As I approached the end of my internship experience, amid the tight schedule and the scramble to make plans for unfinished components, I began immersing myself into a deep pool of appreciation. There was much to pause and reflect on, even as things continued to spin around me at a breakneck pace. Deadlines must be met after all!
I was, of course, appreciative for the overall experience. The connection that Brad and Rosanna made for me with the team at AMC was ideal and provided me with the exact experience that I requested. The guidance and support–and immense understanding–that team offered me was tremendous, as I balanced outside responsibilities and attempted to implement two tools I had never used previously. My supervisor with AMC was especially patient as he guided me through the necessary navigation of these tools and shared veteran design tips that had big impacts for me.
During my reflective sojourn into the past five months, I found that the experience I was most appreciative of was the working relationship my Subject Matter Expert (SME) and I established together. Prior to this internship, I had heard a plethora of horror stories about the absent, dismissive, arrogant, vague, uncommunicative SMEs that, quite frankly, sounded quite common. I braced myself for the absolute worst and told myself that, if my SME was terrible, it would only be a short summer internship. I could handle that…I have been challenged by much more terrifying things.
Also, I was entering into this partnership armed and ready to put forth the effort on my part to create an effective and productive relationship. Several of my courses had a section that focused on relational components of the ID process, and a few honed in specifically on the ID/SME relationship. It was stressed that great expectations could be achieved with a great plan…and clear communication. I used this knowledge to influence how I approached the first meeting with my SME.
From the beginning, my SME and I took the time to get to know one another as individuals and as colleagues. We set a clear communication plan in that very first meeting and created a folder of resources to which we both had equal access. This was integral since our timeline from analysis to implementation was set to be relatively short (and I was learning some new tools that were integral to the build!). I believe the time we took to build a connection and establish norms made our working relationship more productive and, dare I say, fun!
At the beginning of each meeting, even if we only had a short period of time, we always had a brief check-in that served to maintain our relationship throughout the project. Seeing one another as individuals and collaborators rather than just co-workers aided in our overall productivity. Viewing my SME as a collaborator showed that we shared a common goal, could rely on each other’s strengths, and that we would achieve more together. At the same time, recognizing each other as individuals–someone with unique knowledge, perspectives, and experiences–fostered both respect and empathy. Balancing these two views encouraged open communication, mutual support, and a sense of commitment that strengthened both our teamwork and our outcomes.
The strong relationship that we formed also contributed to an environment conducive to risk taking and greater creativity in our problem-solving. Because my SME was so available and communicative, we were able to try out concepts quickly without the fear of wasting time. In addition, she was open to and supportive of solutions that might be considered outside the box and/or a complete redesign of a component. Consistently, we agreed that, if a redesign would benefit the learners, it must be implemented.
Although I wasn’t able to complete the project with my SME, working with my SME on this project was an invaluable experience that deepened my understanding of the design process. Their expertise provided me with insights I wouldn’t have discovered on my own, from clarifying complex concepts in interesting ways to offering practical examples that made the material more engaging. As stated previously, collaborating closely with them also strengthened my communication as well as my problem-solving skills, as we worked to align the content with the instructional goals. Overall, the partnership not only improved the quality of the project but also expanded my knowledge and creativity as an instructional designer. For me, SME stands for Supportive Mentor Extraordinaire!
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