Courses reflection:
Although I always think about people with special needs and special education, I had never thought about their rights to access the Internet, for example, their right to read the news, buy or sell online, enroll in on-line classes, or entertain themselves. People without disabilities take these rights for granted. That class inspired me to be sensitive of the challenges people with special needs encounter when they deal with inaccessible web pages. I learned a great deal about web accessibility features and the Section 508 requirements for publishing electronic materials.Challenge: Web Accessibility Design was my first class. The purpose of this course was to teach how to design accessible websites for people with different kind of disabilities. This class was a great challenge for me because I needed to know several web-design programs, namely HTML, Dreamwaver, CSS, and Photoshop, to design such a website. I had to double my efforts to learn these programs as well as how to apply accessibility features.
The key principles of accessible Web content are whether it is 1) perceivable, 2) operable, 3) understandable, and 4) robust. These characteristic adjectives form the acronym "POUR." Through the course I learned to make the website accessible for people with visual, motor, auditory, cognitive, and seizure disabilities.
I also did a lot of reading about section 508 or the American low about accessibility requirements for electronic publication. I also did considerable research to understand what individuals with different disabilities needs were. For example, to be able to design an assessable website serving students with visual issues or color blindness, I needed to know which colors they could not recognize and how it appear to them.
My reflection: EDIT 526 gave me deep understanding to how screen reader works with WebPages. Accordingly, I learned how I can add HTML code to help screen reader read pages in order and in the way making sense for screen reader users. For example, when screen reader go through a table, it could not read the table in order because it reads row by row. However, by using div tags to HTML, screen reader could read tables logically. In addition, I learned a big deal of accessibility features such as skip navigation, drop menu, radio buttons, enlarging links when muse touch hem, color and contrast, alternative text, picture disruption, captioning, limit speed of flash files. Etc..
For my final project, I created an accessible website. I had to apply all what I had learned about different kinds of disabilities to this web-site in order to pass accessibility evaluation tools.
In conclusion, this class was the first part of the Instructional Design picture. I started thinking about previous curriculum and educational programs I had done and which was completely in inaccessible.
EDIT 704: Instructional Technology Foundations and Theories of Learning
Challenge: In the first class, the instructor said, "Please, when you read the first chapter of the text, do not drop the class." Indeed, the first chapter was a tough introduction as it revealed that we were going to learn a tremendous amount of theoretical information. This class was the first research class I had ever taken. It was challenging because I needed to know research methodologies and how to write in a certain style. Additionally, the goal of the class was not to deliver information (the methodologies of which I had previously studied) but to improve articulation and coaching abilities through class and online discussions, self-assessment, preparation prior to class, and presentations. In this class I was exposed for the first time to the concepts of objectivism, constructivism, and epistemologies. It took me a while to be familiar with the pronunciation of these long words.
My reflection: I am satisfied about what I have learned of theoretical information and objectivist learning models. I believe that was very connected to my educational goals. I used to design educational materials and conduct training without knowing much about educational theories, pedagogical models and how learning occurred. I became familiar with learning process and transferring/retrieving data to/from memory.
EDIT 704 has given me deep understanding when and how I can employ educational theories and implement its models in the real world. Through instructor guide assignments I had to select a subject for an hour class, learn learning environment, decide which model would fit my subject and situation, and then put my design for an hour class. I have learned how to write measurable objectives, apply a pedagogical model strategies to the real world, submit a complete design and work cooperatively with team work members.
Teaching an hour class assignment was given to apply one of the pedagogical model to design an hour class of teaching classmates. I choosed to design and teach How To Use Screen Reader Software for the blind( JAWS). Since the topic was not interesting for my classmates who had not have any kind of vision impairment, I applied the ARCS model for motivational strategies.
To design the class from scratch I applied the five stages of the ADDIE model (EDIT 705 Instructional Design Techniques) to analyze, design, develop, implement, and evaluate its the class effectiveness. I used ARCS strategies to develop my design for the class. That assignment gave me good sense of how EDIT 704 is connected to EDIT 705. The EDIT 705 class thought me how I can implement instructional strategies to design a whole training or learning environment from scratch (needs assessment to evaluation), while EDIT 704class thought me how I can implement educational theories and its models to design and develop learning materials and environments.
Research Paper: I choosed the ARCS motivational design model, John M. Keller (1979, 1983), to be the topic of my research paper. I selected this model because I strongly believe that good education is build on good motivation for learners.
The Model presents four main bases (Attention, Relevance, Confidence, Satisfaction) to increase individual’s motivation.
I went over the four characters of the model. However, my research focused on maintaining learner’s attention during the whole session long.
EDIT 705: Instructional Technology Foundations and Theories of Learning
My Reflection: I enjoyed that class because I already had some experience in designing and developing educational training and materials. EDIT 705 class helped me to understand the five phases of the ADDIE model (Analyze, Design, Develop, Implement, Evaluate) as design process from start to finish.
A problem analysis stage was interesting for me because several times I ask "Why do we need design for such a simple problem". For example, a hospital faced a problem which was insufficient supporting information for patients about surgery risk. My opinion was that just they need to change the consent form. "Why they need training and design to fix that"!. However, Problem Analysis phase(Design Idea - Problem Identification- instructional Goal) helped me to learn how I can define the problem first. That gave me sensitivity to judge a problem if it needs a design to solve it or not. Even if the problem needs developing a design, I have learned to find out if there are some solutions already exist out there or not. Problem Analysis phase has improved my analytical skills.
Designing Instruction phase was my first time to learn how I can write instructional objectives. I have learned to write measurable objective which I can observe after I implement my design. I also have learned to write objectives in action verbs.
Theory-Driven Design and formative evaluation have impacted me as an
instructional designer. I have learned how I can choose/apply an educational theory to a real design according to collected data from needs assessment stage. It was also very helpful to learn how formative evaluation allowed designers to
revise or adapt a design before implement it in the real world.
I touched this experience in my final project for this class. I decided to apply Conditions of learning theory to the rest of the training. However, when I started conducting formative evaluation I discovered that students had confidence lack which I could not know during needs assessment and learner analysis. I decided to change the used theory to Advanced Organizer which allowed me to support learners by self-confident by its strategies such as arise some questions before the lesson and giving re-enforcement.
Challenge: I faced challenge in this class during implementation phase. For my final project my original plan was that most of assessments were on-line home activities and reinforcement would be provided next meeting. However, before the first time to implement this design, I was informed that not all passwords student have were permanent. I decided to give practice and feedback more time in class instead of home assignments.
I rescheduled the class time and I decided to create an instructor guide to help the instructor manage in class activates. The implementation part was very effective part since I have learned how I can implement my design in different environments and under different circumstances.
Overall, EDIT 705 was very effective to approach my goals toward designing educational materials and training.
EDIT 732: Advanced Instructional Design: Constructive Methods
Challenge: EDIT focused on on-line learning as well as in class learning/training. One of the most significant revelations offered by this course is that there is no absolute truth or absolute right or wrong answer. According to the constructivist theory, the truth is inside a learner's mind according to his interpretation.
That was my first challenge since I was raised in a very objectivist learning environment. The first question came to my mind about the theory was that “does the theory want to say there is no absolute truth, no right or wrong? What about if someone says the sun rises from the west and sits from the east.” However, I have learned that it is ok in constructivist to have similar understandings and interpretations but that does not mean those understandings are the absolute truth.
For my example about the sun rises, I understood that the point here not is the sun rises from the east or west, however, this point is that east or west always relative to how it is being defined
"truth is viable or relative to the context in which it is being examined or applied." Dr. Dabbagh"
My reflection: EDIT 732 had a great influence on my understanding how pedagogical models based on constructivist learning theory can be used in the real world. I could see that obviously from the way in which the course was thought. Case study, on-line dissection, team work, research, self assessment, peer evaluation were clear examples for several pedagogical models grounded from constructivist theory and ILDF model.
Case study and team work were great tools to learn how learning can be done through working in teams, coaching, self-evaluation and group critique. As a team, we decided to assign each member in the team to cover a certain part of the case. For example I worked in analyzing data. Others worked in defining the problem and finding solutions. We presented our solution and discussed other groups' solutions as well as other groups did. We were asked to evaluate ourselves work as individuals then evaluate other members work in our group.
I designed my final project as a web-based learning environment based on situated learning model. This project allowed me to implement situated learning model techniques to design interactive learning environment for graduate students who were taking EDIT 524 learning disability class. I was quite happy about this design because I could manipulate instructional design models to design Assistive technology class. It also was very beneficial to apply what I have learned about flash in EDIT 772 class to this web-based design.
EDIT 732 has completed the picture about instructional design theories and models. I to see the whole picture of 704, 705 and 732 which helped me to built a good foundation of understanding the difference between objectivist learning characters and constructivist models' characters and ADDIE model and ILDF model.
EDIT 575: Authoring Tools - PodcastingMy reflection: EDIT 575 was an interesting class for me because I enjoy working with Audiovisual Educational materials. I used to do the same kind of Audiovisual educational materials when I was working in the ministry of education in Egypt. What EDIT 575 added to me is two new concepts. First, the concept of designing distance education and educational materials which learners can receive anytime and anywhere into their mobile devices such as iPhones, PDA, iPod..etc. The point here is that education can be happen outside classrooms in interesting ways which learners like. For example, iPod as an device is almost with everybody to listen to music and watch new movies, therefore, instructors can easily reach their students though these devices. Adults can learn as well in the way to work, driving, doing exercises or in their free time.
The second concept I have learned from EDIT 575 class is that the difference between podcasting and prodcasting. There are several differences such as interactivity that a learner can contact the podcaster and send feedback, flexibility of poadcasting which allow learners receive podcast anytime and any where, and low coast of product. Additionally, a main difference is RSS which allow users to subscribe to search and receive podcast serving a certain subject.
dir="ltr">I created my final project for this class as podcasting episodes to be a quick guide for accessible resituates in D.C area. I thought about this subject to help people who are interested in finding accessible places to go, or for families who have kids with disabilities and they are looking for accessible places to take their children.
After I finished this project, I felt satisfied that I accomplished a step toward my academic goals. Studying this class has enabled me to use recent technology to apply my previous experience related to audiovisual products to creating interactive and enjoyable learning materials.
EDIT 524 EDIT/EDSE 524 Assistive Technology for Individuals with Learning Disabilities.
My reflection: EDIT 524 had great impact on me as an instructional designer who is interested in helping special education. This class enlightened me that there are some categories of disabilities other than blandness, hearing deficit , mental retardation, and physical disability, which we need to consider.
This class focused on three main areas of LD: math, reading and writing. EDIT 524 offered variety of assistive technology solutions to each category ranging from low- Tech to hi-Tech. I was exposed to several case studies to each category of LD. This exercise helped me to advance my analytical skills to analyses the case, do research, and find appropriate AT solutions.
In my final project, I worked with an actual case with a student belongs to a school of Fairfax county public schools. This student reading level was two years behind his age.
This assignment allowed me to implement what I have learned in EDIT 705 ADDIE model about analyses, implantation and evaluation strategies to design a plan, discover solutions, put implementation plan and conduct evaluation. I could determine reasons behind his delay which was phonemic awareness problems and poor word attack skills. I started apply my implementation plan to use AT software which fit these weaknesses. Finally, I applied an evaluation plan to observe the student progress.
That class perfectly met my expectation and my needs to see how learning can be done in the actual field of work. Additionally, it helped me to apply some of instructional design techniques in special education world. Consequently, I decided to adopt LD class to design more constructivist learning environment as a final
project for EDIT 732 class.
Challenge: Although I enjoyed this class so much, I lacked knowledge of what the process of reading, writing and math education. How a learner build his or her knowledge of new words, spilling, numbers. .etc. Which would help me in discovering LD reasons and help me to put me compensation or remediation plan. I felt that when I was working with a student in the analyses phase of my final project. I knew that the student misspell words, and had a difficulty in pronunciation, but I did not know the process of how these things happen. Therefore, I decided to learn more about LD and do a research in this area of study.
EDIT 730: Analysis and Design of Multimedia/Hypermedia Environments
Challenge: EDIT 730 focused on providing students with opportunities to experience real instructional design process and Mobile Web 2.0 principles. There were two main challenges faced our group once we started our project to design a device/application for EDHD/Gifted students. First is that we did not have an actual client who can be asked questions and explain the needs. Additionally, ADHD/gifted population has not clear characters yet. However, we interviewed with several subject matter experts and met with several students who are identified ADHD/Gifted.
Second, time was a big challenge for us to learn and apply what we learned to an actual project. Our design required us to finish five deliverables within two weeks for each.
My reflection: EDIT 730 gave me deep understanding about design process in the real world, how work could be done fast and efficiently under time presser, collaborate with team work members and meet clients/audience needs by the dead time.
The project was an exemplary for constructivist learning environment. I could touch how needs assessment and audience analyses important are. I would say they are the foundation for a design. I also had the sense of the importance of using visual design, flowcharts, wireframes, sitemaps and framework to a design.
I also could see clearly how educational theories be combined with technology and design techniques to design educational materials.
Also, this class helped me to understand how technology like Mobile 2.0 would be beneficial for E-learning.
EDIT 590: Educational Research in Technology
Challenge: Although the class was very well designed to be an example to constructivist learning environment, time was a challenge. The class is designed to finish a weekly reading and apply it to an individual project (research proposal). Meanwhile, we had to apply weekly reading to another teamwork project. Also there was a discussion forum and peer response for the weekly reading four times a week.
My reflection: Although I had a good background about research I had learned from EDIT 704, EDIT gave me a wide view and a complete picture to see the whole process of conducting a research. There are several new things I have learned during taking EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH IN TECHNOLOGY. There are four main ideas I have learned from this class would be beneficial to achieve both my professional and academic goals. Components for a research proposal and final report are almost the same even with different kinds of researches. That gave me familiarity with a final proposal/report shape and the process. Also protection of Human Subjects' Rights, getting approval from Human Subjects Review Board (HSRB) and signing consent are great thing to learn and would protect both of subjects and researchers from any legal issues. The third thing was very helpful for me to learn was review of literature. That gave me more familiarity to use different databases and use search options to find other studies help me set my hypotheses. The last thing was very helpful for me was Data Analysis. Although I have good analytical skills, sometimes I suffer from organizing the collected data especially when a large number is involved. Coding subjects and categorizing data facilitated organize and analyze results.
This experience is very encouraging for me to conduct more research related to use technology and virtual world in education and special education. I also would use these skills when I get to the point of working in my PhD research.
My final project was a research proposal that I had build step by step throughout the semester. However, I had to rewrite it according to the method I choosed and mention a research results. I also had to rich a certain number or words under each section and write the paper in APA style with references.
EDIT 601/701: Educational Research in Technology
EDIT 772: Educational Research in Technology
