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Examine the course to see if it implements the First Principles of Instruction as they have been described in Chapter 2. What level of instructional strategy is used in this course? How could this course be improved to move to a higher level of instructional strategy? Keep your description of the course and your analysis so that as you gain more skill in the application of First Principles of Instruction from your study in this course you can reexamine your analysis.
 * Assignment: **

=Reducing 5 O'Clock Shadow and Beard Stubble in Photoshop =

===Course Description: === The course I have chosen to evaluate is an online Photoshop tutorial for removing face stubble from a photograph. This tutorial covers many of the basic tools required to do photo manipulation and clean-up of unwanted blemishes or hair. While currently utilizing a level-1 or perhaps weak level-2 instructional strategy this training could easily reach a level-3 with some simple modifications listed in the “improvement” sections below.


 * Demonstration ** – This tutorial demonstrates a step-by-step guide to the learner on how to perform stubble clean-up for a specific image. The tools covered in this guide are consistent with those needed to perform the task, and the image selected is certainly appropriate. The location of tools and how their use visually impacts the image is well covered in the instruction.

//Improvements //: While the instructor provides clear guidance on how the tool settings and use impact the image being worked on there could be some more generalized instruction on what these tools are doing behind the scenes. This information as well as examples of other uses may help the learner understand that this isn’t the “remove stubble” tool, and has a great deal of alternative uses.


 * Application ** – While the learner is not directed to do so the instructor seems to assume that they will grab the image to be used in the tutorial from the website, and follow along on their own. This enables the learner to see intrinsic feedback at any time in the form of a visual comparison between their work and the instructors. The coaching is pretty consistent through the tutorial, but the objective is somewhat limited to fixing the specifically selected image.

//Improvements //: Instruction on how to grab the example image from the website could be useful to the learner. The lack of specific instruction to do so converts this from a “how-to” to a “watch me and remember”. The tutorial would be further improved by suggesting to the reader that they use one of their own images. More images showing differences in tool applications or settings may also help the learner better understand how these tools fit in a mental model. Guided intrinsic feedback by having the learner try various settings at their will may be an even further improvement.


 * Problem Centered ** – Photo manipulation and clean-up is a common need in the digital age. With most photos being digital, bright, wide spread, and easy to see there is often an even greater concern about one’s appearance. This tutorial focuses on the specific instance of stubble removal or fading from a photograph.

//Improvement //<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">: This instruction could be improved by adding additional layers of complexity to this situation. What if there were multiple people in the photograph with stubble on their face? Is the process the same? Are there other types photographic problems that this process can fix? What are the commonalities? This tutorial could also break some of these sub-skills into smaller portions to help understand how they can be manipulated.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">**Activation** – There isn’t any activation exercise in this tutorial. That may have been because of the nature of the instruction itself. The author has no idea what the experience may be of the person viewing the instruction. Unfortunately, the instructor doesn’t really provide a mental model for the information they are about to receive.

//<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Improvement //<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">: Establishing some pre-requisites to the tutorial with places to read if those skills were missing would help establish a skill baseline. Adding a brief introduction to the tools that will be used in the tutorial that includes what they are meant to do generically and how they may be applied to various related situations would also assist the learner with adding them to their current mental model.


 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Integration **<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> – There is no integration that allows the learner to reflect on, discuss, or defend their new skills.

//<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Improvement //<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">: This tutorial could benefit from a message board were students could post images they modified, troubles they had, and comment on the work of others.

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