Fundamentals of Instructional Design

There are 6 fundamentals that are present in my IDD portfolio.  They are as follows:

  1. Foundations
  2. Analysis
  3. Design
  4. Development
  5. Implementation
  6. Evaluation

   * Click on the headings above to go directly to that section.

 

Foundations

Instructional Design project - In EDIT 6170, I learned about the foundations of instructional design. I created a class for teachers that would help them to learn how to make a classroom website using TeacherWeb.  In order to design instruction effectively, it is crucial to understand the backbone of instructional design.  This project allowed me to apply what I had learned in order to design a class that would benefit the teachers.

Model of IT - In EDIT 6100, which is the introductory course for Instructional Technology, we were to create a graphic logo that represented the field of IT.  I created a wheel where each of the spokes was one of the critical aspects of instructional technology. This logo truly represents not only the field of instructional technology, but also represents the idea that with one of the aspects, or spokes, missing, the wheel cannot turn.  Together, all of the spokes are greater than the sum of its parts.

Research Synthesis - In EDIT 6900, I chose to research the implications of computer-aided tutorials on the writing process. The research proved strongly that instructional technology can greatly improve a student's effectiveness and quality when using the writing process.  The results confirmed my own experiences as a teacher and my beliefs regarding the field of instructional technology and its foundation in learning.

Global I-Search project - In EDIT 6210, I acted as the project manager in a large-scale project where a tutorial was created for a client, Dr. Tallman in the Department of Instructional Technology.  As project manager, I had to utilize a wide range of skills that I had used throughout my program in order for our project to be a success. 

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Analysis

Needs Assessment - In EDIT 6170, I went through the steps of the design process for the first time. I designed a staff development class to show teachers how to make a class website using TeacherWeb software. Not only was the class a success, but it also helped me to understand the process of designing instruction using Dick and Carey's model.

Writing Tutorial - In EDIT 6200, I created a writing tutorial that would take elementary students through the writing process.  I first conducted an analysis of the learners and of the content.  In order to design quality instruction, it is necessary to do this step. The tutorial I designed was effective because of the analysis.  It helped me to see what aspects would be necessary in the tutorial in order for it to be effective.

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Design

Curriculum map - In EDIT 6320, I designed a curriculum map for the third grade teachers at my school.  I had created curriculum maps for myself before.  Working with a team of teachers to design a map for their grade-level was an experience that was very valuable. 

Writing tutorial - In EDIT 6200, I designed a tutorial that helped elementary students to go through the writing process.  Before I started making the tutorial, I had to first brainstorm what the screen would look like and what the flow of the tutorial would be like.  Without going through this critical step, it would be impossible to design a quality product.  Since I took the time to think through all aspects of the tutorial from the beginning to the end, I was able to create a quality writing tutorial.

Children's Literature Portfolio - When I was an undergraduate at UGA, I took a children's literature class that is for all practical purposes the same class as the graduate level class.  In addition, I am familiar with children's literature since I use a variety of books in my classroom.  Therefore, I decided to make a portfolio to be able to exempt this class that is a requirement of the SLM program. I decided to create a unit of author studies that could be used by elementary school teachers.  I created five different author study units that introduced the students to the author's craft.

Global I-Search - In EDIT 6210, I took an active part as the project manager in designing the tutorial that would help students in EDIT 6320, a class that I had taken in my gradaute program, to understand the I-Search process for research.  Using Dr. Tallman's book Making the Writing and Research Connection with the I-Search process, our team designed a tutorial that introduced each step of the I-Search process and provided an example of each step for the learners.  After each step, the learners have to answer some questions that will show if they understand the step and give feedback to their instructor.

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Development

In Memoriam - In EDIT 6190, I learned how to use Dreamweaver to create webpages. For my project that semester and proof of my learning, I made a website that was in memory of my grandfather who passed during the semester.  I enjoyed making this website that was a great way to grieve the passing of my grandfather by making a product that could help myself and my family to remember him for the amazing man that he was. While working on this project, I was constantly reminded of his fondness for technology and knew that he would be proud of this remembrance.

Writing Tutorial - In EDIT 6200, I developed a writing tutorial that took a student through the steps of the writing process.  In order to develop this tutorial, I had to incorporate a database that would store the students writing as they completed each step of the process.  I had to use asp in order to achieve this ability, which was a new skill for me. Luckily, I had assistance with this new tool and was able to successfully complete the tutorial.  Without the asp function, the tutorial would not have been as effective in helping the learner to complete the steps of the writing process.  This project was the most difficult to develop because of the asp skills.  However, it was also the most robust of all the projects I had developed.

CSS - When I took EDIT 6190 for the second time, I decided that I wanted to learn CSS (Cascading Style Sheets).  In the previous semester, I had attended a SIG (Special Interest Group) where I was instroduced to the power of CSS.  I couldn't believe how efficient this new tool was.  I could take any content and make it look totally different by simply attaching a style sheet to the html.  I designed a new site where I used CSS alone to manipulate the content on the site.  I knew then that I would use CSS in any future website.

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Implementation

In Memoriam - In EDIT 6190, I managed my first website that was dedicated to the memory of my grandfather who had recently passed.  I saw how easy it was to use the features in Dreamweaver to upload files to Arches. I saw that my ability to organize things well helped me in managing websites.

Writing tutorial - In EDIT 6200, I created a tutorial that took elementary students through the steps of the writing process.  I used this tutorial with some of my students.  Since I only have 2 computers in my classroom, all of my students weren't able to use it.  However, several of my students were really interested with technology and wanted to use it.  Several of these students were frusgtrated writers and were not usually motivated to write.  They enjoyed using the writing tutorial and the quality of their writing was noticeably improved using the tutorial.  The results of this technology integration validated my own thoughts about how technology can impact a classroom environment if it is designed well.

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Evaluation

Writing Tutorial - In EDIT 6200, I created a writing tutorial that would take students through the entire writing process in order to help them write a quality story. I conducted both formative and summative evaluations on this tutorial.  The results of the evaluations were positive.  The tutorial helped my students to write a quality story with the use of the tutorial that walked them through the steps of the writing process.

Global I-Search project - In EDIT 6210, I acted as the project manager for our design team.  We will be going through the evaluation process soon since we are currently in the development phase.  In the beginning of April, we will begin to evaluate the tutorial that we created for the I-Search process using an evaluation form that I developed.  I hope that the results will show that the tutorial does in fact help students to understand the steps of the I-Search process better.

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