Now that you are familiar with all the technologies you will be using in this course this semester, you are ready to begin learning about the requirements for this course.  During the next few weeks we are together, you will be viewing experts in the field of Instructional Design (through Collaboration meetings and archived sessions from Training Mag Network and review of resources in the Rapid E-Learning Blog).   My hope is that you will learn more about the field you are studying from the perspective of those who are actually doing it out in the real world.  

You will use Articulate Storyline or Articulate Studio 13 to demonstrate your learning.  This product is quite expensive so we don't expect you to purchase it. But, Articulate is widely used in Instructional Design and you will be able to include your knowledge of the product on your resume.  The good news is, both products are available for a 30-day free trial.  You can download both and play with them for 30 days.   Link to free trial: https://www.articulate.com/store/trial-download.php 

Requirements for your project will be explained below and in your first Collaborate meeting.  Most importantly, you will be expected to reflect upon all that you do. You should come out of the project with new information and ideas - so you will be reflecting on what you learn and how you grow.  To get an idea of the scope of the final project, please take a look at the final report that you will be expected to prepare, please click here.

• Week 2 Materials - this page (please read before class to see if you have any questions. 
• From Rapid E-Learning Blog
• Rapid E-learning 101 
• Building Scenarios for E-Learning
• PowerPoint for E-Learning 
• Select two additional blog postings from the Rapid E-Learning Blog and reflect on all five. You may read/study any other topics on the Rapid E-Learning Blog Resources, but you are required to review the above three.  

The actions you need to complete this week as well as directions for each activity follow.

1). First – think of something that you might need to develop in order to train people in your workplace or other environment. Pick something that would have negative consequences of learner did not learn.  It does not have to be life or death if concept is not learned – but it is critical for the learner to learn what you are developing instruction for.  If you already have a project that you would like to improve, then by all means, you can use that.

Examples:  Training for human resources topics such as sexual harassment, use of company resources, HIPAA requirements, filing for sick leave, etc.

Describe this in relatively full detail and post to your wiki.   This training topic should serve as a focus as you go through the materials for the semester.  As you read and study examples, please keep this topic in mind and decide how the concepts you are learning about can apply to that topic.

2).  In your wiki, post a reflection of what you have read in the Rapid E-Learning Blog. This can be used later in your final presentation.

What does "reflect" really mean?

Reflective writing discusses what interests, excites, confuses, perplexes, or even annoys you about a reading.  It is a personal response based on who you are.  In this case, you as an instructional designer should be discussed in the response.  When you reflect, you are not summarizing what you read and you will not reflect on all aspects of the reading - but on the part that excites you (or upsets you, if you disagree with it) and how it can impact you in the future.  In essence, I am asking you to think about your thinking - which is a powerful way to reinforce learning. 

3). Download and begin "playing" with Articulate.

An overview of future course expectations

•  After deciding on a topic, use this to plan your presentation of learning this semester. Your grade will be based on the presentation of learning that you present at the end of the semester.
• Reflections that you will be expected to complete throughout the semester:
• Reflections about what you learned about instructional design in the Collaborate sessions
• When needed to clarify understanding, please provide some examples of how you would apply the concept to your focus topic
• Research/readings/presentations you conduct on rapid e-learning – (at least 5 topics in the Rapid e-learning blog) and how you would apply them to your topic with one concept developed in each topic.
• Reflections on how this knowledge will inform your instructional design skills in the future
• Reflections on the 5 sessions you attended in Training Mag Network 
• Application of key concepts that inspired you using Articulate