MIT 512: Computer Applications in Education
MIT 512: Computer Applications in Education (3).Introduction to the use of microcomputer applications as they apply in education settings. Includes hands-on experiences with computer-assisted instruction, computer-managed instruction, and administrative uses.
Product
Context and Conditions
These two projects were completed in partial fulfillment of a course entitled: MIT 512: Computer Applications in Education. Dr. Sue-Jen Chen taught this course in the fall semester of 2007. There were no external stakeholders for either project. However, we did use authentic data and materials from the local public schools. North Carolina Department of Public Instruction learning standards were used for the 'NC writer' project. Trask High School was the setting for the American's with Disabilities Act (ADA) workstation proposal. An unsolicited proposal was submitted to the high school. Both projects were completed during the one semester.
Scope
For the website, students were asked to assume the roles of research assistants for a fictional, North Carolina history writer. Within this environment and story, students engaged with computer literacy and North Carolina history learning objectives. The activities included group projects and multimedia displays. The project consisted of the web site and a unit lesson plan to accompany the site. While not created for a specific class this unit plan could be used by anyone teaching these units.
For the ADA workstation proposal, a detailed needs analysis of the impaired students of Trask High School took place. Based on the results, an implementation plan was drafted that included detailed item descriptions and a three-phased deployment. This project was completed in one semester.
Role
For the NC Writer website, I took on the role of instructional designer and developer. Given the task of creating a unit for one of the State learning objectives, and informed on my own educational philosophy, I conducted the steps of instructional design process. Much of my focus was on aligning activities to the state standards and creating activities that provided an authentic experience for the learner. Additionally, I enjoyed creating the website itself using Adobe Dreamweaver and Fireworks as development tools.
Reflection
I am highlighting these two projects (The NC Writer unit and the ADA proposal) because they were two of my favorite projects from the whole MIT program. The NC Writer website allowed me to express my creativity and I was able to create a simulated writing task that fit my educational philosophy of constructivism. While it is not perfect, I feel it was a solid first step. It created an environment which the students could engage with on their own terms (student-centered). I feel there was a good balance of structured and ill-structured activities.
The ADA workstation proposal was my first experience with Assistive Technology (AT). Researching and preparing the report gave me insight into section 508 of the ADA. Other than standards compliant website design, I had not worked much with AT. By conducting the IT process focused on impaired learners, I was able to see how flexible and reliable the process actually was in meeting the needs of any learner.
If I could do the projects again I would seek input from the proposed stakeholders. It seems there is never enough time during the semester for these activities. One solution to this problem may be to work on the same project over multiple semesters. I think this would promote reflection and revision - not just of the projects but of the mental models of the ISD process being constructed.