The past eight weeks have been really great. I’ve been enrolled in a course that’s given me the opportunity to put much of the theory I’ve learned in the past year to practical use. Learning the theory has been fascinating and I’ve loved every moment of it, but until now, I’ve rarely had the opportunity to put my new knowledge to use. The structure of this course has allowed me to build a resource which I can make use of immediately in my practice, which has been awesome. The purpose of this post is to reflect on my experiences while going through that process.
Shortly after determining a problem to solve using a resource, I engaged my students in a group interview as part of the Empathize stage of the Design Thinking process (https://dschool.stanford.edu/resources/getting-started-with-design-thinking). This stage of the process was valuable, as it introduced my learners’ priorities, frustrations with the current resource, and their recommendations on how they would like to see this type of resource executed. Some of these lessons reinforced my existing understanding (such as the efficacy of the flipped classroom and value of learners’ time) while others I hadn’t considered (such as how an accessibility concern, like colour blindness, impacts a learner’s experience with software). I made use of these insights by comparing them to the literature on instructional design and learning theory, which informed my design moving forward. This experience was hugely valuable. I almost certainly would not have approached building this resource in the manner I did, If I had not first consulted with the end users of the tool. I definitely see the value in the Empathize phase and plan to make use of it in the future, when time and the opportunity present themselves.
I’ve received quite a few recommendations on how I can improve on the first draft of my resource. For example, it was suggested that I include approximate time commitments for my learners for each module. This is a great idea and aligns super well with the request from my learners to show respect for their time. I plan to include this in the introduction to each module. It was also suggested that I include written transcripts for each of the three included videos for those people who would prefer to learn by reading the content. This is a great point which I really should have considered on my own. Finally, it was also recommended that I build a facilitator’s guide on what to include in the prescribed synchronous session. This was something I had considered, but hadn’t gotten around to completing, so will definitely add that to my list of to-dos.
One final step I would like to take before putting the finishing touches on the resource and call it complete, is to present it to my learners to get their feedback. This is my last week with them before they take a break leading up to the beginning of the fall semester, and I would like the rest of the class to have this available for them at the beginning of the year. Depending on the feedback to get from it, I will either make revisions to make it more effective, or will move on to the next skill for which a similar resource will be applicable… and keep on building them.
In conclusion, this was a great experience. I was able to apply my knowledge of instructional design, learning theory, and media production to build a pretty solid evidence based resource. I’m happy with how it’s turned out so far and I’m looking forward to putting it to use.
Hi Christopher, thank you for sharing your insight on the processes of designing digital resources/learning experiences. Partnership with learners in multiples stages is a hallmark of good design, but often challenging in terms of their time and attention (especially in the summer when there are often fewer learners available). I’m glad the connection from theory to application in building something for learners has solidified your personal learning. The level of care you have shown in work and reflection in LRNT527 is likely a reflection of the level of care you demonstrate as a teacher. Learners in your courses are lucky to have you as their partner.
You’re going to make me blush!
Thank you again for your kindness, Jenni, and for your guidance throughout this course. It’s been a really great learning experience. I had an opportunity this week to get some final feedback from the group of learners I interviewed at the beginning of the course, so that was good for me (and them) to get some closure on that. I now just have a few last things to complete with my resource and it’ll be ready to go!