Instructional Design Activity

Module 2 Reflection

Hypermedia Product-- http://www.almanac.com

Reference Material
This site would be a great addition to my Agriscience classroom. The Old Farmer’s Almanac falls under the “reference materials” category. This website includes a plethora of information all in one spot at the student’s fingertips. One way The Old Farmer’s Almanac website is useful is that students have immediate access to research information instead of having to flip through pages and pages of past almanacs. For example, if students were researching information on planting times, their research time can be cut in half as they are just a simple click away to finding out their information. According to Roblyer and Doering (2013), “students who usually struggle to complete a project or term paper often will tackle a hypermedia project enthusiastically” (p.176). This is addressed in the website’s ability to present the information in an easy and fun environment for the students.



Multimedia Authoring Tool

Audio and Video Production and Editing SystemsGarageBand

Roblyer and Doering (2013) refer to hypermedia as interactive media which can consist of commercial products, interactive presentation, audio/video, production and virtual environments. The tool I have selected to discuss falls under the audio/video category. Even though there are many audio/video tools out there to choose from I liked Apple’s GarageBand software. GarageBand easily allows students to create podcasts that could be used in class projects or posted for the public to access. “Research on writing has shown that students invest more effort in the writing process when they know others will read their writing” (Roblyer and Doering, 2013, p.185). Through recording of their speeches or projects, students are given an opportunity for an outside audience to listen/view their work. By involving all students in using this software, they are given the opportunity to perfect their work. “One of the most amazing things about how hypermedia systems have evolved is that people with fairly non-technical skill levels now can develop complex professional looking hypermedia products” (Roblyer and Doering, 2013, p.185). I think GarageBand would be a very effective tool in my classroom to help students recite their FFA Creed speeches. By listening to their recording, they can make changes to improve the delivery based on what the audience hears instead of what they hear of themselves giving the speech.



This video discusses how classrooms are transforming their environments into a 21st century classroom through using YouTube. By utilizing audio/video in the classroom, educators can help make students actually want to learn. “The most powerful strategy for integrating presentation hypermedia is for students to create individual or small group presentations” (Roblyer and Doering, 2013, p.185).









This site gives some insight as to how GarageBand can be utilized in many different ways in your classroom.

M2 #ED527UM 14 Ways to Use Garageband in the Classroom http://t.co/A9zLABbBqA via @ed_apps
— Bart Raulston (@BartRaulston) September 22, 2013

Module 1 Reflection

The chapters we covered in Module 1 discussed using software technology to improve the learning atmosphere in the classroom. The first three software tools I am focusing on are covered in Chapter 3. These types of teaching software include Drill and Practice, Tutorial, Simulations, Instructional Games and Problem Solving.

Quizlet-- (www.quizlet.com)

Drill and Practice

The flashcard creator Quizlet www.quizlet.com falls under Drill and Practice software. Drill and Practice is defined as “exercises in which a students work example items, usually one at a time, and receive feedback on their correctness” (Robyer and Doering, 2013, p.81). This will work very well in my class as we have a lesson on leaf identification. The previous classes all studied from a leaf booklet that contained actual leaves pasted in the book.   By creating our own flashcards, I could choose the image that I want my students to study and eliminate the leaves falling apart within the book. 

How the Market Works-- (http://www.howthemarketworks.com)

Simulation

            Stock market simulation is another great example of software to use in the class. Since this software is “a computerized model of a real or imagined system that is designed to teach how the system works” (Robyer and Doering, 2013, p.90), it clearly falls under the simulation type of software. The site howthemarketworks.com is a phenomenal teaching aid. Students can learn how to trade real stocks in a controlled environment setting with their own monetary limits with no risk, just reward. The students get the feel for how to trade stocks at a brokerage, seeing real time market prices with virtual money. This is the closest you can come to real trading and seeing how the markets function while discovering that hands on experience is the best way to learn.

Sheppard’s Software: Brain Games-- (http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/braingames/braingames.htm)

            Instructional Games

            Sheppard’s Software: Brain Games is another excellent site where you can find hundreds of educational games. This software falls under the category of instructional games that “bridge the worlds of gaming, entertainment and education in an attempt to deliver fun and effective learning” (Robyer and Doering, 2013, p.94). These types of games are great especially when students have to memorize a list, such as state capitals and their eyes start glazing over before you get past the first 10. By setting up the learning in a game format, it triggers the competitiveness of the student and essentially tricks them into retaining the information by progressing through the game.


Software and Support Tools: 

Test Generator: Vocabtest-- (http://www.vocabtest.com/user_test.php)
Material Generator

            This site is extremely helpful and would be a valuable asset in my class. Material generators are a huge time saver, as well as excellent for targeting key materials that students need to learn. This particular site for vocabtest.com is one of the best vocabulary test sites I have seen. It focuses on all the grades and book levels so you can really custom tailor exams for your specific class.

Wikipedia-- (http://en.wikipedia.org)
Research and Reference Tools
               As for research and reference tools, Wikipedia is an endless source of information. No matter what you need information on, odds are, there is something about it on this site. It is great when you are putting lesson plans together or when a student has a question, you can walk them through how to find answers for themselves. This not only gives them knowledge, but also boosts their self-confidence because they found the answer themselves.

Another type of support tool is an interactive whiteboard. Roblyer and Doering refer to an interactive whiteboard as "the electronic version of a regular whiteboard" (Robyer and Doering, 2013, p.147) This website focuses on using the interactive board to enhance teaching and learning. 

M1 21st Century Instructional Tool for Enhanced Teaching and Learning http://t.co/qyxTLUD0bo via @TonyaRoden #ED527UM
— Bart Raulston (@BartRaulston) September 5, 2013

Chapter 4 refers to The Basic Suite and specifically discusses the impact of spreadsheets in Education. "Spreadsheets have seen widespread adoption throughout education" (Robyer and Doering, 2013, p.122). This video briefly discusses why you should use Microsoft Excel.