671 Designing Computer-Based Instructional Materials
Dr. Kenneth Berry
Office: 2123
Ksberry@csun.edu
(818) 677-3316
Classroom: 2121B
Objective
SED 671 is a project-based class. A large part of your grade is dependent on a group project that you will do during the second half of the semester. The reason for this format is the structure of the current workforce. The current workforce has changed from workers being cogs in a wheel of motion and production. The workforce is now filled with workers who add value to things by using their minds. These workers are know as Knowledge Workers. One of the most important attributes of good knowledge workers is the ability to work on a team. An individual can create almost nothing of value anymore. Unfortunately, teaching is one of the few professions that is mostly independent of a workgroup. “We are no longer in an age where individuals genius is enough, Creative Teams will produce the great advances of the future.”
This course has been designed to prepare students to do a project in the Educational Technology Masters Program. The purpose of the course is to take students through the steps of creating a software project in a group. After this class you may continue to develop your group project or create a project of your own.
The student can take many different paths to complete the coursework. During the first portion of the semester, each student will develop an expertise that will be necessary for the group project at the end of the semester. The rudiments of two industrial strength software programs, Final Cut Express, and Flash, a powerful authorware software– will be introduced at this time. Students will do individual projects and reading during this portion of the class. The reading will determine your expertise.
In the second half of the semester students will work in groups to create an interactive multimedia project with Flash and Final Cut Express. The final project will require the combined expertise and effort of all the members of a team.
The process used in this course is the design process. The design process is an iterative problem solving process. By the end of this course students will have created a functional interactive multimedia curriculum tool. This is a challenging project that will require the expertise and effort of an entire team. Students will have to learn to work as a team and depend upon each team member’s expertise to create the tool. Therefore, attendance is mandatory. Communication is critical.
Project management and leadership will be required if the project is to be successful. Punctuality and reliability are also important to group members. You will find yourselves answering to your group members needs much more than the professors during the last part of the class. Each member of a team will have his/her part to contribute so each team. The teams will be required to organize the project in a project plan. They must decide on a goal and determine when the goal is complete. If more needs to be done on the project, the team must have a clear plan for completing the next phase. Done correctly, a team project is far greater than the sum its parts.
The software for this course is expensive. Fortunately, you can download trial copies for 30 days. You can also find copies in the student lab. If you purchase the software, you are encouraged to use it again for an independent study or for your Masters Project.