Project Definition Document:

NARA Records Management Training

Client
Gary Rauchfuss, Director
National Records Management Training Program
National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)

MIST Team
Project Team 2
Carrie Consalvi Mohammad Arif
Project Manager/Editor Facilitator/Instructional Developer

Giovanna Rodriguez Alynn Hoffman

Visual Design/Developer Instructional Designer/Notetaker

Irfan Jan
Instructional Designer

Project Overview
The project team is tasked with creating an e-learning module for the National Archives
and Records Administration (NARA) with the target audience being the employees of federal
agencies that are responsible for managing records. Established in 1934, NARA is in charge of
organizing billions of records for the government ranging from documents, maps, pictures,
sounds, and videos, to many terabytes of electronic data. Preserving these materials are important
to government works and provide value to U.S. citizens.

The team will provide instructional design services with the goal of creating a storyboard
for a module that will train records officers on how to promote the records management program
within their agencies. This project will include analyzing and updating existing content and
redesigning that content for self-paced online learning. The expected outcome of this project is
creating storyboards that NARA will use to develop the training.

We will recognize success in the following ways:

● Client approves of final product creation

● Storyboard is clear and concise
 ● Materials created allows for translation to multiple different government agencies
● Project follows the guidelines given by the client
● The end-product e-learning promotes records management across government agencies

Why Training?
NARA's National Records Management Training Program provides innovative,
comprehensive, and cost-effective records management training materials to a learning
community of Federal employees and contractors. The program consists of a variety of tools and
techniques through continuing education to motivate employees towards government
accountability and transparency, which includes making Federal records available, documenting
the National Experience, and protecting legal rights. Because of this, NARA is looking to
increase the knowledge of pertinent stakeholders on how to run various campaigns to promote
records management. Recently, NARA has decided to stop conducting synchronous training and
shift resource investment to developing online learning materials that agencies can use to train
employees.

Learners
The target audience for this training will include a learning community of federal
employees and contractors who are in charge of record keeping at federal agencies. The learners
are senior employees and managers who likely hold a college degree. They are considered e-
learning capable since much of the work that they do requires this type of online training;
however, for this training they will be considered novices in terms of content covered in the e-
learning.

Organizational Goals
The primary organizational goal is to ensure compliance with NARA’s National Records
Management Training Program instructions and policies.

Learners’ Goals
Learners will be able to:
1. Identify the target audience for a records management campaign.
2. Choose the appropriate media based on the audience to develop a records
management promotional campaign.
3. Learners will be able to motivate their employees to care about records
management.
4. Learners will be able to construct a message (promotional activity, newsletter or
campaign) that explains what they want the audience to do as a result of their
promotional program.

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Deliverables
The primary deliverable for this e-learning training course is a storyboard that will later
be developed into an e-learning module. The storyboard will include a number of squares with
illustrations or pictures representing each step of the training, with detailed notes about the scene
and also what is being said in the script during that step. A main focus of the e-learning will be
the inclusion of practice activities, which allow participants to create a motivational message to
share with others through selected media. The storyboard of the e-learning course will be
designed to be one hour in length and the actual course will later be developed by NARA
developers based on the delivered storyboard.

In conjunction with the storyboard, additional deliverables may include examples or

documents to aid in the creation of the e-learning.

Project Resources
The point of contact for this project, Gary Rauchfuss, was able to provide the team with a variety
of resources to aid in the creation of the module. Resources provided include:

● Powerpoint presentation provided by NARA

● Previous powerpoint used for all training modules, including the current project
● Articulate Storyline license access
● Storyline 360 catalog for graphics and photos
● National Archives catalogs

Gary is also the subject-matter expert and has been able to answer any additional
questions we may have.

Logistical Considerations
Because this training is designed for use in a variety of different federal agencies,
logistical considerations will vary by department. As a baseline for completion of the module,
learners will need access to computers with internet connectivity. In addition, it is assumed that
learners will have basic computer knowledge and will be able to easily navigate an e-learning
module. It is assumed that learners will also have a firm understanding of NARA’s program and
the importance of record keeping.

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Timeline
WEEK DATE Milestone Client Feedback
(Meeting possibilities)

1-2 Tuesday, July 2 Project Definition (PD) July 3-7

document

3-4 Tuesday, July 16 Submit Design Document to July 17-20

client

5 Tuesday, July 23 Sample Draft Materials and/or July 24-27

Sample Storyboard

6-7 Sunday, August 4 Development & Evaluation/ no Check with the client as
deliverables. needed

8 Tuesday, August 13 Deliver Final Materials, Due Check with the client as
8/13 needed

Critical Success Factors

Potential issues for completion of this project include possible government shutdown.
which may slowdown the project in the development stage. In addition, the team does not have
access to the learners themselves which does not allow for an initial assessment of the learning
needs of participants nor a final assessment of the effectiveness of the final product.

Critical success factors for the team include adhering to the timeline and working
together as a team to create a meaningful and engaging e-learning tool which the client can use it
without any issue.