Sample Assignment 1: Module Development (Individual) 25%

Assignment Purpose

Individually, you are required to develop a self-paced or asynchronous online learning module. A self-paced module may not have an instructor and may be solely computer mediated.  An asynchronous module has an instructor but does not require real time participation. When developing your module, you are designing a learning experience.  Therefore, aim to do the following:

• Aim to keep things simple and clear. Use concise language. Avoid being cryptic or using jargon or acronyms.
• Write to the user, using the 2^nd person form. It helps to envision the teacher or learner, than to address that person directly.
• Avoid education jargon. Your user has probably never heard terms such as “procedural” or “constructivist,” so find simpler language to describe the concepts that have guided your thinking. Your language can be professional but still be engaging and accessible.
• Provide baseline definitions and procedures; don’t assume either teachers or students have prior knowledge or skills, unless you explain that up front.
• Try to keep an image of the learner in mind as you work. Ask yourself, is this clear? What could be confusing? Is there enough practice? Am I creating something that’s interesting, creative, appealing, unique, or am I just going through the motions and simply throwing content online?

How to Proceed

Select one of the following two options.

Option 1

Develop a module to teach high school students a particular computing literacy skill. Here is a list of computing literacy topics that you can choose from:

• Netiquette
• Critical assessment of Internet sources
• Appropriate use of social media (e.g., Facebook)
• Using software to create a digital product (e.g., movie, blog entry)

Option 2

Develop a module of your choice. Some of you might be involved in projects in your professional work that may require module development of some kind.  You can design a module that is more relevant to your work or interests. Keep in mind that you are not developing a full course, only one module!

Requirements

After selecting Option 1 or Option 2, you can then begin to plan how you will deliver the required components. Please note, this assignment has 3 parts.

Part 1

Create a Module Blueprint (submit this as an Appendix). You should create a draft of this first and then modify as you develop Part 2, i.e. your instructional design plan.

Part 2

Create an instructional design plan (15-20 pages, double space + Appendices). Please submit Parts 1& 2 in one Word document.

This is for your instructor (or your employer?) and needs to include the following instructional design elements:

• Instructional goals
• Objectives
• Learner definition/analysis
• Context definition/analysis
• Instructional strategies
• Description of instructional materials (includes description of delivery environment and media selection)
• Content sources (i.e. where did you get your content from? Do not CREATE content because this assignment is more focused on instruction. It is suggested that you go online, find content that you like, use it to create your module, and provide the link/s to the site/s where you found the content)
• Assessment instrument/s (including answer keys)
• Short description of your plans for formative and summative evaluation (I don’t want you to conduct formative/summative evaluation, but I want you to give me some thoughts of how you will be evaluating your module)
• Module blueprint and any additional materials or information that you would like to include can be submitted as Appendices

Part 3

Create the learning materials for the module.  These materials are for the learner/s who will complete the module to learn about the topic that you selected. You can be as creative as you would like.  You have two options for this part of the assignment.

After selecting Option A or Option B, you can then begin to plan how you will deliver the required components. Please note, both options must include:

• All materials for the learner (i.e. instructions, resources, content, and media)
• Assessment instrument/s (same as the one you provide for part 2, but excluding the answer key)

Option A

If you are comfortable using web tools like Weebly or WordPress, you can create your module this way.  In this case, you will provide the link to your module. You will be responsible for setting up your own account/s for your selected site/s. If you prefer to keep things simple, you can use PowerPoint or Articulate to create your module.

Option B

Do not create or develop the module using a web platform. Instead, create a storyboard/design that would be used to develop the module in a web environment. You can submit the storyboard in Word, pdf, or PowerPoint.

Examples

Below are past examples from students who completed this assignment and gave permission to share their work with you. These are some good examples and may help you visualize your products. These examples do not include Module Blueprints.

Example 1: Workplace and Personal Security

Example 2: Fashion Apparel Instructional Design Plan and Module Storyboard

The following rubric will be used to assess your work.

Parts 1&2: Each item is worth 6 points = 60 points	Yes 4.8-6 pts	Sort of 4.2-4.7 pts	No 0-4.1 pts
Instructional Goals
Objectives
Learner definition/analysis
Context definition/analysis
Instructional strategies
Description of instructional materials
Content sources
Assessment instruments (including answer keys)
Formative and Summative evaluation
Module Blueprint

Part 3: 30 points	Yes 24-30 pts	Sort of 21-23.9 pts	No 0-20.9 pts
Materials for the learner

Adheres to strategies for creating an effective module:

2 points each = 10 points	Yes 8-10 pts	Sort of 7-7.9 pts.	No 0-6.9 pts
Simple, clear language
Written directly to user
Avoids jargon
Provides definitions and procedures
Opportunities for high level learning