Blog 5

What have you learned about analyzing learning task and objectives? How can you plan to apply this new information (new to some of you who have not taken an instructional design course) to your design project?

Identifying a need should be carefully considered before jumping into the design process. You have to consider your learner and the learner’s needs. When delivering instructional content you have to make a task analysis for every aspect that you provide instruction for. When considering instructional objectives I found I approached this task by creating objectives for my site rather than objectives for the learner or VLC member. I am struggling with this a bit as my site is designed primarily as a place for members to collaborate and provide the learning experiences for each other. I have expanded on my objectives to have both 1) site or project objectives and then 2 ) individual learner objectives.

Given the learning objectives/tasks you have identified, what instructional strategies or activities you have identified from Bonk and Zhang’s book are useful for your target community members (or learners) to achieve their goals/objectives? The VLC that I have proposed is designed as to facilitate collaboration between community college instructors on how to use technology in the classroom. I have objectives for the VLC as a whole and objectives for the learners. The objectives for the site are:

1. Stimulate discussion about the uses, needs, and experiences of web 2.0 tools and applications in the classroom.
2. Provide a platform for members to share successful experiences with web 2.0 tools with CoP members.
3. Experience web 2.0 tools in a manner that will facilitate the construction of sound learning activities.
4. Develop a network of instructors and IT staff that can serve as resource for each other.

The members for the learners are:

1. Discuss strategies for using Web 2.0 technology to enhance learning in the classroom.
2. Identify strengths, and weaknesses of technology tools available for teaching.
3. Identify instructional needs that might be met through web 2.0 technologies.
4. Share with others, examples of instructional uses of web 2.0 technologies.

Examples of strategies that could work with in this site that come from the Bonk and Zhang

FAQ and Course Announcement Feedback Navigational structure is going to be very important in this community. p. 36 and 37. (Read)

Online Discussion Forums and Group Discussion Discourse between members will be a key component of this community. p. 86 and 87. (Reflect)

Virtual Tours Created by members to showcase successful learning activities developed with Web 2.0 tools. (Display)

Course Resource Wiki Site Members work together to develop are a member repository of web 2.0 tools. p. 218-19. (Do)