Jon_Module4

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 * Examine the course you selected for Module 1. How did this course use multimedia to implement their instructional strategies? Did this course avoid irrelevant multimedia? Did this course use multimedia to effectively implement instructional events? **

This tutorial used images of the steps being performed to implement its instructional strategy. Additionally, the author enhanced the images with additional art (usually red circles) to highlight areas of note or where specific steps were to occur. Yes, I believe this course did use multimedia effectively and avoided irrelevant multimedia in it's How-To instructional events. Most of the steps have images that either show how to perform the step and/or what the result would look like after completion.


 * Did this course use multimedia to indicate the format of the materials; to provide efficient navigation; and to provide for learner interaction with the content and instructional events? **

I don't not believe this tutorial used multimedia to indicate the format of the instruction for any of these reasons. The learner is left in sort of a continuous forward progression without any real concept of the steps that will occur or how they will be organized. While the instructor shows the beginning and the end there is little awareness of the path between those two stages. Which is really too bad! I think an easy fix to this would be to create a single image to show the steps and the learner could select within that image to navigate to the stage they want to cover. For example, what if we could select the shapes within the "algorithm" at the beginning of each of Dr. Merrill's chapters. It would be the same for this tutorial only those geometric shapes would be visual representations of the steps. In this way it might build a stronger mental model of what is to be done with the skills taught.

Ha, hope that made sense!


 * It is unlikely that the course you selected used a structural framework but if it did was it used effectively? If it did not can you suggest a structural framework that could be added to this course to enhance learning? **

Correct, this course did not have a structural framework. I think the checklist and metaphor/analogy would be the best addition to this tutorial.

I would use a checklist for the following:
 * Identify the features of the image that make it qualified for this approach
 * Provide guidance during the steps on the overall process
 * Highlight key identifiers of good performance

I mentioned a great deal in prior weeks about metaphors for helping the learner understand why this process works, and the type of images it's appropriate for. I discussed how stubble is generally like specks of black on an otherwise colorful surface... much like "dust and scratches". These examples; and getting the learner to think of their own, can help them transfer the concepts being taught to other related issues.

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