Engaging Your Students Through Narration Rhonda D. Blackburn, PhD University of Texas at Dallas

Think! Think of a course. How would you ground this in reality?

Objectives Discuss how I improved my course using narrative course design. Redesign a course.

EHRD 475 Multimedia Development for Training and Instruction Started teaching in Fall 2002 – Traditional face-to-face class – Moved online Fall 2003 – Changed assessments Fall 2004 – Changed in Fall 2008 using narrative design

Moving Forward How did I teach the class?

Welcome to B&B Enterprises All students are new HR Directors I am the VP of Training and Development There is a face-to-face orientation

Modules Analysis Synchronous training Audio training Demonstration training Design and Development Manual training

Activities Content Quiz Learning Circle Activity Journal

Changes - Content Started - information and directions Ended – memos and other resources

Changes - Quizzes Stayed the same.

Changes – Learning Circles Started – collaboration between classmates Ended – collaboration between co-workers, real world scenarios

Changes – Activities Started – they picked a company Ended – I hired them!

Changes – Journal Started – reflecting on work Ended – reflecting on work and how it impacts their environment

Why Narrative Course Design? Relevant Real world Interesting Increases levels of engagement

Example of course materials

Syllabus

Syllabus Mandates

B&B Introduction

Training Example

Let’s have you design! What is the course? How will you ground it in reality? What are the activities? What can you do to make it more meaningful?

Thank you! Rhonda D. Blackburn, PhD Associate Provost Office of Educational Enhancement University of Texas at Dallas