Spending lots of time working on my drafts. They aren't quite done. I'm a little behind schedule. However, I built time into the schedule for this event. I should be done with them all by the weekend. I have discovered what may be a more efficient way to build the modules in Flash. I usually add an element and then animate it. Then I add another element and animate it. I continued in this way. Now I've been adding all of the elements that need to appear together. This gives me a good idea that the placement for each element works with the placement of all of the elements before I start moving the objects around. This seems to work a little better for me.
I am getting a little more efficient at Flash. But there is still so much to learn. I think I've pulled out nearly every trick that I know. But it's nice to see it coming together.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Monday, October 12, 2009
Making Progress
At last, I feel like I'm making progress. I actually have two of the modules created (drafts) in Flash. Still a lot of work to do, but I'm making headway. I was also able to create some images that I'm proud of and that my site supervisor likes. That was a big hurdle, but I'm beginning to tame (just a little) the beast known as Adobe. I created a report on my progress thus far. I won't rehash it all here, but I would like to record some of the things that I am learning.
1. There are situations in which you can be totally dependent on someone else for content. In fact, most situations are probably like this. That's different from many of the projects that we've created in the program. Depending on someone else means having to wait on them to get the content to you.
2. Not everyone respects ADDIE. I'm finding that ADDIE is a great tool for planning, but you can't always follow it to the letter. When working with others, you have to have some room for flexibility.
3. No matter how long I live, I will never learn everything I need to know about Adobe.
1. There are situations in which you can be totally dependent on someone else for content. In fact, most situations are probably like this. That's different from many of the projects that we've created in the program. Depending on someone else means having to wait on them to get the content to you.
2. Not everyone respects ADDIE. I'm finding that ADDIE is a great tool for planning, but you can't always follow it to the letter. When working with others, you have to have some room for flexibility.
3. No matter how long I live, I will never learn everything I need to know about Adobe.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Design
The past couple of weeks have been spent working out the design for the project. There are two phases for the design. First, the general outline of the webpage (for now) that will serve as the platform for accessing the modules.
The second phase has been the more detailed portion of the design. It includes laying out exactly how each module will be delivered. Here is the process that I followed.
1. I transcribed the audio that my site supervisor provided for me. This took quite a bit of time (even with my better than average typing skills).
2. I sorted out the transcribed notes into eight large categories. From here, I wrote the narrative for each of the modules. This was very much like writing a research paper. I had not anticipated this type of research work. At this point, these narratives are still being tweaked and edited between me and the site supervisor.
3. With the draft of the narrative in hand, I began to outline the frames of the demonstration. One thing that I realized at this point is that I will be able to reuse many of the illustrations that I will create between the modules. The other thing that I had to consider is how to draw attention to various parts of the illustration. I've decided to use thickened lines in transparent colors to do this.
4. While drawing out the storyboards, I discovered that some of the draft modules had too much information in them. So, this helped me to consider new modules for smaller amounts of information.
5. An important decision that I made was to have the audio created ahead of the modules. I think it will be easier to match the images and animatioin to the audio than to match the audio to the animations.
I'm starting to see how this will come together, but it is a lot of work.
The second phase has been the more detailed portion of the design. It includes laying out exactly how each module will be delivered. Here is the process that I followed.
1. I transcribed the audio that my site supervisor provided for me. This took quite a bit of time (even with my better than average typing skills).
2. I sorted out the transcribed notes into eight large categories. From here, I wrote the narrative for each of the modules. This was very much like writing a research paper. I had not anticipated this type of research work. At this point, these narratives are still being tweaked and edited between me and the site supervisor.
3. With the draft of the narrative in hand, I began to outline the frames of the demonstration. One thing that I realized at this point is that I will be able to reuse many of the illustrations that I will create between the modules. The other thing that I had to consider is how to draw attention to various parts of the illustration. I've decided to use thickened lines in transparent colors to do this.
4. While drawing out the storyboards, I discovered that some of the draft modules had too much information in them. So, this helped me to consider new modules for smaller amounts of information.
5. An important decision that I made was to have the audio created ahead of the modules. I think it will be easier to match the images and animatioin to the audio than to match the audio to the animations.
I'm starting to see how this will come together, but it is a lot of work.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Project Update
Things are going well with my internship project. It took a little longer than I expected to get the recordings (notes) from my site supervisor. We had a little problem getting the recordings to upload from his computer. While we were trying to resolve that, I spent a good deal of time trying to build my graphics skills. I found several resources Ai Vault, Bitt Box and Lynda.com The first two were free. I subscribed to Lynda.com for $25 per month. So far, it has been well worth. I can watch videos on whatever I need.
I've divided the notes from my site supervisor into about four or five topics that will become the modules. The nice thing about having him record the notes with the pen is that he's pretty much drawn out what each "lesson" should look like. The drawings are fairly simple, so I feel like with the skills that I am gaining in Illustrator, I'll be able to reproduce the drawings with no problem.
The next thing that I will need to do is finalize the decision about how these lessons will be built. Right now, Flash is the front runner. I think it will be easiest to have the audio created first. Then I can adjust the animation to what is being said.
The next thing to be done is to make some solid decisions about the design of all of this.
I've divided the notes from my site supervisor into about four or five topics that will become the modules. The nice thing about having him record the notes with the pen is that he's pretty much drawn out what each "lesson" should look like. The drawings are fairly simple, so I feel like with the skills that I am gaining in Illustrator, I'll be able to reproduce the drawings with no problem.
The next thing that I will need to do is finalize the decision about how these lessons will be built. Right now, Flash is the front runner. I think it will be easiest to have the audio created first. Then I can adjust the animation to what is being said.
The next thing to be done is to make some solid decisions about the design of all of this.
Monday, August 31, 2009
My Project
This semester, I will be working with a physician to develop some education modules geared towards patients, mid-level caregivers, non-medically trained office personnel, etc. These initial modules will address gynological cancers.
I spent time with my site supervisor learning about some typical modules that might be included such as a definition of cancer and how cancer is staged. I suggested that my site supervisor use a digital pen to record his ideas (verbal and written) about how a module might work. So far this has worked wonderfully since I am totally dependent on him for content. (He's even decided to explore using it with his patients so that they can review the information that they received during their appointment.)
After viewing some of these initial drafts of the modules, I began to think about the type of graphics that might be used: realisitic images, detailed colored drawings, or simple line drawings. I looked for some resources on the best practices in instructional design regarding images. I found some useful information at the Rapid eLearning Blog. I also found two books that I plan to consult, The Non-Designer's Design Book by Robin Williams and Graphics for Learning by Ruth Clark. My site supervisor and I decided that simpler drawings might be better and less intimidating for the target users.
My next decision is to decide on the platform for the project. I am considering developing the modules in Flash since it would allow me to build in user controls.
By the end of the week, we should have identified the specific modules to be developed. Then the real work can begin.
I spent time with my site supervisor learning about some typical modules that might be included such as a definition of cancer and how cancer is staged. I suggested that my site supervisor use a digital pen to record his ideas (verbal and written) about how a module might work. So far this has worked wonderfully since I am totally dependent on him for content. (He's even decided to explore using it with his patients so that they can review the information that they received during their appointment.)
After viewing some of these initial drafts of the modules, I began to think about the type of graphics that might be used: realisitic images, detailed colored drawings, or simple line drawings. I looked for some resources on the best practices in instructional design regarding images. I found some useful information at the Rapid eLearning Blog. I also found two books that I plan to consult, The Non-Designer's Design Book by Robin Williams and Graphics for Learning by Ruth Clark. My site supervisor and I decided that simpler drawings might be better and less intimidating for the target users.
My next decision is to decide on the platform for the project. I am considering developing the modules in Flash since it would allow me to build in user controls.
By the end of the week, we should have identified the specific modules to be developed. Then the real work can begin.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Welcome
Welcome to my EDET 650 blog. I will be recording some of the events and experiences of my internship here.
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