Final Assignment - We've arrived!

As the final bell is about to ring (Monday 4 November)on this module, a few administrative guidelines for the assignment. The final assignment should be no less than 5 pages (5-8 pages is a reasonable length) 1.5 paragraph spacing Arial, 11 Font. We look forward to receiving and reading your final products.

Arriving at the harbour...

As we enter the harbour after our journey through this module, there are a few things that I'd like you to keep in mind. As with any trip, when you will have pictures and memories of the journey. So let's make sure you have packed in your memory card before you disembark... In writing up your assignment, have you identified a need? If yes, then have you checked to see if this is your perception or a real need for staff or students in your environment. Be sure to include this in your writing. Using your blog and ideas you've developed, add (or pack in) all the relevant literature to support your ideas. Use these to start building the argument for why your chosen design and development plan was needed. Then finally, think about how you will check or evaluate the process (view and edit your pictures, if you will). Now, in order to disembark, we need to ensure that you have cleared all the cupboards and drawers in your cabin. This means, have you taken a look back at your curriculum analysis knowledge, your assessment knowledge or theories of learning? Have you taken note of how much you have learned, not just for this module, but throughout your MPhil journey and used this in writing up your assignment? Remember, you may not think of it now, but somewhere tucked away in the back of your mind (drawer) you have gained knowledge and skills in a variety of HSE areas....use these! I trust that you have all had a great journey and look forward to seeing the "album" (assignment) on 4 November.

e/merge Africa - Online Seminar - Designing Blended Courses for Low Resource Context: Will They Still Come to Class?

Please feel free to sign up/ follow the new Seminar Series on "Designing Blended Courses for Low Resource Context: Will They Still Come to Class?" hosted by the e/Merge Africa site.

I think the theme is crucial for those educators in our developing country contexts. To see more and to join the movement go to web address:

http://emergeafrica.net/live/

Nice Slide Share on the 7 C's of Instructional design

7 cs learning_design_mooc from Grainne Conole

ICS Learning Group: Instructional Design Strategies for eLearning

ICS Learning Group: Instructional Design Strategies for eLearning: The ADDIE model has got to be one of the, if not just *the*, most popular instructional models used in the eLearning development process. I...

e-Learning Acupuncture: Authentic Learning in Online Courses

e-Learning Acupuncture: Authentic Learning in Online Courses: The library at my school has a book entitled A Guide to Authentic e-Learning by Jan Herrington. Unfortunately, it is currently signed out....

Developing your developmental skills

As we enter week 3, I hope that you are all enjoying the experience (and not pulling your hair out!) of the module. This week we focus on the development phase of the project that you envision. Taking an excerpt out of Michael Allen's book "Leaving ADDIE for SAM" (pg 15), I'd like to remind everyone what the ADDIE model requires from the Development phase. In this phase you should be specifying the learning events/activities, specifying the instructional management plan and delivery system, reviewing/selecting existing materials, developing the instruction and validating the instruction. Remember, though that these are guidelines of what your process should be. Ultimately, this week you should be using what you know from the Analysis and Design phase of your project to really think about the details and theoretically come up with the materials you are going to use in your course/module/intervention. The end is in sight...so don't lose the momentum you've already gained working through the module. Finally, please remember to contact your mentors directly should you need some extra, specific assistance.

Don't Reinvent the Wheel or Free Medical Resources

If you are looking for some free medical resources in order to save you from having to create your own, check out Steve's Stuff.

Useful tools for the voyage

I trust that you are all enjoying your cruise and that the waters are relatively calm after submitting research assignments. The ADDIE ship is definitely an interesting one, with many activities to do but also an oversupply of lifeboats and jackets for support. Reading the blogposts and comments made over the last few days, I've noticed a common thread - what tools do I use? I believe that the value of using ADDIE for this module allows us to stress the importance of starting at "A" and determine what the needs are first and foremost and then think about tools. So many resources pop up on the scene for computer/tablet and cellphones on almost a daily basis that it is often possible to be overwhelmed by the possibilities and end up going nowhere slowly. That being said, I've come across a site through a colleague recently that may be a useful tool for students and staff alike. ThinkBinder is an online "study" group which I found to be quite an interesting way to combine different resources and discuss topics at the same time. Another one of my favourites is Wikispaces where students and staff are able to have a conversation while building and sharing resources. Happy sailing!

The ship has sailed (and it is called ADDIE)

The module is now officially underway. We have sailed from the safe harbour of our daily lives and work out into the rough but exciting open seas of e-Learning. To get you started and working please take note of the following important notes:

1. Please make sure you can (and are) posting on your own blog and commenting on this main module blog as well as on your fellow-students' blogs. There is nothing worse that saying something and having the feeling that noboby is listening. Let us afford each other the respect and support that we would expect for ourselves. Let us breach the divide and become a community of practice.
2. Please work very hard from this moment to choose a small learning intervention. We cannot stress enough how this is going to assist you in getting your project done. The moment you have an idea, the ADDIE model/ process makes sense and you can follow the process of the module.
3. Follow ADDIE. The whole idea is that through the 4 weeks of this module you will be focussing on the different phases of ADDIE. I.e. in this week one you should look at Analysis. Week 2 = Design. Week 3 = Development. Week 4 = Implement and Evaluate.
4. Be reflective and reflexive. As you know the blogs you created for yourself serve as a reflective space where you document and record your learning as you work through the ADDIE process with your small e-learning intervention. Please write soon and write often (reflective) and please help others by giving positive feedback on their ideas (reflexive).