Software Training Content for M-Files

Company: M-Files
Time Period: 2021
Target Audience: Users of M-Files software
Responsibility: Instructional Design, eLearning Development
Tools Used: Powtoon and Canvas

Background

During my interview with M-Files, I was asked to complete two tasks:

Task 1: Create a poster to explain Dynamic views and its value

Task 2: Create a video tutorial about how to find information in M-Files

Challenge

Task 1: How to engage users to grasp an unfamiliar concept and its value?

Task 2: How to make the instruction clear and engaging for the target audience?

Solution

Task 1: Create a poster to explain Dynamic views and its value

1. Trigger users‘ curiosity about Dynamic views by showing its value. (The scenario could be customized according to clients’ requests. )

2. Use familiar concepts. Instead of using concepts such as metadata or criteria, I use “tag” to explain how M-files sorts docs. Because users are more familiar with the concept of tag.

3. Use examples and illustrations. Examples and illustrations are great tools to understand abstract concepts such as how Dynamic views work.

4. List how Dynamic views help users with their daily tasks. This gives users an intuitive sense to understand Dynamic views’ benefits.

Task 2: Create a video tutorial about how to find information in M-Files

1. Create a persona for deciding what knowledge to deliver. As the learning needs of advanced users differ from that of beginners. It is difficult to meet both needs within the time limit. Therefore, I set beginners as my target audience and their needs is to get started with Quick search. Based on this, I decided to teach them the most frequently used features: search, filter and preview.

2. Teach users step by step with text and highlight. User’s task is to locate the right doc with Quick search. I simulate the process of how to approach the task step by step, and add text and highlight the relevant buttons. This makes the tutorial easier for users to follow.

3. Use animation, appealing visual design and cheerful music. To enhance the learning experience, I also put efforts in visual and sound design.

4. Use Besides section for further information. This helps users get a better understanding of Quick search, and if they have more questions, they know where to find answers.