MEDT7467: Web Development for Instruction
Intermediate level course on design, development and formative evaluation of web-based instructional systems. Web page design strategies based on research on effective practice are emphasized. Students use software development tools to create and evaluate interactive lessons including strategies for assessing learning achievement.
Assignment 3.1 - Intro to the Virtual Lab
This was an excellent introduction to how to use the Virtual Lab and Dreamweaver. Although, it was very difficult at first. I had lots the problems connecting to Virtual Lab and then creating the websites due to various technical problems both with the computers I use and with the connection speed. I learned that I need to be hardwired to my home network to access at a reasonable speed. The Camtasia tutorial was great, it was very step-by-step and provided instructions of mutliple ways to do the same thing. At first, I didn't get it and followed instructions in rote manner. But, after awhile it became evident what was going on (particularly, since I created each page 3x - yuck...but okay since the end result was positive). Also, the tutorial was very helpful at showing problems and solutions so we will know how to fix things when we encounter them.
Assignment 3.2 - Georgia Statehood: A WebQuest
Excellent video tutorial on how to create embed tables within tables, how to hyperlink within the same page (anchors), how to begin to work with html code, and, again, multiple examples of how to do the same thing in different ways. As I am becoming more familiar with Dreamweaver I am finding it easier to use.
Assignment 3.3 - Creating Your Own WebQuest
The difficulty I found in this lesson was that I was not familiar with the content of the GPS standards that I chose. These standards actually cover a huge amount of information. Therefore, I decided to make the webquest only focus on one small aspect of it. Even having said that, I think that this webquest will be quite time consuming and I am already thinking of ways i to might want to revise it. The title of the webquest so long that it wouldn't fit on one line. After many attempts to make it look better I came upon a great and simple solution, that was to divide the banner table into three columns and put the pictures in outer cells and title in middle cell. Worked great! The Other problem I encountered, was not being able to insert the images as hyperlinks to the NASA website. Here, I cheated a bit and copied the images to my assets folder and copy/pasted them in. I will need to review the tutorial to see where I went wrong. Overall, I was pleased with what I learned.
Assignment 3.4 - Initial Curriculum Plan Web
The curricuIum plan writing is a good way to organize, although I think there is a lot of redundancy in the areas required and believe it makes it too cumbersome for teachers...would like to see the plan streamlined. As I delved deeper into the content area (astronomy) it became apparent that the standards assume alot of prior knowledge on students' parts.For example, they don't talk about students needing to first learn terms and what the individual planets in our solar system are. I felt like I could work on this standard all year. Thinking about making it last all year, I began to think about ways to incorporate other standards, like having students write a traditonal story (a porque tale), that would explain something "how a planet/star is formed" or "why stars twinkle" in a fictional form. Or perhaps have students create their planet and assign it features. I need to cogitate on this more and think of creative (yet do-able) ways to include these into my plan. Today was the first day I felt really comfortable using Dreamweaver (not worried about making mistakes), so I was able to explores more and not stick to the script as much.
Assignment 3.5 - Creating Icons with PhotoShop
This was a very interesting assignment. I have never worked with image editing software. It has a very unique interface and requires a different mindset. Again, I had a difficult time due to slowness and wasn't able to get my icons to look the way I wanted (i.e., resizing and keeping aspect ratios).
Assignment 3.6 - Creating Curriculum Web
Really enjoyed the ability to duplicate pages and styles.
I used Inspiration minimally in the past so it was good to get to revisit the program. Also, mapping web was a good experience. I had been mentally creating it, but visual is very helpful.
Assignment 3.8 - Georgia Statehood: The Story of William McIntosh
Although the main goal was learn about embedding images and creating styles. A hidden lesson for me was about reading code. At first I created a mcintosh page that no matter how many returns I entered the lines would not space correctly. I wound up deleting it and starting over. During my second attempt I watched code carefully and was better able to understand how to create what I wanted to appear.
Assignment 3.9 - Learning Activities
This was really time consuming, but productive activity. It made me really rethink the plan and change numerous things as I proceeded. Also, it made me realize what additional pieces I will need to add to make this curriculum web truly robust.
Assignment 3.10 - The Yazoo Land Fraud
This was a good lesson although, I had a good bit of difficulty following the instructions for the embedded quiz code. I was able to get it to work, but somehow all the response text was underlined, which was less than attractive. As a result, I do understand code better, although, I am a long way from feeling really comfortable with it.
Assignment 3.11 - Concept Map Revised
I used yellow for teacher path. This path starts at the "Curriculum Guide" and flows from there to assessment activities then to the content needed to complete that activity. The student's path is in blue. It was difficult to decide what the teacher path would be. At first, I just wanted it to follow the student path, but then thought it might work best as just described.