Fun and Games with Selective Release Eileen McMahon, UMass Boston, Carrie Powanda-Croft, UMass Lowell, Alena Woods, UMass Lowell

2 Fun and Games with Selective Release Agenda Introduction Rules of the game Selective release logic map The Selective Release Trivia Game Lessons learned Questions

3 Goals of Game Development To test the limits of selective release criteria To determine applications of selective release for academics beyond the basics To become more familiar with selective release as a whole

4 Rules of the Game Multiple choice and true/false trivia game Raise your hand to answer a question Three categories of questions Must answer five questions correctly before moving to next category A bonus question appears after five questions answered correctly

5 Selective Release Logic Map

6 Lessons Learned Create a logic map or storyboard Allow plenty of time for user testing and modification Don’t be afraid to test out your ideas for selective release Consider the objective for using selective release

7 Strengths Can create a wide variety of expressions combining Boolean logic (AND or OR) with an assortment of conditions (equal to, not equal to, etc.), numerical values (up to 100), members, groups, dates, and grade book calculated columns Selective release can be applied to almost every content tool in Blackboard Vista. Quizzes, surveys, blogs, journals, and assignments can trigger the selective release of additional materials because they can be linked to the grade book. Grade book calculated columns can be used and integrated into selective release scripts. JavaScript can be embedded in HTML files to customize content delivery.

8 Weaknesses Students can't accumulate individual points from activity to activity. Can't release a series of learning content without having students come back to the home page to proceed from one learning content to another. Learning activities that can be placed in a seamless sequence are limited to ones that can be graded. URLs, self-tests, and content files can't be linked to the grade book and therefore viewing or submitting them can't trigger additional content. Discussion contributions can't be autograded or "completed" to trigger the selective release of additional materials. No ability to display correct answers in assessments right after a question has been answered to provide immediate feedback. Completed/not completed status is displayed in grade book only for surveys, but not for self-tests, assignments, blogs, and other learning tools. Grade book calculated column functionality is very basic. Boolean logic used to create selective release is limited to basic functions and not intuitive.

9 Wish List Ability to integrate audio and video tools into selective release scripts Ability to add sound effects and visual effects that would play at the end or beginning of each tool as a cue and to make the content presentation more engaging. Ability to see answers to assessments for immediate feedback Ability to create seamless presentation of learning content created from different tools so that the student isn’t require to return to the home page after accessing each tool Assemble selective release criteria in graphical interface (timeline) to make it more user friendly Ability to create multiple selective release scripts that can be applied to different members and groups. Selective release script repository so that departments can share scripts Expanded features added to calculated column functionality. Boolean logic for creating selective release scripts is expanded to include more functions

10 We hope you enjoyed the game! Eileen McMahon, Instructional Designer/Trainer, UMass Boston Carrie Powanda-Croft, Distance Learning Faculty Trainer, UMass Lowell Alena Woods, Distance Learning Technology Specialist, UMass Lowell

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