Bank Heist
This conceptual project was designed to train bank tellers to follow safety protocols during a robbery.
- Audience: Bank tellers
- Responsibilities: Instructional Design, Storyboarding, e-Learning Development, Action Mapping, Animation, Video, Audio, and Photo Editing
Tools Used: Google Docs, MindMeister, Adobe XD, Articulate Storyline, Adobe Photoshop, Unreal Engine, Mixamo, Natural Readers
The Problem
The client is a fictitious banking company that needs safety training for their onboarding process. Bank tellers need to be able to safely and calmly handle a bank robbery situation if the situation were to arise
The Solution
I designed and developed a story-driven e-learning simulation to allow learners to experience a robbery in a low-stakes situation. A real-life bank robbery can pose various risks to employees and customers, including physical and possibly fatal consequences if not handled properly. The e-learning allows the learner to make and learn from mistakes without dire real-world consequences.
Design & Development Process
I used the ADDIE Process to bring the project to life. I first identified a need, created an action map, storyboarded the simulation using story-telling elements to engage the learner, visualized the project by creating a mood board and wireframes, solidified the design by creating visual mockups, developed a prototype and received feedback, and finally developed and programmed the interactivity within the project to realize a final product.
Action Maps
To increase e-Bank’s Safety Satisfaction rating by 10% over the next 12 months, bank tellers will implement safety protocols to manage robbery situations. With this goal in mind, I identified key actions prioritizing employee safety and aligning with business objectives.
Drawing on my bank teller experience, online research, and consulting with a law enforcement officer as my subject matter expert (SME), I designed a training simulation that maps out critical actions for safely handling robberies and achieving this business goal. I ta rgeted behavior that could minimize a potential robbery and reduce the risk of dangerous situations if a robbery were to occur. The first priority action involved decision-making skills that can help reduce the chance of a potential robbery. Being alert and reporting suspicious behaviors immediately is a preventative measure banks can implement to deter robbers. Following the perpetrator’s order is another high-priority action that significantly reduces the risk of harm to employees and customers. Finally, writing a detailed report is a significant action for this situation. Not only is it required by police to aid in their investigation, but the manager also needs to complete a Suspicious Activity Report for the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency that includes a description of what happened to meet compliance regulations.
Before this sentence, you can mention the business goal from your action map. Then you can talk about how the high-priority actions were chosen to change behaviors in order to meet the business goal.
Text-based Storyboard
I created a text-based storyboard to serve as the blueprint for the project. I used my personal experience and included some story-telling elements to immerse the learner in the situation . The story centered around the three high-priority actions indicated on the action map, and I converted those actions into decision-based questions to get the audience to learn through consequences.
When speaking to the police officer, they mentioned that the Suspect Identification Card is crucial when collaborating with the police to catch the perpetrator. I included this as a job aid in the simulation to ensure the learner knew what to look for if the situation arose. When designing the consequences for each situation, I wanted to ensure that I conveyed the severity of specific actions and simultaneously avoided traumatizing the learner to the point that if the situation were to arise, they wouldn’t be able to respond. This is a sensitive topic, and I wanted to treat it with care.
After this sentence, add something about how the scenarios learners encounter in your eLearning were based on the identified high-priority actions in your action map.
Visual Mockups
I created a mood board for inspiration and liked the idea of giving the project a video game feel to draw in learners. I also designed the style guide to determine the project’s colors and create consistency. I then created wireframes and, afterward, visual mockups to solidify the slides’ layout and ensure the learning experience was intuitive
Part of planning the layout during visual mockups is to ensure an intuitive learner experience.
Interactive Prototype
I used several tools to create the interactive prototype, including Articulate Storyline 360, Photoshop, Unreal Engine, Mixamo, and Natural Readers.
For the prototype, I included animated videos I created using Unreal Engine, imported them into Articulate Storyline 360, and made them interactive by manipulating the timeline and adding triggers. The prototype told the story up to the first scenario-based question and consequences. I submitted the prototype for user testing to ensure an intuitive experience and test functionality.
Full Development
I wanted to create a unique learning experience that engaged the learner from the first slide. Using Unreal Engine was a risk because of the very steep learning curve. Still, I knew these types of animations could create an immersive and unique learning experience that would be memorable for the learners.
I revised the project, making corrections based on the feedback I received. I continued to animate the rest of the project using Unreal Engine, persistently resolving the many issues that arose during the animation process. I branched the scenario, creating two different robbery situations, included more scenario-based questions, and made an interactive experience of the learner writing a report using true/false and text-based variables.
Results and Takeaways
When I shared the project on LinkedIn, it received positive feedback from experienced instructional designers and other professionals.
To evaluate the effectiveness of this project, I would look at the employee satisfaction data regarding safety and monitor any increase or decrease in employee responses. If a robbery were to occur at a site that participated in this training, if possible, I would interview the teller to determine the effectiveness of the training. After collecting and reviewing this data, I would identify areas for improvement and make necessary adjustments to the eLearning experience to enhance its effectiveness, ensuring it continues to meet employee safety needs and organizational goals.
You will need permission from these people to use their messages.
If you block out the images and names, you could use them.
I posted my flagship in the community, then asked people who gave me positive feedback if I could use their message as a testimonial on my portfolio website. You could probably do the same with the LinkedIn comments. I know Lucy Aguilar would be happy to support. I’d also bet that Devlin would write something for you. Any bootcamp pros you worked with would also be happy to write a testimonial for your project or website, I’m sure 
Instead of including the LinkedIn screenshot, maybe you can work it into the write-up. Something like “When I shared the project on LinkedIn, it received positive feedback from experienced instructional designers and other professionals.” And then you can make “shared the project on LinkedIn” a hyperlink to the post.
You’ll also be able to share any of the stuff the DP team records when we showcase your project!
