Combining the strengths of UMIST and The Victoria University of Manchester EDUC Evaluation & Design of Educational Software Week 1

Combining the strengths of UMIST and The Victoria University of Manchester What is this class about? Design, Development, & Evaluation of educational software …but what do these words really mean?

Combining the strengths of UMIST and The Victoria University of Manchester Design: What is it? Design refers to the process that a person undertakes to craft a solution, product, experience, or system/software. What does the process entail? Analysis (e.g., who is the system for? How do people do their work?) Developing objectives, assessments, content, strategies, (and selecting) media. Consideration for functionality, the aesthetic, and other issues the designer deems important Re-design – review and iteration throughout.

Combining the strengths of UMIST and The Victoria University of Manchester Example Analysis o A learning environment for 8-year olds o Who are homeschooled and never attended formal schooling Objectives, assessments, etc o To learn fraction multiplication (e.g. ½ x ¾) o Where assessment will be handled by weekly tests o Used in the context of a treasure-hunt game Consideration for other issues o Where the environment will be fun to use

Combining the strengths of UMIST and The Victoria University of Manchester Design: What is it NOT ? Graphic/Visual Design Easy Standard Simple

Combining the strengths of UMIST and The Victoria University of Manchester Development: What is it? Another process. Refers to the creation and assembly of what was conceived in the design phase. Involves storyboards, graphics, prototypes, programming (when technologies are involved), and bringing everything together.storyboards

Combining the strengths of UMIST and The Victoria University of Manchester Development tool You will develop your software using Adobe Flash. Flash = a multimedia design and development tool predominantly used on the web. Powerful Don’t be intimidated by “programming.”

Combining the strengths of UMIST and The Victoria University of Manchester Evaluation: What is it? Did the product “work?” To judge success, evaluation needs to happen according to some predetermined values and metrics. For example: Video use in class Problem: Deaf students are excluded Solution: Closed Captioning Evaluation: Problem solved? What do we want to achieve? Evaluation method?

Combining the strengths of UMIST and The Victoria University of Manchester We will design, develop, and evaluate technology-enhanced learning environments

Combining the strengths of UMIST and The Victoria University of Manchester A bad design example Requiring children to use a mouse for certain computer activities when they don’t necessarily have the fine motor skills to do so (e.g., drag-and-drop) Required mouse use for children. What’s the issue?

Combining the strengths of UMIST and The Victoria University of Manchester Course Unit structure Wordpress blog: Blackboard for discussions: We aim to answer the question: How can we design, develop, and evaluate technology-mediated learning experiences that are effective, engaging, and powerful? We will cover the basics of design theory, interaction design, psychological and multimedia theories of learning, and apply them to the design and evaluation of electronic learning materials. We will engage in continuous design and evaluation. By the end of the course you will develop your own ways of assessing electronic educational materials.