools. You can use LEAi’s AI to rewrite the content or create different elements, such as organized tabs, styled lists, categories, flip cards, processes, or a callout box. LEAi can also detect and combine similar content, globally find and replace certain content in similar courses, and make other suggestions.

Synthesia Integration

To further enhance efficiency, I experimented with Synthesia, an AI-powered video creation tool, to generate professional-quality videos quickly. This allowed me to:

Create instructional videos within hours, without sacrificing quality, which significantly reduced production time.
Incorporate Synthesia videos into the Map Designer course, offering learners a seamless experience without the delays of traditional video creation.

Peer Review Process

In addition to lesson creation, I played a key role in helping the team develop a peer review process for quality assurance. This process involved:

Introducing a QA checklist to standardize reviews.
Collaborating with team members to review content before it was published, ensuring high-quality, accurate educational materials.

Additional Responsibilities

Beyond my key projects, I also took on several other responsibilities that contributed to the success of the Education team:

LEAi support contact: I documented issues, solutions, and feedback during the LEAi trial period, working closely with the team to ensure smooth integration.
Publishing to Skilljar: I regularly published completed lessons, quizzes, and activities in Actian Academy, including setting up question banks for DataConnect certification.

Skills Developed

Technical Content Design: Mastered the process of translating complex software functionality into clear, digestible instructional materials.
SME Collaboration: Enhanced communication and teamwork skills by working closely with SMEs to ensure technical accuracy.
Storyboarding & Content Development: Improved my ability to design instructional materials using tools like PowerPoint and LEAi, ensuring the content was engaging and effective.
Learning Management Systems: Gained hands-on experience publishing content to an LMS (Skilljar) and using new technologies such as LEAi and Synthesia.

Reflection

My internship at Actian was a transformative experience that allowed me to apply and expand my instructional design skills in a real-world setting. Working with advanced technologies like LEAi and Synthesia has opened my eyes to the future of instructional design and how AI can enhance both efficiency and learner engagement. This experience solidified my passion for creating high-quality educational content and has prepared me for future challenges in technical education.

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