Mastering the Art of Collaborating with Subject Matter Experts in Instructional Design
By Anthony Miller
24/7 Teach Lead Instructional Designer
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Mastering Collaboration with Subject Matter Experts - A Guide for Instructional Designers:
Hey, fellow instructional designers! Today, we're diving into a topic that can often make or break your course design projects: working effectively with Subject Matter Experts, or SMEs for short. We've all been there, on either the blissful or dreaded end of the collaboration spectrum. When developing an impactful curriculum—whether for corporate training or educational institutions—your relationship with the SME can set the course for a smooth sail or a rocky voyage.
Why SMEs are Crucial in Instructional Design
Let's face it. As instructional designers, we're savvy in the mechanics of effective learning, but we can't be experts in every domain for which we're creating courses. That's where SMEs come in. Their role is to bring subject-specific depth to the project. They possess comprehensive knowledge that helps an organization or educational institution perform at its best. Simply put, a partnership with the right SME can differentiate between a course that exudes elegant simplicity in imparting knowledge and one that becomes a chaotic tangle of complex, hard-to-digest information.
The Different Worlds of Instructional Designers and SMEs
Before diving into actionable tips, it's essential to acknowledge one thing: your perspective and SMEs will inherently differ. While you focus on user experience, pedagogy, and course effectiveness, your SME is an expert in a domain you're probably unfamiliar with. Understanding this difference is critical for effective collaboration.
Six Proven Tips to Collaborate Successfully with SMEs
To bridge the gap, here are six strategies to strengthen your partnership with your SME, adapted and expanded from my personal experiences and collective wisdom in the industry:
1. Active Listening
You might find SMEs passionate, even to the point of seeming difficult, especially in initial meetings. Why? They care deeply about the subject. Use active listening techniques to engage fully. Listen to the spoken and unspoken. Focus on their words and pay attention to what's unsaid, their emotional cues, and the weight behind their statements.
2. Avoid Assumptions
Don't fall victim to the "false consensus effect," assuming the SME shares your views. Cognitive biases can easily lead to conflict. Always seek clarity by asking solid follow-up questions like, "Could you elaborate on that point?" or "Why is this aspect crucial?"
3. Remove Communication Barriers
Open communication is a two-way street. Adapt your communication style to suit your SME. Are they detail-oriented or big-picture thinkers? Do you prefer emails over meetings? Adjust your communication methods to match their preferences and emotional state.
4. Be Prepared to Disagree
Disagreements aren't necessarily bad; they can result in richer course content if managed well. Learn the art of healthy conflict resolution. Understand why your SME feels strongly about certain content and be open to changing your perspective.
5. Collaborative Compromise
Contrary to popular belief, compromise isn't a dirty word. It's the glue in a successful relationship between you and your SME. A compromise should lead to a technically accurate and pedagogically sound course.
6. Set Expectations
Lay down the rules of engagement. Agree on how you'll communicate, meet deadlines, and review content. This can include using collaborative tools like Google Docs or project management software to streamline the workflow and minimize misunderstandings.
Remember, you and your SME aim for the same end goal: maximizing performance through exceptional learning experiences. Effective collaboration with your SME is less about wrestling for control and more about harmonizing your unique strengths. So, the next time you find yourself in the SME labyrinth, let these six tips be your guiding thread.
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: Real-world Examples
Let's get into some real-world scenarios to illustrate these principles further.
The Good: A Win-Win Scenario
Imagine working with an SME with vast experience and willingness to understand the course's learning objectives. By employing active listening and compromising where necessary, you find that your course is rich in content and easily digestible. The SME appreciates your ability to convert complex subjects into manageable learning units, and you appreciate their timely input and patience. This is the win-win scenario we all dream about.
The Bad: The Unresponsive SME
We've all experienced the SME who simply doesn't respond. They approve the project but are conspicuously absent during the design phase. Without their expertise, you find yourself stuck, making assumptions about the content that may or may not be accurate. In these instances, setting clear expectations and timelines from the outset can mitigate some of these issues. Moreover, try to find an alternative point of contact who can provide some expertise while continuously following up with the SME.
The Ugly: Conflict Zone
Then, there's the scenario where disagreements are frequent and heated, making the project a breeding ground for tension and delayed deadlines. Both sides have valid points, but the inability to compromise leads to a stalled project. In such cases, returning to the course's core objectives can help realign both parties. No one wins if the project fails; thus, re-establishing a common goal can diffuse tension and get things back on track.
Understanding SME Dynamics: Adapt Your Approach
Every SME is different. Some might be more technologically savvy and willing to work with the newest tools and platforms, while others might be more traditional, preferring face-to-face discussions and written feedback. Adapt your approach to suit the dynamics of your SME. Understanding their preferences and working styles can go a long way in establishing a fruitful relationship.
Final Takeaways: The Key to Harmonious Collaboration
To sum it up, navigating the challenging terrains of collaborating with an SME is an art. It's an art that demands more than just great design skills; it calls for excellent interpersonal skills, an understanding of organizational dynamics, and a knack for problem-solving. As instructional designers, our ultimate goal is to produce the best learning outcomes possible. To achieve this, learning to work effectively with SMEs is a non-negotiable skill that we all must acquire and refine throughout our careers.
By understanding and adopting these strategies, your collaborations with SMEs will become more effective, and your instructional design projects will be more successful and impactful. Cheers to many more successful projects and harmonious SME relationships!
Discussion Question:
Join the conversation and participate with the 24/7 Instructional Design community by answering the DQ in the comment section below:
Given the intricacies of managing these relationships, how do you handle a situation where the SME insists on incorporating material that you feel might compromise the learning experience? What strategies have you found effective in balancing the needs of the learner with the expertise of the SME?
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