Again - was just offering one possible way of attacking it. Tweak, change, leave things -- whatever. It often depends on the project, the availability and experience of the SME, etc. I'm also offering - because this is a discussion board and a place to share our experiences - what has worked in the past for me when I had to get something done quickly. SMEs were slowing the process down because they kept getting too hung up on covering way more than necessary because - they're SMEs. I work with them throughout to check accuracy only - not to provide the content. While they check accuracy, they are welcome to insert things they think are necessary - and I am free to keep or omit as I see fit.

And still, again -- just one possible way to attack the situation. Not an imperative. Okay?

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they kept getting too hung up on covering way more than necessary because - they're SMEs. I work with them throughout to check accuracy only - not to provide the content. While they check accuracy, they are welcome to insert things they think are necessary - and I am free to keep or omit as I see fit.

Yes, you're right about SMEs wanting to cover way more than necessary - and that can be a real problem if they are given free reign. My concern though is this: how does an instructional designer determine whether or not something is necessary for the real workers in the real workplace doing the real job? That's a lot of responsibility for the ID person - and I just don't trust that process totally. It would make me nervous to know that an ID determined the content - and by content I mean specifically all those things the learner needs to know and be able to do. And I think the analysis to determine those things should be done principally by several SMEs working together - provided they understand what that analysis entails. So either way you slice it, it seems to me that SMEs are critical to the content - although not necessarily the only source. Then the designer can take that content and work with it.

That said, I would feel comfortable with you (LoveLearning) doing just what you described - but not most designers because they don't know the job well enough. So I guess it just depends on who the designer is..............

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If you're talking about communications skills, team building, or some such courses, then I agree with the text book idea - simply because there are NO SMEs for those subjects.

Not to digress (so maybe this should be in a new thread) but what's your thinking on the above. I'm shocked that you say there are NO SME's for those subjects.

Do you mean "within the organization"? Or something different

The Training World
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My thought is that if an instructional designer is tasked with putting together a course on communication skills, it would seem pointless to look for a SME - within the organization, that is. Now if the organization has a genuine expert on workplace communication with some credentials or known expertise in that area, that would be entirely different. My original stance was that the average organization doesn't have SMEs to call upon for that that type training.

But now that you have made me think this through more, I suppose it is more feasible than I first thought. I can now think of several people who have real expertise in some of the soft skill areas - like work teams. Thanks for pointing that out!

If you can get the SMEs to do the storyboarding (which I'd be surprised if the SMEs are willing to take on), then DO IT.
There's nothing to say those storyboards have to be the final product to be produced.

With SME-generated boards, you now have all their information in a format likely organized in a way the SME perceives it to be most effective.

Use those boards as the basis and apply your ID skills. Rearrange, add explanation (or reduce verbosity), add images/animation/interactivity, etc.

We very often have the client's SMEs create the initial boards, and many of them do a fine job. We then refine with actual ID principles where they may be lacking.

SMEs generally have an insight to their organization's culture, branding, and learners. Use that as available, especially if it lessens your required time and makes your boss happy.

Your not asking SMEs to author. IMO, you're just capturing their information in a more refined format. Take it from there...
CM