nearing the end

I've finally finished my last PE report and all I have left is the presentation on our last night of class next week. I am the leader in our group that has to do an additional introduction two min.s so I want to iron out what I want to say. Here's an outline of my thoughts on this:

A. Our Names and overall product purpose: Helping High school students age 16-18 to find jobs (10s)
B. Short review of how we survey many students and centered in on four module topics for inclusion in our product.15s
1. Resume creation 2. Interviewing Skills 3. Networking and other online strategies 4. Job hunting (10s)
Then I'll say who picked what for their DC so:
Mike: focused on listing transerable skills and resumes since our age group has little or no job experience
Cortiss: Took and interesting approach regarding confidence and soft skills ex. Interviewing - They've never had interviews etc. and are very nervous about what to say

Myself: Envisioned a teen workers website where teens can network since it’s a very effective method for find positions and the next step of having a professional prescence online. 1 min

C. Hand it over to Mike to present what he focused on for prototype and his lessons learned, then Cortiss and come back to me to end with mine. 15s

====================

update prototype

Okay I made a Power Point presentation with information about business emails that I can try out. I just need to make some good quiz questions to test how the information is accepted by my user. When I look back to the jobs I had in high school, I always got hooked up by someone I knew, so I know this networking idea can really help people, its all about referrals to get you in the door.
Here’s my announcement for quiz time at the end of my prototype, this allows me to give them a pen and paper test instead of an interactive computer test, which was too complicated. I also ask for their comments and suggestions at the end of the quiz to see how they liked the “Tom story”, the way the information was presented and what resources they would like to see on a teen workers website.
I wish I feedback on my design concept to go off of for suggestions on the prototype but soon I guess. I looked online for a way to test people and found this “Metacognition” test to see what kind of learner I am and you know what was interesting?
Your Learning Style Test Results

Visual Learner
36%

Tactile Learner
35%

Auditory Learner
29%



I’m all THREE! I tried to keep this in mind in my prototype to include pictures and metaphors, and examples to help learners soak in the information. This is what the site said about visual learners, which I was not surprised to figure out is my strongest tactic:
Visual Learners:
• use visual materials such as pictures, charts, maps, graphs, etc.
• have a clear view of your teachers when they are speaking so you can see their body language and facial expression
• use color to highlight important points in text
• take notes or ask your teacher to provide handouts
• illustrate your ideas as a picture or brainstorming bubble before writing them down
• write a story and illustrate it
• use multi-media (e.g. computers, videos, and filmstrips)
• study in a quiet place away from verbal disturbances
• read illustrated books
• visualize information as a picture to aid memorization
So these suggestions help me figure out how to use visuals in my prototype, especially the write a story and illustrate it, which is exactly what I did.
I also found a great resource for administering tests online that 544 students can maybe use next year, but it does cost:
http://igivetest.com/create-online-tests-details.html
This one is free for 30 days:
http://www.uwgb.edu/dutchs/CompTips/InterTest.HTM
or you can use this html code to make an interactive test website test: http://www.uwgb.edu/dutchs/CompTips/InterTest.HTM

3 steps from prototype

Today you can help Tom take three easy steps towards applying at a new job.
1. In the first lesson, he’s got to find an open position in forestry. You can help Tom find one by looking on the Job Bulletin Board.
2. Then he wants to find someone already in the field to help with what to say on his resume. This is known as networking, and we have a database full of people willing to give you and Tom advice.
3. Finally Tom will compose an email to that person, but he has to make it very business like so that he will be taken seriously.

example from prototype

Meet Tom. Tom is 17 and looking forward to graduating high school next year. For now he likes to hang with his friends, watch movies and go hiking, but he knows he’ll have to find a job soon if he doesn’t want to live with his parents forever. Right now he’s looking on the Internet for some jobs that have to do with things he likes to do.

formative evaluation questions

Formative Evaluation Questions
1. Is the problem-based scenario engaging to the learner?
2. Is the language used understandable to the learner?
3. Is the learner able to recall the networking facts (Does it present the right amount of difficulty)?
4. Does the introduction analogy provide clarification of the networking concept?
5. Does the learner see relevance to their own situation from this lesson?
6. Would the student really want to use this site to find a job or to network? What other resources would they like on the site?
7. Do the practice exercises help the learner meet their goals?
8. Is the feedback from the practices relevant to their goals?

Onto prototype

My DC is finally done. I had to turn it in early cuz I was gone out of town for Thanksgiving. I made a power point presentation of my introduction lesson but all it does is present facts on networking and business emails and asks learners to recall facts. I decide to stretch myself a little further and teach some far transfer skills although it will be tough in 15 min.s. I guess the best subject will be business emails, especially since I already did a storyboard for the intro. in my DC. I also think using imovie would be more visually interesting. I'm also having an issue thinking of high schools students to test for usability. I only have my little sister and she is up in N. Cali. Okay today: pick final subject for prototype and locate at least three ready and willing strapping young bucks. More later...

Networking

I'm back to doing networking for teen workers. I have devised a module composed of three lessons and one information/fact introduction. Students will follow a fictional character, Tom, through his attempt to find an open position that correlates to his interest (task one), find a mentor or peer to ask advice about applying for the position, (task two), and write them a professional business email (task three, major lesson). I have outlined the introduction for my design concept but need to decide how to represent the interface, I am drawn to power point since I most familiar with it but could also do imovie. I am using social learning and problem based learning plus exploratory to justify my product, that was the easy part, the hard part was making up a lesson to go through. I hope teens don't think its dumb, thats one of my questions for my prototype is if they find it interesting and would use it to find a job.

found a checklist

I was researching on the web and found a good assessment checklist for me to use on our project:

Assessment Checklist
Program Title ________________ Date ________________

Examine the assessment items for the program and consider the following points. If any items fail to meet criteria, note their numbers and revise them.

Examine all items or clusters of items for these criteria


1. Do all objectives for the program have test items or other assessment procedures? Yes No (I have to make sure this is done just for my topic section)
2. Do all test items or assessment procedures relate to specific objectives? Yes No
3. Are there enough items or assessment procedures to assess reliably achievement of each objective? Yes No
4. Has mastery for each objective been defined? Yes No

Examine each item for these criteria

5. Does the test item match the conditions and performance terms in the objective? Yes No
6. Is a correct answer for the item given or are criteria for a product or performance specified? Yes No
7. Is the item grammatically correct? Yes No
8. Is the item written at the learner's language level? Yes No
9. Is there only one correct answer for the item? Yes No
10. Has ambiguity in the item been avoided? Yes No

paper dolls

One of my ideas for grooming and attire is to have a electronic format "paper doll" mini games where students dress a man and woman appropriately for the workplace:

grooming and attire

Heres how I went from wanting to do cover letters to an online forum to grooming and attire:
(dialogue with teacher)

Dear Dr. Wang,
I tried to write my design concept based around the internet forum but like you said I thought it could be replaced by a job aid and wasn't a good topic. I decided to do my concept and prototype on grooming and attire for the work world since that was one of the number one complaints by employers regarding high school workers. I have a lot of creative ideas, I just wanted to make sure that subject flies with you. Thanks for your time, just e mail me back and let me know if its okay with you and I'll get going on it. Thanks, Nelly

minjuan wang wrote:
the networking idea sounds much more interesting; but I would not
prototype about how to blog; it's procedural and you can easily teach it
with a job aid. Plus the younger generation, they don't need to learn how
to use a blog; they can teach others how to use a blog. Write your DC
first and then see what questions come up.
Thank you for running through me.
Minjuan

On Fri, 11 Nov 2005 SAVETHEEMUS@YAHOO.COM wrote:

>
>
> Dear Dr. Wang,
>
> I've been wrestling between two topics for my design concept and was hoping you could steer me in the right direction. One was doing a module on cover letters which I'm confident I can layout and prototype but seems like a pretty boring topic. One of the objectives we had for high school job-seekers is connecting them with their peers in order to share ideas and network for jobs. Is it acceptable for me to do a design concept and prototype instructing learners how to log on and contribute to a blog or other online forum? Please e mail me back and let me know what you think. Thank you! -Nelly Aragon

Learning methodology applied to design concept

Here I explore the different parts of our Design Concept paper coming up. I am trying to pick which style of learning to use. I am leaning towards blended, structured, and especially social learning per my interest in tackling networking in my prototype. Would a blog be better or an online forum or both? Do students have the necessary internet access for this. A game would be great but I can't figure out how to apply it to this situation. I'm gonna have to take a look at module ten.

Prototype: Possible Topics and Resources

Here I list the different subjects available within job hunting by doing a literature review of the EDD handbook, US Dept. of Labor Booklet. Also I tooks notes on several books to look into for exploratory information for my lesson plan once I narrow down a topic.

Design concept parts and delivery methods

Here is paper format of me reminding myself all the things I have to look at to tackle our next section, design concept. I'm thinking paper format will be best but I'm very tempted by the Imovie still pic slide show idea. I'm interested in students having an opportunity to e mail questions they can't figure out in modules and am wondering if that is a realistic aspect to include?
If I do cover letters you can see here I broke down the following topics:
Dates and Headings
Who to address it to
3 paragraph template
a.how heard job and introduce yourself
b. my skills can help you and fit this position
c. suggest a meeting (not an interview)

Me hard at work studying

 
 

literature review from Clark

Moving onto the prototype…I’m trying to decide which format I like and I think the developing technical training book by Ruth Clark is going to help me a lot at this point. Here are some notes I made from the chapters to help me with my next step:

Steps: Needs Analysis: (we’re assuming here that training is the appropriate solution)

Task analysis: define the content of the training program. Observe skilled performers, interviewing, or reading documentation to get ideas. Subject existing knowledge from what needs to be taught. Prior knowledge of high school students already includes accessing the internet, using Microsoft Word but 50% have never used a cover letter and/or resume.

Definition of learning objectives: What do I want learners to do with the content? Some of the objectives from our systems specifications were formatting a cover letter using a template and signing into a teen worker blog to post individual comments. I think these are good sized segments I would like to do for my prototype.
I am teaching a PROCEDURE…set of clearly defined steps done more or less the same way every time. Of the two basic types, mine is pretty linear, not too much decision trees involved except for students personalizing it with their information. Books suggest a clear display of the steps and a follow along demonstration. I can handle that.
Break into discrete actions and start each with an action word.
Possible format:

Development of learning materials: Am I going to use workbook, CBT or video to teach my segment? I am thinking video is too time consuming/complicated especially since the tasks are pretty simple. I’m siding with CBT with a job aid to reference from the workbook, I wonder if it is okay to use this combo?

(Try out with revision, and implementation of the final product.)

Our key areas of focus are interviewing, cover letters and resumes with a side of job hunting. We will have to hash out who will cover what within our group and narrow that particular subject down to a 15 min. segment.

Focusing on Feedback

Okay, here is what our feedback was after our presentation. I'm going to break down each one so I can decide what to fix on our IA and what to focus on for our next step...

1. Please distinguish instructional goals from objectives. Goals are
much broader; objectives use the ABCD format. One goal may guide several
objectives. Goals should align with objectives.
***I think I finally get this, I just need to make sure they line up. Our main topics are job hunt, interview, resume, cover letter so as long as we stick those we should be fine.

2. "Spice up" your objectives so that they can be more cognitive and
emotive (rather than simply procedural). For example, addressing more
pedagogies when teaching technological tools; addressing how to keep the
kids entertained during unusual circumstances; helping high-schoolers
develop "soft skills" for an interview.
*****I though of examples and non examples for interviews through the video portion of our delivery system to show soft skills. This can't be done in a job aid. Its hard for me to think of these since we can't really include the instructor in the exercises...I think a RPG game where they are a character going to an interview and given "what do you do next" scenarios in multi. Choice might be fun for them. It would be creative, interactive, and right up the alley of their age group.

If it has to be procedural, ask yourself if a bunch of job aids might
suffice. You are designing instructional products that might include
some job aids, but the main part need to be an interactive product.

*****Maybe some other ways would be multiple choice questions about what to do or say in an interview with immediate feedback. Or showing an great interview and breaking it down piece by piece for the student viewer.

3. Focus on creative ideas rather than budget or marketing issues.
****I will do this through more creative objectives.

4. Delivery system: how can it support the building of a community
among the learners? Especially some of your product might be targeting
generation Y, the interactive and social youngsters. Consider using blogs;
consider delivering to mobile devices.

*****Having them role play with other students could also build a community around them. They can also have a discussion board to ask questions to other students, this would be a great way to network to find jobs and ask advice from people their own age...

5. Slides: feel free to add a prettier background, one that matches the
theme of your presentation.

****I liked our background and thought it looked professional. I was proud we were the only team with a background AND with a handout.

6. Presentation skills: we should all strive for clear and succinct
delivery. Some teams did very well!
****I was shaking the whole time since I had too much soda, which I will remember not to do next time. More importantly I will rehearse what I want to say so I will not be so nervous. It will just be me so I will not have to split up the material which is good.

Your final presentation will be
2-minutes each, properly pacing your talk will be the key of success.
********I have to rehearse this until I have it down!

Profile Picture

 
 

Systems specifications

We wrote the following objective for our slide presentation and I want to keep them in mind for when we work up our prototype:

-Learners will be able to compile a list of transferable skills to list in a workbook for use on a resume.
-Learners will be able to use the Resume Master to electronically format a resume including all component headings.
-Students will be able to write a three paragraph cover letter with no spelling mistakes by using a template.
-When given a company name, students will be able to research the company online and write a brief company history.

Also we figured out from our feedback from our initial analysis that we can't include the high school teacher as part of our instructional product. I think we had forgotten this, especially when including role plays to instruct how to interview successfully as part of our objectives. Michaels mock screen shot helped me put myself in the students shoes...

working on presentation

Here is our thoughts on systems specifications we hashed out when trying to work on our slides presentation. I wasn't sure what each category was for until I looked at the previous classes examples. I want to present the idea as the 5Ws and H instead of following the template so closely. This will make it more undersandable during our presentation.

Who: Learners and their enablers, constraints
What: Findings, Sources and Methods, IA summary
Where: Learning system, environment
Why: Rationale, delivery system constraints
How: Objectives and delivery system explanation
(including handout on mock screen shot showing CDRom/Workbook combo functions)
We decided on this method of delivery since:

-Student perceived relevance to learning
-Low cost (web or text)
-Access to additional resources (library, teachers)
-Students centrally located in one place
-Access to computers at school
-Interactive use of technology (video, internet, software)
-Modularity allows learner directed access

img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3234/1628/400/system.gif" border="0" />

cognitive task analysis

Here is my cognitive task analysis done with pen and paper to figure out what the steps are in a job search. This way we can break each step down in to a topic and make seperate modules for our learners. In our systems specifications we have decided to make them seperate so that students can access the specific topics they want to learn more about without having to go through the whole program. This makes learning more individualized and saves time for them.
About creating diagram: I find the bubbles technique a little tiresome and since I think I always end up with this outline form since I'm a linear thinker.