Collaborative Learning Design Project

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Course: INSDSG 605: Collaborative Learning Design

Assignment Description: This assignment was the course's final project. It was a group project and consisted of creating a Google Site of at least eight pages based on a common interest that serves an instructional purpose and should contain as many tools as possible learned in the course. Whenever possible, these should be embedded rather than linked. The site should include an easy-to-follow structure with well-defined sections and pages. The home page should contain an introduction that clearly defines the site's purpose and has a concise summary of contents (in addition to the navigation menu). The look and feel of the site had to be consistent throughout. Resources used should provide references to their source, and the site should demonstrate an understanding of and ability to integrate most web-based, collaborative tools explored during the course.

Competencies

Introduction

The Collaborative Learning Design course was one of the most enjoyable courses. We explored many collaborative tools to use in designing and learning (5.4). I already knew and used tools like google docs, forms, and slides. Others were new to me, like, QR codes (scannable barcodes that store data), Diigo (a social bookmarking website that allows users to bookmark, highlight, and tag web pages), Audacity (a digital audio editor and recording application), and Screencast-o-matic (a screencasting and video editing tool). I worked with three classmates to create a wiki for instructional purposes in this assignment. The assignment required us to use the tools explored in the class to create the wiki content. I included this artefact as part of my Learning Portfolio because I got into the Instructional Design field with limited knowledge of the tools and technology available to create content. This experience opened a door of possibilities for creativity and to be more assertive in the design and development phases of the instructional process (4.2).

Reflection

Being an instructional designer is a challenging job. You are expected to develop creative, innovative, and customized solutions. I got into the instructional design field with only two tools to create content: Word and PowerPoint. This course has stocked my toolbox, and I now have various tools to create activities and materials to help students attain the learning objectives (4.1). 

This assignment was a team effort that required frequent meetings where we practiced efficient communication, teamwork, and collaboration (8.2, 8.4). The first thing we worked on as a team was selecting a topic of common interest. One classmate suggested the topic, and we agreed because of the relevance of the topic and its use as reference material in the future. Then we identified the sections we would each develop. The project required us to maintain constant communication and to complete our tasks in time to meet the deadlines set in the course (7.5).   We used Google Sites as the server program to collaborate in forming the website's content. Google Sites was one of the tools we explored in the course, it has the features we needed, and we all had access to it. 

The topic was easy to work on because of the level of familiarity we had with it. However, for that same reason choosing the information sources was complicated, as there was a lot to choose from. The project started at a point in the course where we were already familiar with the tools we would use to create the materials and activities for the assignment. So as a team, we had to evaluate the tools and determine the most effective for presenting the concepts, knowledge, or skills we wanted to emphasize (4.3, 4.4, 6.1). During previous course assignments, we had already identified the potential uses of the collaborative tools, so during the project, it was a matter of identifying the most appropriate one and adapting it to our topic (4.5). 

My participation in the project included developing the Home page and the Assessment & Evaluation sections. The collaboration tools I used and the content I developed included:

•  Audio file as a podcast
• Instructional video uploaded to YouTube and embedded on the site
• Google Slides
• QR codes to redirect to additional information
• Twitter to communicate more information about the topic. 

This course was one of the first I took in the program, and now, looking at the result of this assignment with more academic and professional experience, I would modify a few things.

 First, not all of the tools have practical use. In using as many tools as possible, we did not go into deeper reflection to determine if it made sense to include certain tools in the way that was done. For example, using QR codes and including them in printed or projected material makes sense because you can use them for learners to scan and get additional information. However, what value does it add to a web page to have a QR code when a link has the same purpose?  

Second, the desire to include as much information as possible led us to overdo it. The site is loaded with too many documents and resources which can make the experience of navigating the site confusing. Along the same line, after learning about Universal Design for Learning, I can say that the site needs to be revised to be genuinely accessible (4.3). The content could be simplified, the links need better identification, and the contrast in some areas between the text and the background could be more appropriate for visually impaired people. In other words, the site needs rework to ensure that many obstacles that make it inaccessible to some people are removed (7.2).

Application

The world of instructional design is not made up of designers who come up with fantastic ideas from time to time. To succeed in this field, one must be a consistent designer who captures effective designs and ideas. Having a varied toolbox to help us develop the best and most efficient solutions to skill and knowledge problems is imperative. A list of all these tools and their possible uses can facilitate and streamline the process of designing a learning experience. The following table shows a list of the possible uses we can give some of the tools.

Tools & Technology

Below is a list of some of the tools explored in the course. They provide a link or can be downloaded for more information on the tool and their uses for learning activities.

• Google Workspace & Collaboration Tools
• Diigo
• VoiceThread
• Twitter
• Screencasting
• YouTube
• Wakelet
• Podcasting