Blog Post #12 - Mission Space Blast Off!

Web-Based Learning Module

(Scenario-Based Design)

Mission Space ... Blast Off!

~ Click here to launch Mission Space ~

~ Click here to download Mission Space ~

Finally, the scenario-based designed web-based learning module of "Mission Space" is launched today! "Mission Space" brings learners (age 6 to 10) to join Sonya and Ethan, at NASA at the Kennedy Space Center, Cape Canaveral to learn about our Solar System. The objectives are to learn the position of the planets from the Sun and some basic information about each planet. At the end of the visit, learners can help Sonya and Ethan answer a simple quiz. Have fun!

The following Six Principles for Effective E-Learning using multimedia were considered in the design of "Mission Space":

• Multimedia Principle: Relevant graphics are added to the words to show the position of the planets and how the planets look like so as to improve learning.
• Contiguity Principle: Texts are placed below (near) graphics to improve learning.
• Modality Principle: Section 508 was considered but not included in the design. Hence, explaining graphics with audio to improve learning was not followed. However, Section 508 will be activated and this module will be modified should the need arises in the future.
• Redundancy Principle: No audio and redundant text are added to hurt learning while explaining the graphics.
• Coherence Principle: I was careful not to use gratuitous visuals, text and sounds in the design because it can hurt learning.
• Personalization Principle: Pedagogical agents (Sonya and Ethan, Michele and me) are added to enhance learning experience.

I also followed some of the Nine Principles of Software Usability:

• Use simple and natural language - I use simple English so that kids of age 6 to 10 can understand.
• Speak the user's language - Same as above.
• Minimize user memory load - I put the content buttons on the left-hand side so that learners can see clearly the entire course map and hence, reduces the need to memorize where they are in the course.
• Be consistent - The format of the information is consistent for all the planets ... position, distance from the sun, duration of orbit, length of day, average temperature, etc.
• Provide clearly marked exits - A red "X" button at the top right-hand corner clearly marks the exit and is consistent to Windows and most software.
• Provide shortcuts - Not applicable.
• Provide good error messages - Meaningful feedbacks are included in the Practice Quiz.
• Prevent errors - Not applicable.

"Yah Mon! I did it! I finished Mission Space - a scenario-based designed web-based learning module and my professional portfolio." - Dunn's River Falls, Ocho Rios, Jamaica

Open Source & Open Courseware

Thinking ahead to your career, how do you anticipate being involved in the open source/open courseware movement?

On Open Source and Open Courseware, two conflicting thoughts came to my mind:

• Profits - An organization/individual will find it difficult to be truly open if financial gains stand in the way. It is natural for an organization/individual to expect returns on investment for the instructional packages they designed. To be completely open to share such instructional packages will demand them to move away or give up the expectation of profits.
• Information Sensitivity - Some organizations will find it impossible to completely share all their information because of information sensitivity and security classification, e.g. the military. Perhaps only very generic information can be put into the open.

Generic informational courses are more likely to make it to become Open Courseware. For example, "Mission Space" above, or "The A-B-Cs Of Creating An Effective EduBlog" at http://edublog101.blogspot.com/ (designed and developed by Jack Sen and me for EME 5603 in Fall 2007). However, courses that an organization wants to protect against business competitors will find it hard to become an Open Courseware, such as a training video for skating instructors that I did for Skate World in Tallahassee under EME 6631.

For my immediate career in a military organization, the chance of designing and developing Open Coursewares is highly remote. However, I may use my skills to help develop some Open Coursewares for nonprofit and non-sensitive set-ups such as my church or for children.

Reflection

Being a graduate with a Computer Science major and an 'apologist', I enjoyed 'fixing bugs' and getting programs to work. This course has opened my perspective of what constitutes a good software/courseware - that it must be effective to communicate its intent, user-friendly, robust, etc. More interestingly, I've learnt quite a number of tools (such as podcast, storyboarding, scenario-based design, tutorial design, game design, quiz building, interactive and multimedia designs, etc.) that I can now selectively put into courseware development.

I've thoroughly enjoyed my journey in this course. I thank Vanessa and all fellow classmates for making my learning journey so rewarding.

~ View my EME 6415 Portfolio ~

God bless!

Blog Post #11 - Dream Come True

"I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." - John 12:46

Project Development Phase

As I continue to work on the Web-Based Module for "Learn About Our Solar System" and Portfolio assignments, it brought back fond memories of my visit to the Kennedy Space Center ...

It had always been a dream for man to go into space ... and this dream came true in recent history! It was a pleasant experience when we went to Houston in 2000. But to be here at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) at the Kennedy Space Center, Cape Canaveral ... the very spot where Apollo 11 rocketed Neil Armstrong and his team to the moon ... is yet another wonderful dream came true for us!
Look! Our team of astronauts are ready to take off!

Before developing the Web-Based Module, I had done the storyboarding with Powerpoint in the previous Blog Posts. Try these two URLs again ...

~ Click here to go to Mission Space ~

~ Click here to learn about our Solar System ~
From the LC-39 Observation Gantry, we could see the space shuttle at LC-39B launch pad (above). The shuttle and rockets were assembled at the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB, left) before being transported on the Crawler Transporter from VAB to LC-39B.

The launch was scheduled two days later ... on Mar 11 2008.

We viewed many exhibits at the Apollo/Saturn V Center too ...
There are many rockets, space capsules, etc. Very interesting! Look at this Rover Machine for Mars' exploration!


This is the view from the bottom of the rocket. Look how big it is!










Wanna experience the absence of gravity in space?




We returned to Kennedy Space Center after our Western Caribbean Cruise on Mar 15 2008 (since our passes were valid for 7 days). It was a wonderful feeling to go into the Space Shuttle ... knowing that this was the real shuttle that flew in space!













Overall, the visit to the Kennedy Space Center was an educational and refreshing experience. I hope to go there again to see a shuttle launch before I go back to Singapore.

OK, back to Project Development ... Final launch next week!

Blog Post #10 - Counting Down ... 10, 9, 8 ...

Project Management For Web-Based Learning

Ah, project management! Looking to the web-based module assignment, try to break down the various tasks and estimate time for completion. Also identify any resources you will need to generate or obtain.
"Project Management is like scaling a mountain ... you plan your start with the end-state in mind!"
At Stone Mountain, Georgia.

Ok this is going to be like scripting Star Wars I - Phantom Menace after Star War IV, V and VI had been launched. The project management story goes like this ...

I was tasked to develop an online learning module to teach kids (age 10 and below) about our Solar System. I adopted EME5603's Dick & Carey's Model to systematically design the instruction and EME6631's Plan-Design and Develop-Evaluate approach to manage this project.

Planning Phase: I conducted Needs Assessment (from EME5601), defined the objectives and scope of the project, and laid out what needed to be done for this project.

Design and Development Phase: I put in some thoughts about learning style and age-appropriateness (from EDP5216) and motivational design (from EDP5217) into the design. I also adopted some tools I've learnt from EME6415 to help in my design. For example, I used Powerpoint as a Storyboarding tool to design the lessons to teach the kids about our Solar System. I also used Powerpoint to draw out the Scenario-Based Learning Game to support the learning. Then, I transferred the design into a Web-Based Leaning Module and Game using Dreamweaver and Frontpage.

Formative Evaluation Phase: I conducted the test with Sonya and Ethan. I will fine-tune the web-pages before publishing them on Blog Post #12 on April 17, 2008. In the meantime, try these from my previous posts ...

~ Click here to go to Mission Space ~
~ Click here to learn about our Solar System ~