Artifacts: Web-based Photography Course and Evaluation 

NARRATIVE

•     Identifies and analyzes learning and performance problems

•     Design, plans, and develops instructional interventions using appropriate strategies and techniques

•     Develops an evaluation plan for a project based on stated goals and recognized standard\Competency

 

To gain experience in applying instructional design principles, I embarked on an eLearning journey with William Horton’s E-Learning by Design, in Purdue’s Introduction to eLearning course. With this bible of instructional design, along with the expert guidance of my esteemed professor, I created the structure and one of eight template modules of an online synchronous course, Digital Photography Fundamentals.

 

To identify and analyze learning and performance problems, I enlisted the help of Central Oregon Community College. Their Program Director connected me with the Continued Ed Professor of Photography, who allowed me to attend his classroom lectures. I videotaped the lectures so I could analyze the course and target the audience to identify the learning and performance problems, not only for this group of students but for a potential online student. I concluded that simply converting the course videos and PowerPoint document shown during class would not transfer well towards engaging an online audience. Therefore, I searched for new technologies to more directly and better engage an online audience. My decision was to use multiple paths of learning, including animated demonstrations, simulation, gamification, and portfolio building practice.

 

After reviewing the video footage of the professor for insights into curriculum and course structure, I set out to design, plan, and develop instructional interventions using appropriate strategies and techniques. I used the mind mapping software, Popplet , to outline the course’s 8 modules; following and improving upon the face-2-face course curriculum. Then I created a script and storyboard for the Introduction, Syllabus, and one Module, along with a Pre-Test in Adobe Captivate and Post-Test Portfolio Rubric. Having been an award-winning photographer and experienced college photography instructor, I became the SME, and developed the course in Canvas LMS, completing Module 4: ISO and Manual Exposure. Rather than use myself, I deployed a virtual animated professor using one of my character voices. The greatest challenge here was in learning a new technology, Adobe Character Animator. I also worked with the Program Director and Professor, showing versions and revisions to evaluate.

 

Once my test sample module and Canvas LMS were structurally sound and approved by our eLearning by Design course professor, I added my Amazon colleagues and other course evaluators to Canvas, providing them with an evaluation form. I was pleased to receive constructive feedback for completing future modules, with high marks. I also developed an evaluation plan aligning to course objectives for the same online photography course, this time targeting a more specific audience and business need in my EDCI 577 Evaluation course. Essentially, I created new assessments and syllabus, then evaluated my own course. This was an exercise in self-reflection, which set the stage for improving my future eLearning course ADDIE application.