Teens and Video Games

Serena Sullivan

Walden University

Dr. Mark Clauburg

Advanced Instructional Design EIDT 6110-2

April 25, 2010 Advanced Instructional Design: ePortfolio 2

ANALYSIS DOCUMENT

Project Description:

The students in the AVP program at Pikes Peak Community College have been assigned a project to create a blog for their Computer Information Systems class. None of the students have ever created or worked with a blog and need instruction on how to do so. Currently, the students are enrolled in a computer hardware technician course and blogs about processes to fix computers are very useful. The students have been tasked to create a blog that could potentially help others who are having difficulty with computer maintenance. This project is an adaptation from the original plan by Annang et al, Instruction to Create, Follow and Use Blogs.

Needs analysis:

Based on the initial finding that the students need to prepare a blog for their class assignment and have never done so before, the best way to instruct them is with some hands-on training.

The purpose of the learning module is to develop a learning tool to help students set up blogs for an assignment. The learning tool will guide students through the process of setting up a blog as well as explain how to use the blog. Students will understand what aggregators and RSS feeds are and how they work.

It has been concluded that an instructional intervention is the best solution to help the Pikes Peak Community College students solve their problem. Advanced Instructional Design: ePortfolio 3

Learner analysis:

Learners are highly motivated to acquire the instruction and enrolled in a university course to acquire new data. The learners are between the ages of sixteen and nineteen, and vary in ethnicity, gender, and education. The students have been working together for a semester and a half, taking the same instruction and have a similar background with computer information systems. Students generally have good reading and cognitive skills. The students demonstrate a very good attitude towards the instruction they have had so far and have voiced their excitement about learning about blogging. All students in the course have computer access and are expert users of the internet. The preferred method of learning and studying is from a visual approach for the majority of students in the course. They also enjoy seeing and doing lessons together.

Performance gap analysis:

The design process will enable students to readily access instructional information related to the course. The specific goal is to diversify the instructional experience utilizing various instructional media. Providing streamlined learning tools with clear instructions and measurable objectives will enable students to become more successful in the course.

Contextual analysis:

To focus on the learners, questions to ask are: what goals do they hope to achieve from this course and how will they utilize their blogging skills? Instruction will be designed as if all learners are novices at blogging. The instructional model chosen will aid in comprehension and can evaluate the learners at every stage of the assignment. Learners will be held accountable by earning and receiving grades based on their knowledge and demonstration of blogging. Advanced Instructional Design: ePortfolio 4

The instructional environment will consist of learners having access to a computer lab with adequate computer equipment, seating, and lighting. A projection screen and a computer are needed for interactive learning and to show the steps to setting up a blog. The scheduling of the course will be finalized after discussing the place and time with the SME. The learners will be able to transfer the knowledge of blogging by designing their own blog for assignments, have working knowledge of what aggregators and RSS feeds are, and how they work. The learner will also be able to practice assessing other blog site and posting comments.

Unit Goals:

The learners will be successful if they:

1. Demonstrate knowledge of following directions to set up a personal blog for assignments.

2. Demonstrate understanding and working knowledge of what aggregators and RSS feeds are and how they work.

3. Demonstrate knowledge of assessing other blog sites and posting comments.

Topic analysis:

How to Create a Blog Site

1. What the learner needs to know:

• The learner will need to have basic computer skills in creating and editing text and the ability to copy paste as well as uploading necessary components like pictures to personalize compositions

• The learner should be familiar with various search engines, like google.com to find appropriate blog sites

• The learner will need to choose what kind of blog site to create: educational or personal

Advanced Instructional Design: ePortfolio 5

• The learner will need to also create an aggregator page to link up with RSS feeds from other sites of interest or related to the purpose of their blog

2. What is the role of the instructor?

• The instructor will provide potential resources in the form of hyperlinks to a blog site

• The instructor will guide the learner in choosing an aggregator through two or three hyperlinks

• The instructor will have the learner tile it, structure/format it, then post an entry that includes biographic information about the learner by showing them step-by-step on the overhead projector how to create the blog site and have the learners follow along on their own computers

• The instructor will then have the students choose an aggregator from the provided suggestions the learner will be asked to search other sites of interest and link them via an RSS feed to their aggregator

3. What should be the final outcome of the exercise?

• The learner with the help and guidance of the instructor should successfully create a personalized, easily navigable blog site with relevant information about the blogger and also create a personalized aggregator site to keep track of other relevant sites to the learner

In creating a blog site the "blogger" will need to be familiar with basic computer skills that will include text application software like a Microsoft Word document. Within that skill set the "blogger should be familiar with .jpeg and other image formats including other basic image Advanced Instructional Design: ePortfolio 6

applications, like Adobe acrobat. "Bloggers" should apply these basic skills in creating a simple but personalized blog site. The learner will need to identify the purpose of their blog site, whether it is for educational or personal blogging issues. Once the purpose is determined then the blogger will create a personalized aggregator to include related links to relevant topics links to family members’ blogs, or links to other educational sites. In completing the mentioned exercise prescribed by the instructor, the "blogger" will gain a better understanding of the purposes of blogs and learn how to manage their own blog. With further management of their blogs and aggregators the students will strengthen their basic computer skills and become more comfortable with the various tasks associated with creating and composing original text and imagery related to the exercise and future computer application needs and applications.

Procedural analysis:

In the "How to Blog" module the learner will set – up, create, and post to their blog on a selected website. They will identify blogs and follow them as information is posted. Additionally, the learner will enter thee blogs into a blog aggregator to be able to mange and read new postings. From the aggregated postings the students will be able to identify characteristics of an educational and personal blog.

To be able to do this, the learner must search using an internet search engine, select blog sites, follow online instructions, enter (navigate) personal data, copy and paste from productivity applications (MS Office, etc), and/or graphic files (photos or images). The learner must be able to categorize information using personal, business, and educational as topic headings. The learner must be able to articulate similarities and differences between the named uses using a spreadsheet, table, or text. Advanced Instructional Design: ePortfolio 7

The course participant will be successful when they have found web sites hosting blogs and have completed registering for an account and are able to login and locate where to write and post their written blog or upload a graphic file. The course participant will be successful when they have entered the required number of published educational, and personal blogs into a blog aggregator and are able to login and read new postings from those sites.

Instructional objectives:

1) Learner will know the steps to create an account, and begin a blog (with RSS capabilities) consisting of a title, profile, blog entry.

a) Provide needed personal information to create profile and account.

b) Provide blog title and set style.

c) Write a blog entry and post it.

2) The learner will differentiate the uses of a blog using the categories of education and personal. Learner will link to at least two examples of each category to:

a) Search for educational and personal blogs.

b) Place links on blog page to at least two per category.

c) Write 300-400 word blog entry detailing technology.

3) The learner will select a blog reader (aggregator) and follow the RSS feeds for their blogs in objective #3.

a) Select blog reader for use.

b) Link, using RSS identified blogs on the blog reader.

c) Read new information on blogs.

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DESIGN DOCUMENT

Sequencing description:

I. Learner will know the steps to create an account, and begin a blog (with RSS capabilities) consisting of a title, profile, blog entry.

a. Provide needed personal information to create profile and account.

b. Provide blog title and set style.

c. Write a blog entry and post it.

II. The learner will differentiate the uses of a blog using the categories of business, education, and personal. Learner will link to at least two examples of each category to their blog site.

a. Search for educational, and personal blogs.

b. Place links on blog page to at least two per category.

c. Write 300-400 word blog entry detailing technology.

III. The learner will select a blog reader (aggregator) and follow the RSS feeds for their blogs in objective.

a. Select blog reader for use.

b. Link, using RSS identified blogs on the blog reader.

c. Read new information on blogs.

Introduction Advanced Instructional Design: ePortfolio 9

"Sequencing is the efficient ordering of content in such a way as to help the learner achieve objectives." (Morrison, Ross & Kemp p. 132). The lesson will be presented in a series of steps with the learner following the instructor, hands-on as the instructor presents the training.

Justification

Learning-related sequence was the method our team chose for sequencing the objectives for the training module. The learning related sequence method requires identifiable prerequisites that a learner must learn prior to the next task. The learner needs a computer with Microsoft application, creating and editing text capability, and the ability to cut and paste material. Secondly, Posner and Strike recommends familiarizing the learner with known material before introducing unknown material. This step in the training module the learner will have the opportunity to become familiar with one predetermined blog site. The site will be determined ahead to help reduce confusion for the learner. The third related sequence is difficulty. The learner will actually begin to set up the blog account with RSS feed, set the style and post an entry. In the fourth step, Posner and Strike suggest piquing the interest of the learner. The learner will begin to set up links to other blog sites. The learner will choose the sites to post as links to their blog. This will give the learner an active part in the learning process. This task can be complex if not executed properly. The training module will ensure details are clear and concise during this phase of the module. The final phase of the sequence is development. This phase will ensure mastery of the basic skill needed to effectively set up a blog. It is important that the basic information is mastered before the next task can be taught. Advanced Instructional Design: ePortfolio 10

Instructional Message: