Competency 3 – Communicate Knowledge

• Communicates effectively in oral and written formats
• Effectively communicates content through the design and delivery of teaching/learning activities that integrate content and pedagogy
• Demonstrates the ability to adapt instruction and assessment techniques to the needs of diverse learners

 

Artifact:  569 (E-Learning) Final Project – iMovie

The artifact that I have chosen to match this competency was the final project of the E-learning course in the Purdue LD&T program.  The objective of the project fits the requirements of the competency very well, and it truly shows a good example of my work.

I chose to create this project on iMovie because of my experience in EDCI 566, in which we, the students, were required to create an informative video.  Though it was not a problem for me given my experience with the software, other students found this project to be challenging because of the lack of instructional materials for how to use the iMovie, the software that the videos would be created in (there were an abundance of materials available for Windows Movie Maker, but very limited resources for Mac users).  Eventually, students were led to YouTube, Lynda.com, and other online tutorials in order to gain confidence in the software, but I became determined to create a course about iMovie, detailing the programs features and highlighting the program’s potential.

Communicate effectively in oral and written forms

In this project, both types of materials are found.  Video/screencast tutorials were created to provide the majority of the instruction.  Prior to recording, I wrote a detailed script of covering every concept, every feature of the software that would be shown to the learners.  I tried to write these scripts in a conversational tone to minimize my own vocal improvisations during recording, and also to match the assumed learner expectations of the use of language throughout the course.

Aside from the written script and storyboarding, there were writings that made it into the final project as well.  A job aid was created as a “Quick Reference” style guide for after the learners had completed the course and were involved in their work.  In this job aid, I kept the writing formal yet abbreviated due to the small size expectation of such a document.  The writing however packs a lot of information into its very small size.

Effectively communicate content through the design and delivery of teaching/learning activities that integrate content and pedagogy

This artifact is the completed package of instruction that I created around iMovie.  Thus far, the course evaluations that I have received from those that have completed the course have been very good.  The course, fully functional and self-paced, allows the learner to absorb the information presented, then immediately checks for understanding.  Once the entire course has been finished, the learner must take a final quiz, which will allow them “credit” once the quiz has been passed.  If the learner did not answer the questions correctly, they have the ability and opportunity to go back to the instructional materials, re-watch the videos, then retake the test.

Demonstrate the ability to adapt instruction and assessment techniques to the needs of diverse learners

The course was created with several different learning styles in mind.  Though most of the main instruction comes through a video (with audio narration), the instruction is supplemented with printable reading material for the learners to use.  The videos are also screen-captures, showing in detail what the narration is describing.  All of these methods were used in order to reach learners through their multiple/hybrid learning styles.  In the future, I would like to focus on reaching the “multiple intelligences” of the learners, further honing my skills as an E-learning designer.