So much happened in only two months that my memory of the time
passed is a blur of images and sensations. It all began when I
interviewed for an ID position with DAI during the ATPS (Association
of Training and Performance Support) Conference last fall in New
York City, thinking nothing would come of it. Cynthia Berry, Director
of Training at DAI and Bill Thurman, the training coordinator, focused
the interview on my interests in the entertainment industry and my
experience as an instructional designer in corporate environments.
Several phone interviews and one month later, Cynthia invited me to
join her team as a designer of in-house training and performance
support. I jumped at the chance. Offering a unique opportunity for
career advancement, DAI is one of the largest animated feature
film studios in the industry. Their training department meets the
needs of over 400 employees.
I earned my M.Ed. in Instructional Technology at Rittenhouse University
about five years ago, and began my first job as an instructional
designer with David Danielson International. Over the course of three
years, I developed a range of multimedia-based educational materials
and then focused on the development of industry-specific performance
enhancement projects.
My interest in digital media led me to a position with Audio Engineering
Concepts (AEC), in New York City, where I developed training and on-line
support for its award-winning audio production tools. Working with a
small team of instructional designers, this industry demanded constant
development, revision, and evaluation of support materials for its
products. It was at AEC that I began to explore electronic performance
support systems (EPSS) for internal training, developing systems that
provide necessary information at the right time and place, and that
offer tools for decision support.
With only a month to complete my obligations at AEC and move to LA,
my days were planned to the minute and my workload doubled. Not until
enroute from New York, was I finally able to really dig into the
DAI orientation materials
that the folks at DAI had Fed Ex'ed to me. Cynthia's note made it clear
that the department's aspirations for me are high--their aim is to
provide performance support to its animators in only nine months. I
was going to be designing within another accelerated timeline...seems
to be the trend these days. Just as when entering any new environment, I
knew the terminology and processes in this service industry would
seem foreign at first. I knew I would need to keep in mind that my skills
as an instructional designer would help me explore what is truly needed
in this environment.
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Jason's First Day at DAI
