Ms. Hunt's Homepage

I've been consulting with the client this week after showing them the prototype and the additional demos I've created, and what they've requested is:

1. Making sure the demos are brief so faculty/staff can "get in and get out" quickly -- sort of an "in the moment" training scenario.

2. Therefore, we're dropping the interactive component and just making quick demos for each of the training module topics.

3. They like the "featured article" section on the web portal that will point teachers toward others who are using their webs creatively and effectively.

I'm adjusting the hours required for each demo to 2 hours each. It's more time consuming when you consider the standardization of "style" and text, etc.

I'm trying a new microphone tomorrow to see if I can record. If it doesn't work well, I'll go to the UGA studio.

Posted by Ms. Hunt at 03:18 PM | Permalink

Chapter 7 explores Simulations (Physical, Iterative, Procedural, and Situational).

For my project, the most useful focus, of course, is the section on Procedural Simulations, which "teach a sequence of actions to accomplish some goal" (221).

The usefulness of simulations arises from their ability to mimic reality without consequences if the user has not mastered the skills yet (or goofs!). This makes them especially appealing for my project because they will feature high FIDELITY to the actual procedures trainees need to learn, but the simulations will allow trainees to practice these procedures without fear of failure. They want to learn how to manage their blogs, and they can do so without "messing up" these blogs in the process of learning.

The DELIVERY MODE for this training will mimic the environment trainees will actually use when they set out on their own to work on their blogs; therefore, this contributes to the "real world feel" of the training.

After reading the text and discussing MOTIVATORS with Dr. Ike, I have adapted the online portal for the training to include a section featuring teachers' best practices. This will serve to encourage and inspire the faculty/staff trainees in the creative and effective use of their blogs. This will motivate them to learn the procedures to manage their webs!

Posted by Ms. Hunt at 11:07 AM | Permalink

The most useful topics covered in Chapter 15 include the following:

1. Time Management: The MovableType training project is really so well supported by the client's Subject Matter Experts (with manuals and ongoing face-to-face training already prepared and occuring) that managing the production of demos and simulations is the only task to balance at this point.

2. Budget Management: After discussions with Dr. Ike and the creation of the prototype, I am going to assess each video simulation training module as an hour's work. I may need to increase this to an hour and a half after recording audio in the soundbooth and importing it into the Captivate files.

3. Recording Audio: Speaking of recording...Dr. Ike says this is the most important aspect in terms of establishing quality in the minds of clients and trainees. The sound quality needs to be high! Also, according the text and the requirements of the studio course, the audio component is necessary to make the training accessible to sight-challenged users.

4. Alpha and Beta Testing: The client has identified two groups of faculty/staff who will work through the modules and give feedback at two stages of development. Alpha testing will begin next week. We plan to make these sessions informal. Respondents will work through the modules while we observe, and then they will be interviewed to glean useful feedback.

Posted by Ms. Hunt at 10:37 AM | Permalink

Here is the website for the online training portal:

http://www.athensacademy.org/library/MovableType/index.htm

The prototype is linked on the website under the Video Simulations heading and titled "Logging On."

Posted by Ms. Hunt at 12:38 PM | Permalink

I'm catching up on my project after returning to Athens in the wake of a family death. Here is what I've been focusing on over the last week:

1. Creating a website for the online training portal: http://www.athensacademy.org/library/MovableType/index.htm

2. Meeting with Dr. Ike to review the prototype (linked on the website under the Video Simulations heading and titled "Logging On")

3. Suggested modifications: Making "featured articles" on the website to show teachers' best practices with their blogs (rather than including more articles about step-by-step procedures). This will serve as a motivational tool, sparking teachers' creativity.

4. Wrestling with the sound recording device on my laptop -- to no avail. Dr. Ike suggested I use the recording booth at Aderhold and then import the high quality recordings into my Captivate demos and simulations.

5. To do: record sound, learn how to move beyond the Captivate demos to create interactive simulations for the learners

Posted by Ms. Hunt at 11:57 AM | Permalink