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Tandem Bike

The overall project plan support, and are, supported by the Instructional Design [ID] documents as they are constructed in much the same way. Similar to a couple riding a bicycle built for two the overall project plan balances with the ID design document as both work in tandem moving the project forward.

While the design document is composed of learning objectives, key points of content and concepts along with processes and activities. The project plan works with the design document via the initiating  and planning stages [creating project charter & identifying stakeholders].

Both ‘riders’ of the tandem bicycle might take turns riding in the front or back of the bicycle or even propelling the bicycle solo, for short periods of time.  Yet, a bicycle built for two arrives at its destination [the specified project stages of completion], fastest and in best form, when both riders are working in unison.

The instructional design process is similar to the project management process in that both spend a vast portion of their life span in the analysis and planning stages. Just as one may ‘plan and plot’ the path for a long bike ride, adjustments to the bike, changes in weather, and even detours can cause riders to change course and make adjustments yet the bicycle [and riders] do arrive.

The similarities are that it is all about the journey, not the destination.  Both the Instructional Designer and Project Manager are headed to the same destination-project completion.

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antique lathe

Just like a carpenter, web designers need to know when to use the right tools. A big part of designing is problem solving.  No, I should re-phrase that, a big part of living is problem solving and we need more of these skills in life.

So, in a recent query I received, Brenton wanted to develop a blogging site comparable to this site.

WordPress will make your websites and you might want to look into making css code out of your PSD [PhotoShop Documents].  Check it out.

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GoPetDesignBlcakCrateI am the first to admit it: I am a sucker for great design!  And can you believe this?  It makes me want to get a little dog, just so I can have the crate.  Humm, I wonder if you could build a terrarium in there?  This is so fabulous.

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Software Development

For the last few weeks, on Mondays, I get myself over to the new Ford Building on the Smith College Campus. Now, I’m the first to admit, I am not a programmer.  However, as a designer I’m intrigued with development and thus am assisting Lou Franco with ‘testing’ some chapters of his soon-to-be-published book.

Lou has the patience of a saint. St. iPhone or St. Xcoder is how I like to refer to him.  He is a great teacher! In class, he sometimes tends to run through code pretty quickly when he is showing examples.

Some of the stuff we cover in our workshop goes over my head….Lou does move thru the information.  But I am happy-no, I am joyous to say, I get most of it! I mean, come on everyone has an idea for an iPhone app. A few that have just recently come to mind:

  • A Shit List App: something you could interface with that would assist you in being sure others met your criteria for being on your Shit List. And, of course, there would be some type of meter or rating system.  Maybe it could even connect with your Contact list? Humm…..the possibilities. [Note: this is obviously a bit of a joke here.  Then again, who knows….maybe there is something to this.  Humm.].
  • Then there is this behavioral app I’m working on….I can’t reveal the name just yet….let’s just say the market is for parents to use when their child isn’t behaving in the manner the parent prefers.  This one is still in development stages.
  • And then, an app to help you ‘know’ what types of organic foods are currently ‘ripe and ready-to-pick’. This needs to coordinate with locate organic farmers and dovetail with their crop growth charts….however, I firmly believe there is a need for this.  Especially, as we grow more conscious of the foods we eat, where we buy those foods and in getting the freshest possible foods-locally.

If  you have an idea for an iPhone app [or iPad app for that matter]. Leave me a comment….maybe we can get started on one.  After all, I have a classroom full of Techie-Developers all of whom I am sure would love to develop a iPhone app.

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Light bulb Idea

As I have mentioned, I am currently in an Online Project Management course, whereas we are working in groups on solving a project management issue [ours is partially real and some what fabricated-which is fine with our professor].One task last week was to choose our Project Management Roles.  I am the Idea Developer for our group.

If you want to read some really interesting role titles, check out Automattic This is the startup group who are best known for a little project called WordPress.  It is worth a quick scroll to read some of these titles.

My favorites:

  • Happiness Engineer[they actually have about 6 of these],
  • Digital Entomologist,
  • Systems Wrangler,
  • Outernationalist [his name is Ze Fontainhas],
  • PollDaddy Jr,
  • Design Wacko,
  • Schmooze Engineer,
  • Lightbulb Engineer,
  • and wouldn’t you love to hear your child announce they were going to grow up to be a
    • Bug Exorcist or Master of Suggestion?

Makes you want to re-think your title doesn’t it?

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Learning Algebraic Relations and Functions

Over the last 3 months I have been working with The Hampshire Educational Collaborative [HEC] developing a new Online Algebra course geared towards high school students looking to recover credit for Algebra. This is a pilot program, we are currently working with Western Massachusetts School Districts to test this course.

This is not the Algebra I remember, in fact had I had this type of interactivity available when I was learning Algebra, I firmly believe I would now remember more of my Algebra.  It is amazing how the Algebra is presented….and all online.

I also worked on creating an eLearning Coaches online course, whereas learning coaches [some of whom are Algebra teachers, some specialist teachers-all of whom have enormous amounts of patience] were taught [and refreshed] in learning skills.  To assist the Algebra students in learning approaches to studying, problem-solving and sometimes basic time management skills.  All fabulous skills & habits for the 21st Century.

Additionally, I maintain a blog which is where I also lodge other pertinent research.

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IMDA Home Page

Another group I am happy & proud to be working with is  The Institute for Digital Media Arts [IDMA].   I am creating a Web Design Diploma for them.

  • The Web Design Diploma offers students the opportunity to explore the design of websites, interactive media, and other digital technologies. Following a project-based curriculum, students will immediately gain knowledge and learn skills about tools and technologies used in designing and creating digital products.
  • Student studies will focus on design, functionality, target audience, and user experience. The studies will remain grounded in the fundamentals of information architecture, basic front and back end web development, and interactive media design.
  • These courses are developed to be presented completely online.

Fun and exciting times, online.

Join us on Facebook

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I’m nearly complete with a Graduate Certificate Program I’ve been enrolled in since Jan 2010.  I so enjoy learning and learning online…..well, I’ve been doing this since 1994. The current course is all about Project Management and we’ve been discussing Project Management [PM] Roles.

Mike Mulligan and Mary Anne

Speaking of PM Roles I am reminded of an old book, written in 1939, called ‘Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel Mary Anne.’ For those too young to remember, the story goes:

Mike and Mary Anne are a team and after many years of working successfully together, Mike and Mary Anne face competition from modern, diesel-powered shovels. Seeking an area of the country where his less modern steam shovel can still find work, Mike finds a small town that is about to build a new town hall. The authorities react with disbelief when Mike makes the claim that he and his steam shovel Mary Anne can dig the cellar in a single day; they protest that it would take a hundred men a week. Mike insists that Mary Anne can indeed finish the job in one day, though he has some private doubts.

At sun-up the next day, Mike and Mary Anne begin work and just manage to complete the task by sundown. However, they have neglected to dig themselves a ramp so they can drive out. A child who had been watching makes the suggestion that Mike take the job of janitor for the town hall, and that Mary Anne should become the boiler for the town hall’s heating system.  Wikipedia

It just goes to show how our roles change during a project and how powerful stories can be when helping to solidify learning.  Check out Mike and Mary Anne.

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Having lived in Beijing for 15 years I could really relate to this report;

“In China there has been widespread education reform to extinguish the drill-and-kill teaching style. Instead, Chinese schools are also adopting a problem-based learning approach.”

Always adapting, the Chinese are masters at analyzing trends, seeking to copy and then improve. I remember Chinese education being delivered in the rote memorization formula.  Those days are gone.

As Daniel Pink reported [frequent readers will note I really do respect Mr. Pink’s work],

“[Indiana University professor Jonathan] Plucker recently toured a number of such schools in Shanghai and Beijing. He was amazed by a boy who, for a class science project, rigged a tracking device for his moped with parts from a cell phone. When faculty of a major Chinese university asked Plucker to identify trends in American education, he described our focus on standardized curriculum, rote memorization, and nationalized testing. “After my answer was translated, they just started laughing out loud,” Plucker says. “They said, ‘You’re racing toward our old model. But we’re racing toward your model, as fast as we can.’”

In America we are having a Creativity Crisis! Research show that American creativity is declining.  what went wrong -and how we can fix it.

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The learning curves have been steep, over the past couple of weeks.  I have been introduced to a few more free tools I wanted to share.

  • Zoho.com is an autoresponder and so much more. While this autoresponder is secure, I have to admit the back end of this system can get ‘geeky’ so be prepared and you do not always have the ‘pretty’ options to make forms look swanky.  Function and form.
  • Text’em allows you to text from the comfort of your own computer. This learning curve is quite simple and you can have an account up, running and be texting within moments. The wonder of this process is that you do not have to reveal your phone number, within your texts.  These is an inbox-email-type system to read responses to your text and create further responses.  This is perfect for a Virtual Instructor who does not want to have their contact information out there.  A couple of slight drawbacks: the system in not instantaneous [it took about 15 minutes to process an outgoing text & nearly as long to receive a reply to that text-during testing phase].  And you have to collect your contacts’ providers.

All and all, these freebies are worth a look.  Let me know what you think.