MIT 513 - Computer Based Instruction - Spring 2008

In this assignment you will design your own computer-based self-instructional (CBI) program to teach one objective. You will do this project individually. The purpose is primarily that you each get a chance to demonstrate your competence at using Adobe Flash at a basic level to build a small CBI program that is useful to you. For that reason, you may choose any topic to teach. Keep it small; design it to teach just one objective, and make sure it represents the principles of sound instructional design.

Requirements for Mini Proposal:

1. Statement describing the instructional problem (which in turn should include the background which has led up to the problem and a description of the need for the program)
2. Brief, but convincing, description of why a CBI program is the appropriate solution to the instructional problem described above
3. Description of your target audience and the instructional setting in which it will be used
4. One specific learning objective and an assessment item (You do not have to program the assessment item)
5. Description of treatment (that is, what will the approach or style, of the program be. (Humorous/Documentary/Factual/Conceptual/Adventure Game etc.)
6. Brief content outline
7. Outline of the instructional flow of the program. (This is where you describe what the user experiences as he/she goes through your program. What happens first? What does the user see and have to do? What next? Where does the program branch him/her to, depending on what he/she does? etc)
8. Timeline and budget (Optional)

 

Development Requirements:

Sample Screens from a prior project

Sample Mini-project proposal

As a minimum, your program must include at least the following:

1. Create your own background
2. Minimum of Ten user screens (Title Screen – Objective Screen – Content Screens– Practice Screen (s) – Review Screen (s))
3. Screens should contain text and graphics, with at least two types of variations in the text, eg. font, size, style or color
4. Two buttons. Most of you will probably actually use several buttons, for example, a "back" and "next" arrow and a Quit button.
5. The program “runs” without errors.

 

Instructional Design Requirements:
As a minimum, your program must include at least the following:

1. Title
2. An introduction
3. A well-written objective.
4. Complete instructional screens presenting the information to teach your objective.
5. At least one practice item, with appropriate feedback designed for various learner performances.
6. A review and wrapup section.
7. Good clear learner directions throughout.
8. Good visual and screen design.
9. Motivators are included.
   (NOTE: You do NOT need to develop a test/assessment activity or record-keeping programming for this project, but you WILL for the CBI Team Project.)

 

How to submit the project:

Submit it through the Assignment DROP BOX on the Blackboard site and also publish it to the web. If file size becomes an issue, then we will consider alternative ways of assignment submission.

Preferred Team Size = 2
In this assignment you and your group will plan, design and develop, using Adobe Flash, a small program which solves an instructional problem. This is your final project in the course, and is designed to show your competence at using the CBI tools and techniques you have learned to produce a program to teach a target audience skills or knowledge you have specified in your objectives. Since this is a group project, you will also be demonstrating your skills at working together and managing the activities of a team. (Again, all members of the group will receive the same grade for this project.). In this project you will produce a stand-alone, highly interactive computer program that a learner/user would be able to complete in 45 to 60 minutes.

As the first half of your project, you will also develop and receive feedback on a proposal, a set of design specifications, and prototype materials. The design specifications will include an instructional design plan, a flowchart, and a set of storyboards. During the second half of your project you will receive feedback on your prototype materials from your peers and you will also develop interactive animations for your objectives.

You will also field-test/try out your CBI Program with at least 3 members of your target audience. Projects will be self-instructional computer-assisted instructional tutorials that would contain all the essential elements of a lesson. Details of each part of the project is provided below. Different parts of the project will have to be turned in on different dates during the semester. Check the course schedule for DUE dates.

Part A - Team Project Proposal (Sample Proposal)

You and your group will plan, design and develop an instructional program which solves an instructional problem. You will first be required to write a proposal for the interactive instructional program you intend to develop. This is not an unusual task for an instructional technologist. Most instructional technologists are required to write program proposals at one time or another. You will frequently need to convince someone to either fund your desired project, or free you up from other duties to devote time to it. For this project, write your proposal as if you are trying to convince someone that this program is needed, why your solution is the best one for the problem you are describing, and what your proposed solution (that is, in this assignment, your CAI program) will include. Your proposal for this project should include the elements described below. (HINT: Use these sections to form your headings The proposal should include,

1. Statement describing the instructional problem (which in turn should include the background and a description of the need for the program)
2. Brief, but convincing, description of why your CBI program is the appropriate solution to the instructional problem described above.
3. Description of your target audience and planned instructional setting
4. Two to Four specific learning objectives and a sample test item for each
5. Description of treatment (that is, what will the approach or style, of the program be. (Humorous/Documentary/Factual/Conceptual/Adventure Game etc.)
6. Brief content outline
7. Outline of the instructional flow of the program. (This is where you describe what the user experiences as he/she goes through your program. What happens first? What does the user see and have to do? What next? Where does the program branch him/her to, depending on what he/she does? etc)
8. Proposed timeline for producing the program, and
9. Proposed budget.
   

Part B - Design Specifications

The design specifications will include an instructional design plan, a flowchart, and a set of storyboards. Your design specifications should be clear and specific enough to allow:
1) Reviewers to understand, critique and comment on all aspects of your design and programming plan.
2) Any competent computer authors and graphic developers to produce your program from your specifications. (In other words, your documents are primarily to allow you to gain approval for your plans, as well as form the specifications that SOMEONE ELSE could use to develop your program, as typically occurs in large design teams.)

Project Plan: Use your proposal to develop a plan for the design of your program. This document would be the first one that a reviewer (usually the client, your manager, or a funding source) would see, so it should clearly explain what your program is all about. In this project, you can choose to attach the proposal that was delivered earlier after implementing the feedback that is given to you by the instructor.

Flowchart: You will develop a flowchart of the branching and flow of your program, with each segment clearly indicated. Either use clear, logical titles to each segment, or, if you use only letters and numbers, include a key to those segments which your fellow designers and I will understand. Include informational segments, question/practice segments, feedback segments, review segments, etc, and label them so they are clearly differentiated. If you use any multimedia segments depict these, too.

Storyboards - You will turn in storyboards which depict representative computer screens (as well as any multimedia files you may be using.) You will include storyboards for all the screens. Your computer screen notes will include any programming notes, as well as branching information. If you want graphics or animations or sound, describe or show these clearly. (Be sure to include enough information that someone could program exactly what you want from your specifications.)

Part C - Project Prototype

Prototype Materials: In response to the ease of developing prototypes directly on the computer, you can depict your sample computer screens and programming directions in another way, if you choose. You may turn in for our review a combination of screen design sheets, along with prototype screens and segments which clearly depict what you are developing in your CBI program. (Remember we'll be judging this set of documents by its quality and clarity.) You will receive peer feedback on your prototype materials and this will help you do a better job on the final product.

Part D - Complete CBI Program

1. Your program should be a computer-based program to teach a specific audience how to master two to four specific learning objectives. The program should thus be a complete lesson, which includes the essential elements of good instruction. (** Good instructional design is the most important feature of your program!!)
2. Your program should be self-instructional. A user should be able to load the program, and then all directions to proceed should be clear and complete.
3. Sound principles of visual design and computer screen design should be followed. Screens should be easy to understand and appealing. Apply multimedia design principles.
4. Program should run smoothly and easily, without bugs, regardless of user's path through the program.
5. Your program should be "user friendly". In particular, directions to user should be clear, and you should have anticipated user needs and desired options.
6. As a minimum, your program must include at least the following:
   - Two self-created/customized backgrounds,
   - Minimum Twenty screens (Title Screen – Help Screen - Objective Screen – Content Screens– Practice Screen– Review Screen - Assessment Screens) (most of you will have more)
7. The following buttons (at least one of which you need to have created/modified): Buttons to take the user backwards and forwards in a program, for example, a "back" and "next" arrow; a menu button, etc; and at least one other button which allows the user the option to go elsewhere, based on choice or an answer to a question. (Most of you will have several more than this.)
8. You should have solved an informational/instructional problem in a creative manner.
9. You should provide interactive practice activities (e.g multiple choice or other types of practice activities) with the option of providing positive/negative feedback to the user
10. Finally, well-aligned assessment items should be provided for every objective
11. You can choose to include audio in the program but it is not mandatory.
    

Part E - Interactive Animation

As part of this Computer based instructional program, you will be creating at least two interactive animations. Most of the CBI program includes static text and graphics. So development of this animation will help you use some of the interactive features of Adobe Flash. The animation can be developed for any two objectives in the program. Here is a link to a sample animation from a CSE course at Lehigh. Sample Animation Here is a site with more physics animations. You can choose to include audio but it is not mandatory.

Part E - Field Testing (Field Tryout) - Sample Field Tryout Report

Field testing a product in the actual context in which it will be used can be useful for spotting a wide range of interaction problems such as problems with software, users with inadequate training. It helps in identifying bugs missed by the developers. You will field test your completed CBI Program with at least 3 members of your target audience. You should then provide a tryout report which includes the following

Report includes well-written descriptions of:
1. Overview (Title, grade or age level, major goal)
2. Program Description (Objective, materials)
3. Tryout Description (Participants, process, data sources and collection) (You must try your project out with at least three representative learners.)
4. Results: (Student achievement, student reactions and teacher reactions are described in text. Results are summarized in clear and accurate tables.)
5. Description of Suggested Revisions:

How to submit the project:

Submit it through the Assignment DROP BOX on the Blackboard site and also publish it to the web. If file size becomes an issue, then we will consider alternative ways of assignment submission