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abcrabbfs-blog · 8 years ago

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The journey comes to an end: IDT690

1) How has each course contributed to your personal and professional development as an instructional designer?

It has been a crazy year as I’ve navigated through the various courses in the IDTMS program. When I first started out, I was a PR major. Because of this, I went through the initial Mastery course with an end goal of PR in mind. I feel like I came into the program with a handicap, because of that. I hadn’t put a lot of thought into my end goal as an instructional designer, because at the time it wasn’t. When I entered the first official course in the program, Strategies for Learner Engagement, I felt like I was starting behind everyone. I didn’t even know exactly what I was getting myself into. I just knew that the program was in the field of education. I’m so glad I stuck it out though, because I ended up being exactly where I needed and wanted to be. That first official course, helped me to become more comfortable with Lynda.com. I know that doesn’t seem like much, but I’d never really used the site before and having to follow an instructional video piece by piece, really helped me to become more comfortable with all that it had to offer. Because of that, I know that there’s always a place I can go for advice or tutorials in instructional design. As I moved into course three, Visual and Verbal Communication, I began to learn just how important the text and colors I chose mattered to the learner. I didn’t want to use a text that took away from the actual educational content I was trying to promote. I also had to learn that text can easily disappear into an image and be hard to read. I had to find that sweet spot with the text and colors, while making it look like it actually belonged on the photo. That course taught me some of the essential building blocks I found myself thinking about every course after. The fourth course, Corporate Training and Motivational Development, was where I had to start getting used to having myself on camera. I’m not a fan of being on camera, as I don’t feel confident. It may seem silly, but I was complimented on my voice and narration during course four, and it instilled in me a sense of confidence that made me come to terms with the real purpose of being on screen. Yes, to some degree the learner would focus on what I looked like, but ultimately the information and images I presented them with were what mattered. If my voice was what helped get the concepts across, then so be it. It was this course that made me realize that my tone of voice and the way in which I read things could be very beneficial as an instructional designer. Course number five, Instructional Design and Evaluation, was where I had my first truly proud creation moment. During the beginning half of the course, we were using a tool to help assist us in making infographics. We’d made them in course number two, but these were the first ones we really had to make on our own. For week three of the course, I decided to step away from the tool, and put to use everything I’d learned so far. I’m so glad I did, because I produced my Rapid Prototyping Infographic that I am so proud of. This infographic wasn’t done with a template and was my creation from other images or shapes. Though it may not be as amazing as I thought it was back then, it was the first moment I realized I honestly could create meaningful graphics if I set my mind to it. It was in Digital Media and Learning Applications that I honestly wondered if I’d gotten into something way over my head. I’m married to an IT guy, so I know the general gist of coding. Actually no, I don’t really know anything other than all those letters and symbols are the backbone of pretty much anything technical we see. Many a night I had to ask my husband if I was just blind, as I scoured over my code trying to find where I’d messed up. As the weeks went on though, I became more confident. I found myself asking for him less and less, and rather found myself showing him what I’d created. I know there’s no way I could have created all of that code from scratch, so I am very grateful for the video we followed along, but because of that course I realized that just because something is intimidating, doesn’t mean I can’t do it. I made it through that course and produced, in my eyes, a decently nice quiz. It worked, the images matched up, and it provided good feedback. It was definitely something I knew I’d have enjoyed as a kid. Being able to create such a thing was a big stepping point in my journey, as yet again I was able to push aside the “I can’t” attitude and change it into an “I can...and I did!” Course 7, Music and Audio Design, was one I was just not a fan of. The professor was great and helpful, but music and audio just weren’t my thing. I found myself struggling to get through the course. I did though, and I’m actually grateful. That course taught me just how important the audio side of things really is. I don’t have a good quality mic, and I know I’ll have to invest in one if I wish to create more professional level projects, but that course taught me tricks and tips to make do until then. I realized that the reverb and compression can make a voice sound smooth like butter. I learned audio tips that I found myself using in every video or audio project from there on out. What started out as something I had no interest in, ended with me actually spending a decent amount of time trying to get sounds just right. By learning and understanding the importance of audio, because of that course, I’m now able to produce a higher quality of sound in my work. The eighth course, Filmmaking Principles, was one of the most fun courses to me. At first I felt confined by the options presented, but I realized that in the actual job field that’s how it will be. 99% of the time, I won’t have absolute freedom for what I’m creating. I’ll be given a specific topic and have to go from there. This course was a great way for me to put this process to use. I loved being able to create storyboards and actually see them come to life. It was a complete process all in one course, and it showed me that I can do it. I can take a topic, plan it, create it, shoot it, edit it, and produce something i’m super proud of. Like most of the courses, it was a course that helped me to build confidence, as it’s something I tend to lack. Game Strategies, course number nine, was the course I’d looked forward to since the beginning. When I was in the classroom as a teacher, I always loved playing games with my students. Of course it’s important for them to be educational games, so I was excited for whatever I would learn in this course. I ended up learning more than I would have thought, and actually learning the importance of roleplaying. Dr. Dan was a phenomenal teacher who helped me to understand, on a deeper level, the importance of things like role playing. I’d never done it before, and our live session with him, Richard, and I, was the most fun I think I’ve had throughout the program. By participating in active roleplaying, I learned just how much of an impact it can have. That course taught me that there are so many ways to reach my students, and sometimes it takes completely being someone else to make it happen. Course ten, Learning Management Systems, showed me how much organization matters. We’d already learned about creating things, and this course showed me how presenting them truly matters. Online learning is a huge thing nowadays, so to make it the best possible experience for students is important. I was grateful to learn about LMS’s and sites like Edmodo, so I can put them to use in any online modules I may do in the future. After all of those courses, I came to the final two. Both this course, and course eleven, Media Asset Creation, were good reflection courses for me. I was able to look back at everything I’d learned and put it to use. In course 11, I took all that I knew and made it into something. In this course, I’m able to take the chance to understand the why. Reflection is an important part of the learning process, and I’m so happy that I was able to do it, especially for this assignment. As I look at all I’ve typed above, I’m able to see how far I’ve come. I love that I can look at each course individually and know how it helped shape me into the instructional designer I am.

2) How well were you able to utilize the concepts and techniques you learned from the program (theories, systems design, interface styling, and the creation of multimedia content) as you designed, developed, and implemented your Final Project?

Creating the assets for the final project started off as a daunting task. I recall being extremely stressed at first wondering if I was honestly ready for this point in my Mastery journey. I remember asking myself if I really knew what I was doing. In fact, my original plan I turned in, wasn’t at all what I ended with. As I set out to actually create the assets, I realized that I had a picture in my head that my words weren’t accurately describing. I needed to fix this, so I made sure I could make adjustments, and I set out to make them match up. I ended up with three assets I was truly proud of. I had made use of everything I’d learned about Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop and had produced assets that I knew a learner could benefit from. I made sure to keep in mind things that Reiser and Dempsey had taught me. I knew that anything I created I wanted to be good for the learner and not overwhelm them. I think overall I did a good job of putting the concepts I learned, as well as the techniques to produce final assets that show exactly what I’m capable of. One thing that honestly stuck out in my mind throughout all of the asset creations was something that Dr. Chris said may times. It was about the positioning of text. I kept this in mind every time I typed something and made sure to keep text straight on the left and ragged on the right, rather than a mixture of both on either side. It was something I kept getting in trouble for in his courses, so I made sure to catch myself on something as important as my final project.

3) Describe your most outstanding personal triumph in each course.

Looking through each course to answer number one, brought back so many memories throughout this journey. In all honesty, it’s hard to believe that this is my final homework assignment, and that September 1st, I will be graduating. As I look at each course, I generally have certain projects or triumphs that stick out in my mind.

Course 1- Mastery: Personal Development and Leadership

This course was where it all began. I had the final goal of a PR degree in mind. I actually ended up going 2 courses after this before realizing PR just wasn’t for me. My best triumph in this class was honestly just getting an A+ and realizing that I could in fact do Masters level work. I’d put off getting my Masters and in fact, never even knew if I’d honestly be able to. So to get an A+ in my first course was a huge triumph.

Course 2- Strategies for Learner Engagement

For this course, there’s no doubt what my biggest triumph was. I may have just been following along with a video, but I successfully created my first infographic. This infographic has a lot going on with it, so it wasn’t at all easy for a beginner. I was able to even take parts of it and make them my own, in a way. Looking at it now, I’m still just as proud as I was back then.

Course 3- Visual and Verbal Communication in Instructional Design

My main triumph during this course was to actually create a presentation in Keynote on Renewable Energy, and to have it actually work. I took visuals and had to make them work, had to make things clickable, and even added sounds. In the end I had created a presentation that I was proud of. Even above that, it was my choice to pick what exactly to say. I think I did a good job with what I chose, and even so early into my journey I felt that my learners would have benefitted from my creation.

Course 4- Corporate Training and Motivational Development

This course was really the first one where I was able to create my own script. I was given the information I needed, and had to turn it into a script that would appeal to my audience. I was proud of the overall video I had produced, but writing my script and actually including everything I needed was a big triumph for me. I knew then that I could get my point across and also be entertaining and relevant to my audience.

Course 5- Instructional Design and Evaluation

This course was where I was really able to put my newly acquired skills to the test. I was able to use what I’d learned about Photoshop and Illustrator, as well as creating images, in order to create an infographic. I have never been more proud than I was when I completed this infographic. I presented it in a way that was visually appealing and also delivered the concept in a way the learner is able to understand. By far my favorite moment of the entire program.

Course 6- Digital Media and Learning Applications

Coding is by no means my area of expertise, so to be able to actually code a working interactive quiz was definitely my biggest triumph of this course. Yes, I followed along with a video for the initial creation, but I then took what I learned and made it so that the quiz was exactly what I needed it to be. As the wife of an IT guy, to be able to show him I’d done something he does every day was a proud moment for me.

Course 7- Music and Audio for Instructional Design

The best moment for me throughout course seven was realizing the importance of audio. If something doesn’t sound good, then the learner isn’t going to want to listen. Once I learned exactly what compression and reverb do, I realized how much they were necessary. In a way, my biggest triumph was simply a learning opportunity.

Course 8- Filmmaking Principles for Instructional Design

It sounds simple, but honestly following something from start to finish was a big thing to me. In this course, I took a set of instructions and turned it into a video. I pre-planned everything, wrote a script, took test shots, and finally shot and produced a how-to video that I was quite content with. Being able to put audio skills I’d learned, and lighting/shot tips was a big thing. I was quite proud to have seen through the entire process and ended with something I loved.

Course 9- Game Strategies and Motivation

I’ll be the first to admit that I’ve always thought games like Dungeons and Dragons were dumb. I didn’t mind others playing them, but by no means was that my kind of thing. Oh how wrong I was. I may never actually play the game, but I learned not only how much fun roleplaying can be, but how important it can be. My biggest triumph of this course was letting go of my inhibitions and experiencing a new learning technique that I ended up putting to use in my own classroom.

Course 10- Learning Management Systems for Organization

The biggest thing I took away from the LMS course was the fact that just because I tried something, doesn’t mean I have to stick with it. I used Edmodo for my LMS creation. I stuck with it throughout the course, but it made me realize there are much better alternatives. Some of my peers used other LMS sites, and they are ones I will look to should the opportunity arise again. I realized that just because I did something once, doesn’t mean I have to stick with it. There are sometimes multiple ways or opportunities for a goal to be met. My triumph was realizing that sometimes the process is never ending. It’s about learning from mistakes and growing.

Course 11- Media Asset Creation

Without a doubt, I think my major triumph in creating my assets was my final asset. This asset was one that wasn’t at all planned from the start. In fact, it’s one I realized I had in my head that didn’t match my words. I put everything I’d learned in the previous 10 courses to use, and created an interactive PDF activity/game that a learner can truly benefit from. I took things I’d learned about feedback and put them to use in order to better assist the learner. Though it seems simple, I truly believe I’ve created something that could have a real impact on learners that take my harassment/discrimination training course.

Course 12- Instructional Design and Technology Final Project

I’m not even sure if I’m meant to have a triumph for this final course, but I do. As I’ve thought back on all the course I’ve had the chance to reflect on how far I’ve come. I’ve learned things I never would have thought I’d know how to do. I’ve also learned more about myself and what I’m capable of. Sure, I knew them in my mind, but actually typing them out here and for this assignment have made them seem so real. My triumph for this course is truly understanding who I am and what I’m capable of. I look forward to wherever my journey may go from here.

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abcrabbfs-blog · 8 years ago

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So close to the finish line! IDT680 Media Asset Creation

1) In what ways has your identity as an instructional designer changed during the previous months?

The past 11 months have been a time of growth and learning that I never expected to experience. Going into the program, I wasn't honestly sure what to expect. I've ended up learning so much more than I could have ever imagined. I feel that at the beginning of this journey I was more shy and timid in regards to my work. Now, I feel more confident in what I do. I know that the learning process is an ongoing thing I will experience throughout my lifetime, but to see how far I've come already just instills in me a feeling of comfort I never thought I'd feel.

My first month in the program, I was actually in the Public Relations program. Because of this, the goals I set for myself don't really apply to the IDT program. One goal I've had throughout the program though is to try and become better at time management and to stop procrastinating. I honestly can't say I've fully met this goal, but at the same time I don't know if I ever will. It's something I've struggled with my whole life, and at times I actually purposely have waited as I feel I work better when the pressure is on. I think I've learned that time management is necessary to an extent though. There were times I knew if I didn't plan things out, I'd be overwhelmed, so I went against my own instilled mindset and actually planned ahead. Those were the times I truly felt confident in what I was presenting.

2) What media assets have you created during the previous months that will best demonstrate your areas of expertise and support your personal brand?

I feel that throughout my time in this program, and all of the assets I've created, I've always had some type of theme. I'm very big on color. I love things that are colorful. Whatever I can do to make colors pop, I always try to. In this course, I focused on bright colored backgrounds with white text. This allowed the text to pop out from the brightness. In past courses, I've even used dark backgrounds with brightly colored text. One particular asset I really was proud of was from the 5th course in the program. We had to create an infographic on different types of learning methods. I used a dark colored background with brightly colored text and it just looked so clean and nice. I even came up with my own idea for a logo and pieced it together, which was something I'd never done before.

The other asset I've been most proud of was actually from this course. When I wrote my proposal for my final project out, I had a completely different 2 minute video in mind then what I submitted. I'm so glad I went with the one I submitted though. Yes, my lighting was poor and that's something I need to improve on, but the video was everything else I'd hoped for. It got the message across and was also entertaining to watch. I actually showed it to my boss, who is in a clip or two, and he loved it. It was a good testament to our school, as the majority of it was actually truth about my workplace. I loved being able to take an idea and turn it into something that actually applied to my real life.

3) How will you continue to develop your personal brand as a means of achieving mastery in the future?

One main thing I intend to do as I go forward with my brand is to put myself out there more socially. As Ross says, "Work on your reputation by working on your webutation" (Three Keys to a Personal Brand, 2:16). I want to put my work out there where it's most likely to be seen. I already use sites like Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook for personal reasons. I might as well put my work out there. Chances are someone I know may share my work and then someone they know sees it and approaches me. It's all about the networking to become even more well known and to even get a job in the field.

I want to continue to learn as well. Sites like Lynda.com can help me to continue bettering myself as an instructional designer. Education is my background, and it's something I've always loved. To have gained a new way of being able to work with something I love is the greatest thing I could have ever asked for. I honestly can't wait to walk across that stage and be able to show what I've accomplished.

Ross, L. (2013, November 4). Learning Personal Branding [Lynda.com online course]. Retrieved from https://www.lynda.com/Business-Skills-tutorials/Personal-Branding-Basics/126618-2.html

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abcrabbfs-blog · 8 years ago

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Learning Management Systems

1. Should instructional designers be required to be industry certified to practice in the profession? Why or why not?

I'm a firm believer in that people with experience/educational knowledge will do a much better job than someone with no background in the area. When I was a teacher, I worked at a private school. My first year, we had no set curriculum to follow. We had some books, but it was up to us to decide what to teach and when. The main goal was simply for the state standards to be met. I enjoyed this freedom, but as the years have passed and I've spent 10 months in a program about designing things like that, I realize that I was not at all qualified to be doing what I was. As Dempsey and Van Eck (2012) discuss, many learners have had bad experiences when taking courses. A hodge podge of YouTube videos and PowerPoints litter learning units that are being created. The good news is that "accreditation agencies are concomitantly encouraging what universities who train our professionals have neglected--certification of instructional designers," (Reiser & Dempsey, pp. 286). Before coming into this course, I had no idea what all I would be learning. I had no knowledge of just how much goes into designing instructional materials. This is why I very much agree that instructional designers need to be certified in what they are doing. Too much is at stake, in regards to the future of our learners. We need to learn proper ways to create and produce materials for them. Just like with any real job, you want someone that knows what they are doing. Sure, people can learn from simple experience and years of practice, but someone that is truly certified may be able to bring something to the table that someone with experience can't. Technology is ever changing, and as a big part of the instructional design job includes education, it's important to have someone that's certified and up to date in all new methods. It's also good to be certified in that it let's you yourself know that you know what you're doing. According to Hsu and Yancey (2015), "Obtaining a certification can boost a professional’s self-confidence and self-satisfaction," (The benefits of human resources certification, pp.2). Not only does the professional know what they're doing, but they can feel confident in that fact. This will give them more confidence that they can handle whatever is set before them.

2. Explain why continuing education in instructional design and technology is important, and how you plan to continue to develop your technical skills to remain competitive in the field. One of the main focuses of instructional design is technology. Technology is something that is constantly changing. It seems like just yesterday our cell phones were Nokia brick phones that could survive a 20 story drop onto concrete. Now, our phones are essentially mini-computers that can do whatever we need. Technology is ever evolving, and as such, it's important to stay informed about it. Hsu and Yancey (2015) describe it best when they say, "when individuals are high in intrinsic motivation to be certified, they treat preparation, training, and practice as compelling and interesting, (The benefits of human resources certification, pp.3). I know I want to be the best at what I do, and I want to know as much as I can. This means I am intrinsically motivated, as I have a reason to do it for myself. If I can better myself, then I can be the best for my students. Because of this, I will continue to seek education and stay up to date in the instructional design field. In regards to being competitive, it all comes down to what you can do that someone else can't. If a hiring manager is looking at two applications for the same job, they will most likely choose whoever has the most experience. This is because that person can generally bring the most to the job. I want to be that person. Because of this, I will definitely take advantage of things like Lynda.com for years to come, as I can learn many new things through there. I want and need to stay up to date, in order to do my best, and be the best for my learners.

3. Considering how quickly eLearning theories and practices have evolved, and in anticipating more changes in the future, how will you ensure that you as an instructional design professional will keep abreast of future changes? According to Dempsey and Van Ecks (2012), "Developments in technology are constantly upping the ante," (Reiser & Dempsey, pp. 287). Technology is constantly changing. This means fields that rely on technology, such as instructional design and it's eLearning elements, are also changing. If you want to remain relevant and knowledgeable in the field, it's important to continue seeking education in the subject area. For me, my main goal will be to remain up to date. To do this, I will use a variety of ways. First, I will make sure to continue to use Lynda.com. I feel like I've learned a lot from it in the past 10 months, and I feel that there is so much more it holds for me. I also intend to join a community of peers in the subject area. For now, I've enjoyed interacting with my classmates, but after graduation, they will no longer be there. I want to still have people I can learn from and collaborate with, which is why I will seek another community in which I can do this. Reiser, R. A., & Dempsey, J. V. (2012). Trends and issues in instructional design and technology. Boston: Pearson. Hsu, Y., & Yancey, G. (2015). The benefits of human resources certification. Retrieved from http://academic.emporia.edu/esrs/vol50/hsu_yancey.pdf

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abcrabbfs-blog · 8 years ago

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How-to: Another class has passed

Reflect: Another class has came and went, and it was one I very much enjoyed. The main project of course number 8 was making a how-to video. More than that even, it was about showing we could actually plan out a story board and follow it along. My first storyboard sketches were something I wish I could take back:

(storyboard) Horribly drawn sketches and horribly taken pictures. This wasn’t at all what I actually wanted the finished product to look like. I wanted something I was proud of, and my draft sketches weren’t at all this! Feedback from my professor included showing my lighting and including more personalization in my narration. I had to overcome the cold side I had to the assignment and make it me. To do this, I added story elements and made the narration as if I were talking to a friend and sharing some funny stories with. In the end I was very happy with my narration, and thankful for my instructors suggestions. Inquire: As I look at my video itself, I wonder which shots I could have done differently. One that easily comes to mind is this one:

(wide angle bathroom shot) The angle isn’t necessarily an issue, but everything in the angle is. The tub edge is clearly not clear (something I’m embarrassed of as I look back) and the lighting is just horrible. I didn’t at all demonstrate my knowledge of lighting with this scene. As I look back, I wonder what exactly was going through my head. My instructor never said anything about this scene, other than the sound of the water should be edited out, so I guess I just didn’t think anything more of it. I need to take more time to look for things like this though. I never again want to submit something that I’ll look back on later and be embarrassed about. Suggest: With more time, there are definitely some scene I would redo. Other than the one shown above, another I would redo is the intro scene:

(Intro shot of how-to video) Aside from this horrible facial expression I captured in this screenshot, the scene is a flat out mess. My instructor suggested I reshoot with a less crowded background, and I wish I would have listened. At the time, I didn’t think about the fact my GoPro would capture a lot more than I had in mind. Living in a small apartment, there isn’t really much I could do with the items around me, but I could have shot this scene somewhere else. I believe that with more time I could have put more thought into this scene and not have had such a cluttered scene that is essentially the first thing my viewers see. On one hand, I guess it has me coming off as real, but it’s not professional and if I want to use my degree in the professional environment, I need to take all of these things in and put them to use. Elevate: As I go on with my final 3 classes (excluding the one I’m currently in) I want to take all of this into account. To be a true master of the material I’m taking in, I need to demonstrate that I am actually learning from my mistakes. Most of the mistakes I made were simple things that were just overlooked. Things I could have easily avoided doing wrong if I would have just paid more attention. I want to be successful and in order to do so I need to demonstrate that I’m worthy of the success. Putting out unpolished work isn’t how I want people to see me.

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abcrabbfs-blog · 8 years ago

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Reflections - IDT610

Reflect: Looking back on the last course, I have no doubt in my mind that it was the toughest course I’ve taken thus far. This includes in my undergraduate courses, on through my courses here at Full Sail as a Graduate student. To keep it short, nothing about audio and editing it excited me. If I record a video and need to edit it, I’m not going to pay that much attention to the hiss of the mic or if my voice should pan a certain way. Well, at least I wouldn’t have, before that course. I see now the importance of doing stuff like that. It still doesn’t interest me at all, but in this field, it’s going to be a necessity. Whether I like it or not, it’s important to learn how to do, and for that I am grateful. I still have things I need to work on. One of these things would be working on my audio. From the professors feedback:

I don’t have a good mic for recording narration/audio, and as a result it causes my work to not be of good quality. This is an easy fix, it just requires me to make a purchase. I did try to edit the narration I had to make it sound the best I could. For this, I worked on equalization levels, panning, and compression.

(Draft of final project, lacking much control changes)

(Final version of final project, more changes made) In the screenshots above, I made quite a few changes. I took the feedback I got and put it to use in trying to make the mic I had sound as high quality as I possibly good. Inquire: As I look at the screen shot above, which was for our final project, I wonder if I could have done more. My grade was obviously not something I would have normally wanted, but at the time I turned it in, I was decently happy with my work. I didn’t expect to do as poorly as I did, and I wonder what else I could have done. I see the feedback I was given, part of which is shown up above in regards to technical errors. I obviously missed some, and need to look into better training my ears to catch them so that I’m not as easily overlooking something that could be fixed decently well. Suggest: Going forward, I think the most obvious fix I could make would be to invest in a good condenser microphone. That alone would omit a lot of the errors that I was forcing myself to manually find and fix. I also believe I need to do more reading and my own research into how to better fix audio narration and the like.

Here’s another pullout from the feedback I received. Overall my quality of work just wasn’t what it should have been. I admit, last month was rough. Not just in the class, but on a personal level as well. I can’t let personal issues affect my school work though. Lack of interest in a course, combined with my allowance of that, just caused some of the worst grades I’ve had in my graduate studies. To fix this, I need to learn to separate the two and get it into my head that whether I like a course or not, it’s important for me to be successful.

Elevate: As I continue on, I first of all can’t believe that I have only 4 courses left. That just blows my mind to think how far I’ve come and how much I’ve learned. I never want to stop learning, as it helps me to be the best I can. I need to remind myself that Lynda.com is a great resource for me, and could have helped me a lot more than I allowed it in this past course. I need to take that extra step and educate myself more so that whether I like a course or not, I know enough to do well in it and have it be beneficial. I don’t need to waste anyones time, including my own. I need to buckle up, push through, and be as successful as I know I can be.

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abcrabbfs-blog · 8 years ago

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R.I.S.E above!

Reflect: Last month’s course was one that truly put my skills and patience to the test. One of the main projects for the course was creating an interactive quiz. This proved to be the most challenging assignment I had done thus far. Coding to me is a whole new area in which I had zero knowledge. Doing something that could so easily mess up from one typo, proved a testament to my patience. I was able to get through it, and was grateful in the end. At one point, I was able to even help out a classmate with an issue they were having. My instructor commended me for this, and it was nice to receive the recognition.

Inquire: As I think back to the last course I think about how I could have done better and why I did what I did. For our interactive quiz, we were to choose one of three videos and make a quiz based on it. I was happy with the one I chose, but as I look at my quiz I wonder if I couldn’t have done better.

Interactive quiz showing text choices

Part of the feedback I received was in regards to my color choice for my feedback font. I chose blue, as it went along with my progress bar color choice. My professor said I should have chosen another color so it was more legible. As I look at it now I concur with this, and wish I’d have chosen a color that would be more easily readable amongst the dark background of stars.

Suggest: As I go forward in my mastery journey, I want to take the above feedback as well as other feedback and put them to use. One that comes to mind is in regards to a research paper I had to write. This was the first research paper I had written in well over 3 years, if not more. The original score on the draft was not at all a passing grade.

Feedback received on research paper

In fact, the paper was horrible. I had used personal pronouns all throughout it, which is not at all what you want to do. I ended up changing well over a hundred pronouns throughout the paper. In the end I managed to bring the grade up all the way to an A. I was thankful for the feedback I had received and tried to incorporate it into the next course. I’m still learning though. I want to get to the mastery level in writing, and I can only do that through listening to what my professors tell me.

Elevate: With 5 courses left in my journey to Master’s, I am excited and nervous for what’s to come. I am grateful for all of the feedback that my professors present me with, and I try to take it all in and put it to use. As I go forward, I want to continue doing this so that I can improve myself. I think one of the main ways in which I can do this is to be more proactive. I need to reach out to professors myself and ask for advice. I’ve had nothing but great experiences with the professors I’ve had so far, and I’m sure they’d give me more if I asked. I just need to take that first step. Doing so will help me to improve myself and become the best I can be in the IDTMS field.

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abcrabbfs-blog · 8 years ago

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A time for self-reflection

Reflect: As I look back at the 5th course in my Mastery Journey, I can’t help but be glad with how far I’ve come. As I started that course, I was worried that I wouldn’t do well. The work seemed way too advanced for what I was capable of, and I was just plain scared. I kept my head down and pushed through, and in the end I realized just what I was capable of accomplishing. One of the things my professor had said to me, that sticks out, was in regards to an Interactive PDF I made on Learning Theories and Principles. In regards to the color scheme I chose, he said “the colors are a little similar and it might be best to choose more distinct colors.”

(Cover of an interactive pdf created to explain different learning theories)

I had chosen to use a theme, as I felt that was the way to go. Though it may have looked fine, it would have been better to give each their own color, rather than just different shades of one color. His feedback helped me to understand design a bit better and to actually put more thought into things. A design can make or break what you create, so I have to be more careful. Inquire: One of the projects I did in the last course in which I disliked it the most would be my infographic I created for the SAM Model of Instructional Design. This was the first project I did for the course, so I wonder if with more time or experience if I would have done better. Feedback I received for this project was about all of the blank space I left.

(Screenshot of an infographic containing information about the SAM Model)

I look at this screenshot and I’m just questioning why I did it this way. I could have arranged my text better, or even made the visual larger. If I could redo it to make it better, it would definitely not look like this screenshot has it looking now. I’m thankful for the feedback I was given, because it made me question myself and want to improve.

Suggest: With more time I feel I could have done better, but at the same time there’s always that level of self-doubt. Perhaps I would have presented the same work, and the only reason I think I could have done better is because of the feedback I have now that I didn’t have then. Throughout all of the feedback I was given, and even listening to the feedback that others were given, the main phrase that sticks out that the professor spoke quite often was “justified left, ragged right.” This is of course in reference to the way text should be aligned. For my earlier projects, like the SAM Model shown above, I didn’t follow this. With my later projects, I actually did this.

(Screenshot of a page of an interactive PDF about learning theories)

In this screenshot, I finally listened and did my text as I was told. I always liked the look of centered text, but looking at this now with the feedback I have, I can see how much more professionally done this makes my word look. I have to actually listen to what I’m critiqued or given feedback about, because it truly does help.

Elevate: As I go forward with my courses, I first of all can’t believe that I’m at the halfway point. Only 6 more course stand between my Masters and myself. With all that I’ve already learned this far in, I can’t wait to see what else there is to come. I just have to make sure I actually listen, and don’t allow my hardheaded self to get in the way of what I’m capable of.

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abcrabbfs-blog · 8 years ago

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Course 5: A newly gained confidence

1) What did you learn from the reading assignment about the field of instructional design that you were not previously aware of? Why is this important to your goal of achieving mastery and your future as an instructional designer?

Over the course of this Mastery Journey that I’m on, I’ve read many things about Instructional Design. It was nice to actually read a chapter this time that focused primarily on Instructional Design in a P-12 classroom. As a P-12 teacher, I am always pleased when I can so easily relate to the content I am learning about. I want to take everything that I learn while earning my Masters with Full Sail, and be able to use it in my classroom. I already have my dream job, I’m simply trying to better myself for the benefit of my students. I have to be the best I can in order for them to be the best they can be.

With this reading I was pleased to see the quote “We have found that the teacher is the most important ingredient for success when using technology...” (Reiser & Dempsey, 2012, p. 208). It’s very important that not only is the material and technology in the classroom effective, but the teacher has to be as well. When I go to teach a lesson, I have to make sure that I actually know what I’m talking about. I can’t expect to get up in front of my class and talk to them about quadratic equations if I personally have no idea of the topic. With technology I must know how to actually use it myself and know why it’s useful so that I can convey that information to my students. You have to make sure that you don’t make it all about the technology though. “...teachers must be cautioned to avoid-device driven as opposed to outcome-oriented.” (Reiser & Dempsey, 2012, p. 208). I need to know how and why so I can make sure everything goes correctly. I can’t just have them use technology to play games. They must be educational so that the outcome I have in mind is completed.

This reading also opened up my eyes to just how impactful the No Child Left Behind act was in the classroom. I didn’t go into the classroom as a teacher until 2012. When the NCLB act came into being, I was a student myself. I remember teachers changing up how they did things, but no reason was ever given so I thought nothing of it. As I look back as a teacher, I realize just why things happened. The NCLB act is actually a big thanks to why technology is so prominent in the classroom. Results were needed, so new methods had to be pushed into effect. I’ve seen many complaints about NCLB, but with the technology initiatives that popped up because of it I am grateful. The emergence of more laptops in classrooms allowed learning to go beyond just the pencil and paper method and also helped better prepare our teachers. “The initiative provided full-time on-site technology coaches to prepare teachers...” (Reiser & Dempsey, 2012, p. 212). No longer were teachers going in blindly. They were able to actually be shown how to properly do things before passing the information on to their own classes.

2) If creativity in instructional design refers to the use of special human talents and imagination in generating original ideas, how did you use your creativity to expand your work beyond the limitations imposed in this month’s design projects?

This month was the first month where I actually felt I was able to express myself more through my creativity. One assignment that we were given was to design a poster on a particular Instructional Design Model. We’d been given this assignment the week before and told to use a certain program. With the second assignment, we were encouraged to use what we felt most comfortable with. For me, this was Adobe Illustrator as it was what we’d been using for the previous 4 months. This was the first time I truly built something from the bottom up.

I took two pictures and combined them into one for an image to go along with my poster. When I was finished I was fully satisfied and actually felt accomplished. This assignment helped me to gain confidence in my own abilities and also allowed me to see just what I was capable of.

Another assignment that I felt I was able to use my creativity with was when I had to do my discussion post for week 3. For this, we were told to create a PDF (interactive if possible) about different Learning Theories and Principles. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t spend a long time trying to make this perfect. I knew I could easy just make a multi-page item that you scrolled through and gave information, but I really wanted to make it interactive and have pop-ups. Unfortunately I couldn’t make it work. Thankfully when I went to do my final draft I realized another way I could make it interactive.

By using buttons (up in the top right) I was able to have the ability to be on a page and easy go back to the homepage. On the homepage I had buttons as well to take you to the particular pages like the one shown above. Where I think my creativity really came into play would be in my images I used. I took multiple images and combined them to give an example of each theory. In the one shown above, there are 3 I used. The bubble, the head, and the blocks. I combined them in a way so as to easily explain the theory for learners that are more visual. I was pleased with how it turned out, and I was glad I’d actually created something rather than using a standard already created image.

3) List at least 3 main takeaways from this course and how they may apply to your monthly milestone and long-term goals.

I must admit, when I began this course, I was not at all a fan of it. I was turned off by the seemingly larger amount of work then previous courses. I actually let myself get stressed out to a very bad point, before tightening up and pushing through. In the end, this was probably one of my favorite courses thus far. One thing I took away was a feeling of confidence. By doing assignments like the two shown above, I was able to flex my creative mind and put to use things I’ve learned in previous courses. While starting out I was worried and concerned over assignments, but as I completed them and stepped back to look at my work, I was actually proud. It takes a lot for me to admit that, but I was. I had proven to myself that I actually could do it. This confidence will allow me to push through into the remaining courses and well on into my career.

Another takeaway I had was in regards to our group project. When I read over the initial post, I was confused and worried. I had been named as one of the group sponsors and didn’t even really understand the project. Some harsher thoughts went through my mind as well, but ultimately I just wasn’t happy at all with the situation. I talked with my co-sponsor who has similar thoughts and of course this worried me even more. Thankfully we had amazing group members that helped me to understand. Our initial Google Hangouts made everything so clear. From this I took a more appreciative view of group work. Even with myself not understanding something, I was able to work with others to get a good understanding. I’m actually pleased with how our project turned out, and I’m happy to have been a part of it. I feel that this pleasure with group work will actually make me feel better as I go forward, especially when I’m usually not a fan of group projects at all.

My final takeaway would be just a thankfulness for the discovery of new programs. I think overall that’s probably one of the best things about this journey is that I’m introduced to so many new things I can use in my classroom. The timeline website, TikiToki, is a great tool that I can use with my students with our history assignments. The other one I really enjoyed was MindNode. It was a nice way to organize things. Both these programs are ones I’d never even heard of, but will definitely be useful to me in the classroom.

Reiser, R. A., & Dempsey, J. V. (2012). Trends and issues in instructional design and technology. Boston: Allyn & Bacon

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abcrabbfs-blog · 9 years ago

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Course 4. The one that put me through the most.

1. What does Kolovou discuss and/or demonstrate that you could have applied to improve your presentations during this course? The Kolovou tutorial was full of great and helpful tips that I tried my best to put to use when it came to doing my project for this course. Presentations are something that I'm not new to, but I've never truly thought about how I should look or sound when I give them. This tutorial made me think about things I never have before, and for that I am especially grateful. One thing that Kolovou discussed was about making use of your space. Kolovou (2014) says to "own your space" (Smart use of space, 0:01). I must admit that I didn't do as good with my spacing and framing as I should have. My first couple of drafts were pretty bad in regards to how I appeared on camera. I did make adjustments, but even in my final version, there are moments when part of my body is off screen. I could have easily have fixed this and made appropriate use of my space in my presentation.

Another thing that Kolovou discusses hand gestures. I'm a big talker with my hands. When it came to my presentation, I knew that I needed to pay attention to what I was doing with my hands, so that I wasn't simply waving them around for no reason. Kolovou (2014) says "Gesture when it's necessary, when your words match your emotions and when your hands can deliver more energy to your audience," (Gestures that engage, 0:35). Going back to my framing, I did have an issue where you couldn't quite see my hands at times, yet I kept moving them. This meant that they were partially being shown, but they didn't seem to serve a purpose as they weren't fully visible. For all the viewers knew, I could have been just waving them around wildly. I did try to catch myself and hold them still unless there was a purpose, and I feel that this improved over the course of my drafts, but I could still have improved on them. With proper framing, and more visible hands, I could have had it so that my gestures were truly meaningful to the material I presented. 2. Referring to the readings from your books, what key factors would the graphics in your presentations address in communicating the data/information effectively? As I began designing my slides, I wanted to make sure that any visuals I used only added to the presentation and didn't take away from it. I also knew that visuals could be quite overwhelming if they weren't presented in certain ways and to lose a viewer's attention over something as simple as a graphic would be a disaster. With this in mind, I set out to do as Peters (2013) said and keep a "appealing and clean minimalist design" (Use a systematic approach, para. 3). As I designed my slides, I made sure to choose a background color that wasn't too overwhelming, but at the same time brought a bit of life to the slides. I kept a similar color palatte of a bluish-green and then used a lighter shade to split up segments. The text was a shade of blue that matched well. The combination of these all went together, so it made the slides appear more put together, but at the same time very minimalist and not overwhelming.

Another thing I did to make sure that the information I presented was able to be taken in effectively was to simply keep in mind that some learners are visual and some aren't. It's discussed in the book how "in fact, some learners do benefit more than others from visuals," (Reiser & Dempsey, 2012 p. 214). I knew that I could say anything in the presentation, but for some it would be my visuals that really helped them to understand. Because of this I made sure that the main points I discussed were visualized by graphics. The stats of the cars were the main thing I wanted to be taken from my presentation. By including graphics at the same time I discussed them, I was able to bring in both viewers who are visual learners and auditory learners.

3. List at least 3 main takeaways from this course and how they may apply to your long-term goals. As I finish off this course, I can't believe that I will be 1/3 of the way through my Master's. That's just unreal to me. I am so grateful for all that I have learned so far, and I can't wait for what's to come. Thinking back to this course specifically, there are many things that I have learned that I will be taking on with me into my future courses and on into my life after earning my Masters. The first is simply in regards to the proper ways to give a presentation. As a teacher, I'm no stranger to standing in front of others and presenting information. While those aren't always formal presentations, like this one, I still have given some that are more formal for other things. Iv'e never taken into consideration things like how to stand or where to look. Things like that were always the least of my concern, but with this course, they are now a priority. I'm thankful for the Kolovou tutorial, which helped me with many tips that allowed me to end up with the presentation I did. I'm honestly quite proud of myself, and it takes a lot for me to admit that.

A second thing I am taking away from this course is how to do picture-in-picture. This may seem silly to some, but honestly this was the biggest struggle I had with my project overall. I was fine until we got to this week, and then I just had issues galore. Thankfully I was able to ask for assistance and do some searches on my own, as well as just trying various things until I got the effect I wanted. I will definitely now never forget how to do picture-in-picture and how to have just text with no background. I can see this being useful as I forward, so I have definitely committed it into my memory.

The third thing I am taking away from this course is an overall feeling of confidence. I don't know if this is the kind of response that's expected, but for me it's the most important one. As I've stated before, the idea of a presentation itself is one that doesn't scare me. It's the fact we had to have so much added visuals and other certain things that had me all worked up. I stressed so hard over my lighting and still didn't get it to where I wanted it to be. I had moments where I was so worried about my work that I didn't even want to turn it in. I usually ended up turning it in as one of the first ones, simply because if I didn't, I'd end up watching others and stress myself over changes before turning myself in. As I look at my final project though, I'm eternally grateful for all that I went through to get to where I am now. I don't have to worry so much. This is a learning experience for all of us, and I need to know I can ask for help if needed. I'm also here to give help if needed. As we go forward, I look ahead at what's to come and I can't wait to use my gained confidence in upcoming projects. Kolovou, T. (2014, May 12). Presentation Fundamentals[Lynda.com online course]. Retrieved from https://www.lynda.com/Business-Skills-tutorials/Presentation-Fundamentals/151544-2.html?org=fullsail.edu Reiser, R. A., & Dempsey, J. V. (2012). Trends and issues in instructional design and technology. Boston, MA: Pearson. Peters, D. (2014). Interface design for learning: Design strategies for learning experiences. Berkeley, CA: New Riders.

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abcrabbfs-blog · 9 years ago

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1. What projected events on your timeline did you achieve this month? When I originally started my degree at Full Sail, I was a Public Relations major. Because of that, my Mastery Journal is all about the goals I hoped to achieve in regards to my Public Relations courses. Obviously that is no longer the degree path I am on, so this is somewhat difficult for me to answer. The course I would have been taken would have been Legal Aspects of Media. The goals I had set for that course were to become more familiarized with legal cases regarding media, to stress perfection in my work so I personally don't have legal issues, and to memorize the entire first amendment so I could familiarize myself with who has rights to what. These goals don't really fit into anything I'm doing now. One of my original goals I can kind of twist into making work with Instruction Design and Technology is simply about striving for perfection. I don't expect everything I do to be perfect. If I expected such things, I'd never be happy. I do however expect to do the best I can and continue to strive to improve. In this course, there were many times I felt lost and confused over what I was to be doing. One such instance was when we were taking our created infographic and turning it into a Keynote presentation. We were told to select an image for our title slide. I know that something as simple as an image can make or break someones desire to even bother reading something, so I wanted to pick a picture I knew the learner would be intrigued by.

In our reading for this week, it's mentioned that "adding interesting stories and visuals may appeal to the younger generation raised on high end media" (Reiser & Dempsey, 2012 p. 316). I wanted to draw my learner in quick, so I tried to pick an interesting first picture. Honestly for my first draft I don't think I did. I also had other issues that made it look wonky, but for my second draft I am much happier with the outcome. I think that the image will intrigue learners as some may not even recognize a solar panel, so they may read on to discover more.

2. Going forward with this yearlong journey, what adjustments could you make to ensure your future success in achieving mastery? One of my biggest flaws is that I tend to procrastinate. Honestly I'm fairly bad when it comes to managing my time, let alone attempting to manage my time wisely. I work full-time as a teacher, I am a wife, and I'm also one of the girl's basketball coaches at my school. Many days I get home late from taking students home or from going to games. This means that the time I do find to do homework needs to be actually used and mapped out. Unfortunately I don't do this, and I often find myself rushing to get things done. Because of this, I make simple mistakes. An example of this would be from my first draft of my Keynote presentation.

As you can see from this screenshot, I didn't even take the time to look over my project before I submitted it, and I completely missed the fact that the text on my tabs was distorted and only half showing. This was something that could have been fixed super quickly, but I didn't even catch it the first time. Once I had it pointed out, it took all of a minute or two to fix in my second draft. Things like this are what ultimately will be my downfall. Peters (2013) mentions that "research has shown that users make snap judgments about a site’s credibility based almost entirely on look and feel" (Aesthetics and Credibility, para. 1). If I'd only been given one chance to create something and that was what I presented, the learner viewing it would thing I was a crazy person who had no idea what they were doing. By not having all loose ends tied up, I've presented a product that wasn't ready and could have caused my learner to not gain what they need to. I have to do better. Another thing I want to improve on as I continue is to get better with drawing attention to things. Peters (2012) talks about how the placement of things has a lot of effect on the learner and that "because of these formatting variations we can scan, spot, and focus on a specific detail in a matter of seconds" (Support Learning with Visual Hierarchy, para. 1). How you place something on an infographic or a slide can cause a learner to understand or become confused. When I was placing items from Adobe Illustrator into Keynote, I had to be careful about how I placed things. I wanted everything to make sense and to not just be thrown onto the page. It took me many tries to get things how I wanted them to be, but ultimately I got the content placed like I wanted and in a way that would allow the learner to know what was going on. Having narration to mention the most important parts helped a lot too, but placement was a key factor.

With this slide, I purposely placed each section so that it would be read from top to bottom in that order. Since this is a natural way people read, it would be read in the order I wanted. My narration for this slide was about the section in the middle. I wanted to have it centered, but at the same time I didn't put it first as I wanted the text box to be read first. I probably could have arranged things better, but at the time I was happy. As I continue down my Mastery journey, I want to be more sure of placement. It is super important, as the quote I mentioned above says, and I want my learners to benefit.

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