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Reflection Post

​Personal Development and Leadership allowed me to search within myself to find my life’s task. As I began my mastery journey, I felt a little scared.  I had decided to master a program that I had no experience in.  I remember asking the counselor if I were making a bad decision since Instructional design was new to me.  I chose this program with hopes of becoming a Training Facilitator.  I thought it would be beneficial to know what goes on behind the scenes of training.

My personal triumph was that I found the perfect program for me and that I could actually accomplish completion with my hectic schedule and having a family.

Strategies for Learner Engagement gave me the knowledge needed to understand how to create curriculum and learn design strategies.  While learning the ADDIE and SAM instructional design models, I learned how to design infographics.  This class also pushed me to get involved with my classmates by way of a group project.  The exciting part about this exercise actually became that my partner and I were from the same city and neighborhood.  The group project not only allowed us to grow from each others’ strengths but we built relationships that we took into our future classes.

My personal triumph was completing an infographic and being able to contribute positive feedback on a subject that I was not familiar with.  Seeing that people that had experience with design input my suggestions in their work was refreshing and encouraged me to strive for a good design as well.

Visual and Verbal Communication in Instructional Design informed me of visual design theories and how to apply them.  This course gave me the opportunity to learn how to create an interactive Keynote presentation.  Learning how to use this new (to me) software was not just challenging because it was new to me but I was a first time MAC user as well.  I found myself spending a lot of time becoming familiar with using the computer.  I called friends constantly for how to use the computer.  

My personal triumph was completing the task of providing an interactive presentation.  Learning how to graph using Keynote was my most fulfilling given task.  

Corporate Training and Motivational Development gave me the opportunity to learn techniques for media design and learn my presentation style.  While learning the Conscious Competence Theory, I was able to prepare my first presentation using iMovie.  This video presentation allowed me to make effective graphic designs to include within my presentation.

My personal triumph was being able to verbalize professional video content.  I realized during this course that enunciation is the key to engaging video presentation.  

Instructional Design and Evaluation was one of my most difficult courses.  Although everything that I learned throughout the Instructional Design and Technology program was new to me, I found it difficult to apply the ABCD model.  I just could not figure out how to make my learning outcomes measurable.  Once I learned the importance of writing, I was able to provide more meaningful content. I reached out to the Full Sail learning lab to help me get on the right track.  This course provided me an opportunity to learn different training approaches and effectively communicate learning objectives.

My personal triumph was completing my Training Needs Analysis.  It was very important to me to be able to effectively communicate learning objectives.

Digital Media and Learning Applications gave me the knowledge needed to engage digitally inclined learners and use digital media design principles.  This course reminded me that there are different types of learners and it is important to provide content that engages all learners.  In this course, I learned how to use HTML while creating an interactive quiz. I found myself enjoying the use of colors and changing font sizes.  

My personal triumph was figuring out how to change the font colors and sizes.  In an effort to provide beautiful content, I played with different colors throughout the course.

I would probably say that Music and Audio for Instructional Design was my favorite course.  I went into it a little scared as this was the professor from my most challenging course.  Once I realized that it was a new course with new material, I relaxed just a little. I gained knowledge of the roles of music in learning and how to create professional voiceovers. This course challenged me to learn how to use GarageBand. I enjoyed listening to my classmates’ projects and how they took their voices to new levels during their voiceovers.  I learned how to listen, properly record myself, and combine recordings to make the perfect production. I now know that a great music producer provides beats as well as edits the imperfections of his/her artist. This course made me want to have a side job as a voice over actress.

My personal triumph was being able to listen to hear breaths and background noises during recordings for editing.  I found myself listening for breaths while listening to the radio in the car.

Filmmaking Principles for Instructional Design was my 2ndfavorite course during this program.  It challenged me to create a compelling story, examine video techniques, and study the importance of visual learning.  When I received my starter kit, I questioned myself what I would do with a camera and tripod.  I had no idea that I would actually create my own film.  This course had me examining movies for shadows. Learning how to create a storyboard has become extremely useful for narration and image timing. While at work, I have been asked had I done a storyboard.  Had I not taken this course, I would have been totally lost when asked that question.

My personal triumph was positioning my fill light correctly.  I spent an entire day trying to remove shadows from my still pictures and film clips.  

Game Strategies and Motivation taught me strategies to motivate learners to engage in instructional activity. Whether using gamification or game play, learning is more engaging.  Coming up with a game concept was a difficult task for me. My original thought process of a game was plain and simple, have fun.  I never thought about the outcome of learning something.  I guess it made me go back to my Instructional Design and Evaluation course. What is it that I want the learners to get from this task?  

Learning the components of a game and how to apply them in my game concept was my personal triumph.

Learning Management Systems and Organization allowed me to present and deliver instructional content.  The course also allowed for me to understand virtual learners. I learned the importance of research for the creation of content during this course.  Good research led me to what I wanted the learners to learn and how to make a simple task more meaningful. Research was also the determining factor for my choice of a LMS software.

My personal triumph was deciding how to make a bath bomb into an actual course.  The decision to make the course more about the ingredients versus actually making the bath bombs allowed me to have more than one task during the LMS course.

Media Asset was an exciting course because I was able to show myself my own technical abilities.  I was able to convey all the knowledge gained throughout the entire program.  Being able to create work that once took an entire month to be perfect, within a week was very rewarding for me.  It showed me that I retained my knowledge as well as I was able to apply it. Not only did I apply gained knowledge, I stepped outside the box and learned how to use the Adobe XD software to create my interactive infographic.  Along with the infographic, I completed a Training Needs Analysis, training video, and a game concept. All the media assets created supported the Training Needs Analysis.

My personal triumph was actually completing each task within a week with no problems.

I chose the topic Training for Improved Productivity for my final project.  My final project was to prepare a Training Needs Analysis with 3 media assets to support it. In order to complete each task, I had to refer back to theories such as rapid prototyping, cognitive load, Gagne’s nine events of instruction, and learning is visual.  Without the knowledge of these theories, I would have had difficulty of completing the final project in a timely manner. Knowing how to use color and font size to guide learners’ attention helped when determining my asset’s color scheme.  Although I enjoyed preparing and viewing my final iteration of each project, I was most proud of my training video.  Within the video, I used storytelling, met the needs of visual and auditory learners, used iMovie to create the film, and used GarageBand to edit narration, remove breaths, and add ambience to my voice.    

I have learned so much during my mastery journey.  All the late nights, minimum sleep, and family neglect was well worth completing my Masters Degree.  I truly look forward to the continual use of my gained knowledge.  

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A video of my LMS

Reflect – As with all my projects within this Instructional Design and Technology program, this was the first time that I created a Learning Management System.  I chose an instructional video that I made in a previous month as my asset to create my LMS.  I was not sure if I made the best decision when I began.  Once I figured out how to create a course out of making bath bombs, I became reassured. I decided to make the course more about the ingredients of the bath bombs than actually making them.

Inquire – I need to revisit the different types of LMS.  I chose Canvas to create my course.  I would like to use other platforms to know if they are feasible and can be used with ease like Canvas.  I also need to revisit the best ways to embed media assets in Canvas.  I had difficulty placing my assets where they would best fit within the course.

Suggest –  If I had more time, I would have given more than one way to create a bath bomb. After feedback from the professor, it was suggested that I could have added the history of bath bombs as well. Had I added the an alternate way to make bath bombs and the history, I would have had more content giving the learners more learning opportunities.

Elevate – In future projects like this, I will spend more time on researching.  By doing so, I will be able to provide ample meaningful content.  Also, I will have an open mind so that I can accept negative feedback.  The positive and negative feedback received from my peers made my tasks easier to complete this month. I know that I will need to use good listening skills to improve and provide successful content for training.  

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This a mind map plan for my LMS.

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This month I have had the opportunity to take the course Learning Management Systems and Organization.  With this being my first time completing the task of creating a Learning Management System (LMS), I was not sure what previous project I wanted to use as an asset for my LMS. After reviewing all my previous projects, I decided to use an instructional video titled How to make Green Tea Bath Bombs.  

One may ask why did I choose to use a craft to create a LMS.  The answer is I wanted to challenge myself to turn something that may be simple to some into a larger thought process.  Whether than just learning how to make a bath bomb, I decided to have my intended audience of learners learn more about the ingredients that can be used to make a bath bomb.

The most difficult part of Learning Management Systems and Organization was learning how to organize the content for the course.  I choose to use Canvas to create my LMS.  Although Canvas has useful push buttons to remind you of sections to include within created courses, I found it difficult to insert learning objects appropriately where they would be most useful.

Previous courses provided me with the knowledge needed to provide meaningful content within this course. Seeing and using my finished LMS gave me a sense of accomplishment.  The feedback given by use of my created SurveyMonkey survey showed me job well done.  

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This is my instructional video for How to make Green Tea Bath Bombs.  Please see storyboard and reflection below.

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Reflect –  I enjoyed creating the instructional video for How to make Green Tea Bath Bombs. When I began writing my story, I got so lost in my story I failed to give proper instruction.  I had to figure out how to balance the two within the 2 to 3-minute time allotted.  My second most difficult task of making this film was the use of a fill light. I began in a white wall room and decided to move to a brick background.  It was driving me crazy trying to remove shadows.  This was my first time filming as well as making bath bombs so I did several recordings per clip.  As I learned more about camera angles, three point lighting, and the 180 degree rule, I found myself critiquing movies as I watched them to see if shadows were shown.  

Inquire – I need to revisit three point lighting.   I did not master my lighting even though I spent a good piece of my time trying to perfect it. I need to take more advantage of the Art of the Camera Pinterest page given by the instructor.  

Suggest –   The last week of the course Filmmaking Principles for Instructional Design I began working in a new position as a Training Coordinator for FedEx.  While working in this new position I had the opportunity to visit a room used for filming. Had I had more time, I would have spent time with the person responsible for doing FedEx filming to get pointers. I also would have been able to film my clips in the film room that has perfect lighting.  

Evaluate – I found the storyboard to be the most important part in filmmaking.  During my light set up, editing video clips, and recording my narration, I referred back to my storyboard as a guide.  In future projects, I will invest in a professional lighting.  I will also be more mindful of my screen timing with the narration.  Having the opportunity to participate in this course has given and will give me opportunities to work closely with those who film instructional videos within FedEx.

Please see my instructional video given above.

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The class Digital Media and Learning Applications required me to complete an interactive quiz.  My quiz was to accompany the NASA ScienceCasts: The 2017 Total Solar Eclipse video.   The quiz was created using an existing quiz made with HTML. I was a first time user of HTML; therefore, it took time to familiarize myself with the use of coding.  Completing this task was tedious and enjoyable.  Once I learned how to change the font colors, I played with the different shades of colors to find the best one.  

If I could redo this project, would I have chosen the same background?  Probably not.  I could have chosen a black background that would have made this a less difficult task.  Would I have enjoyed creating the interactive quiz? Probably not. The background chosen allowed me to dig deeper.  It required me to find out how to change font colors as well as font sizes.  

Although I thought that I chose the best font color, I ended up with the color blue as the feedback color and yellow as my question color. My instructor recommended that I be more careful with my choice of colors.  The blue on the orange can be hard on the eyes. The yellow looked good against the background but when the letters were on the diamond of the eclipse, it became difficult to read.  

When completing the task of creating an interactive quiz in the future, I will be more mindful of my viewers.  When choosing backgrounds, I will be careful of the location of the images.  Type over the image can make for a difficult read if the font color is not chosen well.  I have included pictures of each page of my interactive quiz for your viewing.

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First time user of HTML.  Learning how to use codes within HTML was challenging. Upon learning how to change colors and font sizes, it became very interesting and enjoyable. Also, learned how to force to next line. Knowing that just adding one too many letters, numbers, or punctuation marks can totally change an outcome challenges one for perfection. This project has taught so much.    

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Conscious competence theory opening slide and fullscreen cut-away slide prepared for video presentation.  I thought it would be neat to add a thinking bubble to text as a representation of conscious.  

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Draft picture in picture inset graphics Conscious Competence Theory video presentation. I was thinking that I need pictures of people dancing because my example during presentation was of a person dance development. Per peer suggestions, I needed to be more consistent in choices.  For final graphics, I made changes to have a more consistent flow of graphics and color.  I also decided to use pictures of myself dancing.

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This is a video presentation that I enjoyed creating.  I really needs to revisit eye contact with the audience but overall I thinks I did well.  I learned how to add picture in picture insets and slides in a video using iMovie.  

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This project was a great learning experience.  I learned how to create an infographic in Adobe Illustrator, how to create slides in keynote, and how to video with Screenflow.  My most difficult task was learning to use Adobe Illustrator.  Once I learned how to use the different tools within illustrator, I was able to complete an infographic. While using keynote, I found myself recreating some of the the tables and graphs within my infographic.  I still need to practice more using Adobe Illustrator in order to master using the program.  I also need to revisit Screenflow and keynote so I can better manage timing between audio and interactivity.   

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