As I mentioned in my last post, many "treats" and creative tools are now available for instructional designers. It is sort of like selecting which candy treat to choose on Halloween. I
really appreciate looking at and discussing these in class and the
recommendations from classmates.
We learned about several graphics tools in class that will make our work easier and more engaging to viewers. The "tricky" part is there are so many to choose from! Especially if you are like me and have a hard time making that final decision. Another trick is that some are free to use but may not be private, or may not be around for long, or may decide to start charging for use.
The textbook is treating us to a a good summary of the range of "trends and issues"and an introduction to practical details and critical background theories we will need to pursue instructional design. I am looking forward to learning more in depth from the groups and as we proceed into the more detailed courses.
Thursday, October 31, 2013
Thursday, October 24, 2013
Week 4 Random Reflections
I am glad we are taking these three courses together because what we learn in one, helps with the others. It was helpful to learn the basic HTML since we are also peeking at Action Script. Also, it is helpful that we discuss image file types in multiple classes - that has always been confusing to me, but I think I now have a better idea of the plus and minus of gifs and jpgs.
I think we are very fortunate to be taking these classes at this time! As Kimberly discussed, there are still areas of incompatibility between hardware and software, but this is much less of a problem than even a few years ago! The software tools we have to work with are very advanced compared to what was generally available in the recent past. Of course this means that it is challenging for novices to learn these tools (e.g. Flash), but I am sure the effort will be well worth it. The Lynda.com and other videos are very helpful and a great resource.
It has been challenging for me to come up with project ideas Also my ideas seem to be too big for the assignment criteria and time frame and especially because my skill level is not yet up to my ideas. It is very helpful to see the examples from previous students, but it is also intimidating.
I think we are very fortunate to be taking these classes at this time! As Kimberly discussed, there are still areas of incompatibility between hardware and software, but this is much less of a problem than even a few years ago! The software tools we have to work with are very advanced compared to what was generally available in the recent past. Of course this means that it is challenging for novices to learn these tools (e.g. Flash), but I am sure the effort will be well worth it. The Lynda.com and other videos are very helpful and a great resource.
It has been challenging for me to come up with project ideas Also my ideas seem to be too big for the assignment criteria and time frame and especially because my skill level is not yet up to my ideas. It is very helpful to see the examples from previous students, but it is also intimidating.
Friday, October 18, 2013
Week 3 reflections - Web 2.0 and constructivism
It was great to explore and learn about the education-related Web 2.0 tools!
I decided to select something related to research or information, so I looked at Reddit.com. I have heard this quoted as a source of information and it seems to exemplify the 'crowd sourcing' aspects of Web 2.0, where the crowd gets to vote to rank posts as valuable or not.
What I learned from the online group discuss and the tools shared by classmates, is that I had a narrow view of Web 2.0 . I now see that that the emphasis does not have to be on appealing to the crowd. The education-related sites/tools allow the collaboration, communication and creativity (self-publishing) without the focus on popularity. I also now recognize that Web 2.0 tools foster constructivist learning by allowing participants, authors and lurkers, to share, build on and apply their experiences and creations.
editorial comment:
The article on why and how to use Web 2.0 collaborative tools in schools has a lot of great ideas. It is unfortunate the school libraries are an endangered species in California schools. The types of supplemental and curriculum-related activities described in the article would certainly benefit the students and teachers at these schools and foster essential information and technology literacy skills.
I decided to select something related to research or information, so I looked at Reddit.com. I have heard this quoted as a source of information and it seems to exemplify the 'crowd sourcing' aspects of Web 2.0, where the crowd gets to vote to rank posts as valuable or not.
What I learned from the online group discuss and the tools shared by classmates, is that I had a narrow view of Web 2.0 . I now see that that the emphasis does not have to be on appealing to the crowd. The education-related sites/tools allow the collaboration, communication and creativity (self-publishing) without the focus on popularity. I also now recognize that Web 2.0 tools foster constructivist learning by allowing participants, authors and lurkers, to share, build on and apply their experiences and creations.
editorial comment:
The article on why and how to use Web 2.0 collaborative tools in schools has a lot of great ideas. It is unfortunate the school libraries are an endangered species in California schools. The types of supplemental and curriculum-related activities described in the article would certainly benefit the students and teachers at these schools and foster essential information and technology literacy skills.
Friday, October 11, 2013
Week 2 Reflections
This week went by fast!
The overview and class discussions really helped me think about applying the concepts in the textbook. When I am feeling cynical, it seems there are so many barriers that interfere with really effective, sustainable instructional design. An optimist (or effective practitioner) would say if you identify and consider the barriers and systematically follow the key practices, you can facilitate effective learning.
The situation with the I pads for LA Unified students sort of illustrates this. There are a lot barriers and complications, but more carefully analysis, focus on learning objectives and teacher training would have helped mitigate many of the barriers.
I found it very helpful to hear the details about Kimberly's work experience in the different settings and in different roles within the instructional design field.
The overview and class discussions really helped me think about applying the concepts in the textbook. When I am feeling cynical, it seems there are so many barriers that interfere with really effective, sustainable instructional design. An optimist (or effective practitioner) would say if you identify and consider the barriers and systematically follow the key practices, you can facilitate effective learning.
The situation with the I pads for LA Unified students sort of illustrates this. There are a lot barriers and complications, but more carefully analysis, focus on learning objectives and teacher training would have helped mitigate many of the barriers.
I found it very helpful to hear the details about Kimberly's work experience in the different settings and in different roles within the instructional design field.
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