Final Synthesis Project

Target Audience
The target audience for this project will be for college students. Audience would be mixed, probably more female than male. My assumption is students would come into college with some studio and art history background from high school and/or some college credit, which leads into skill sets. Students in a general sense would be inexperienced learners coming out of high school or low-knowledge learners, providing for a course that would incorporate well-designed multi-media to present art history time-lines. Learning styles would be taken into account for this web based or hybrid format. Although that said, a freshman level online course may be problematic in terms of self-motivational, self-paced format. We will assume students are high quality, highly motivated art students who have choice this course platform.

Context
To study art history is to gain an academic view of art, and learn the historical concepts of people, their cultural and social context of the time period of which is being studied. Another assumption, this course would be a required course satisfying college credits towards an undergrad degree. This course would be part of a program for art majors, art history majors and art educators.

Learning Objectives
• Develop a good working knowledge of art timelines, the big picture
• Learn terminology and be able to identify art in its historical context
• Develop critical writing and oral discussion skills on the topic of art, leads into being able to identify major artists or thinkers and their disciplines
• Learn historical and cultural contexts of jobs in the art field
• Current critical issues in the art world today, developing critical thinking skills
• Learn historic artistic technical styles used of the day, fundamental concepts

Lesson Outline
My course would be delivered completely online using a course management system like Blackboard. I envision this course incorporating several interactive tools in conjunction with a required text:
• Online scholar lectures or video clips
• Streaming or podcasts to help with vocabulary
• Online “flashcards” which include images that associated with the text readings
• Discussion boards to discuss readings or work with groups projects
• Discussion based guest lecturer
• Google earth connecting works of art to their geographic areas
• Online assessments and study guides
• Online quizzes

Artifact
I considered using a development Blackboard shell, although I thought that might give me an resource that other students would not have. Please see my Google site, which isn’t as complete as maybe a course structure would be in Blackboard.
http://sites.google.com/site/arthistoryfinal/

Justification
I believe that an art history course could work very well delivered online incorporating some of the visual tools suggested above. In a more traditional approach, for example going to class, viewing slides, reading and then being tested is the way I remember my art history class in college. The online resources, for example the online slides give you the ability to study the materials. (Instructors may have their own image collection which could be embedded into the course). A Google Map, Earth is used to connect the art to a location, providing a good understanding of where these pieces were created and by whom. I think the discussion board could come in handy when reading the required text and having group discussions. A podcast or streamed lecture could also be a good chance to then come together for a group discussion. A guest lecture could also be used for such a format with maybe Skype. To measure learning, I believe online quizzes could be used which could include visuals for essay or multiple-choice quiz formats. There were some websites I found while researching to prepare for this project was amazing. I’ve included some of these wonderful resources, a small sampling:
• http://design.flexiblelearning.ent.au/learning_materials/index.htm
• http://www.scholarsresource.com/browse/image_set/785
• http://wps.prenhall.com/hss_stokstad_arthist_3/63/16227/4154352.cw/index.html

Week 6 Reflection

A theme, I can articulate from the chapter readings--how different our learning delivery systems are these days. What do I mean by this? In week 2, I talked about the online information overload, the access we have to information can be and in many instances is overwhelming, the availability with technology to create more interactive, interesting courses is at our disposal. Although learning to filter and make sense of what is useful has been a challenge. I was talking with my son last night who is a college student. He asked me what I was doing. I said I’m writing a paper about how my recent class readings relate or can conjure a theme. I said, it’s like this, you’re use to a model of learning--teaching, hear a lecture, then get tested. As instructional designers in my opinion comes down this simple fact, to create a richer, more depthful educational experience. Which also comes to referencing The Cone of Learning by Edgar Dale article, to really learn we need to demonstrate, apply, practice, analyze, design, to create is very important in the learning process. Some of the technologies we are learning about in this class plays into the direction our society is moving already, which in turn can help to teach our young people as well as our adult learners.

The articulation of instructional designer roles in business and in education does have its similarities. To create an educational experience, create learning objectives, lesson plans, that at the core has not changed or the pedagogy of learning. The role of the teachers to teach and educate is concrete, it in the delivery system where we can be creative, or continue to be more creative in how we deliver learning modules.

I found the overview, or organization chart from the University of Southern Queensland, Australia on page 225 very interesting. The fact that there is a unit team, everyone has their role in creating good online learning materials. It seems a good approach, providing feedback, which is key to learning and improvement.

I did like the format of this chapter, learning about the education promotional system in this country compared to Australia. I have to say my perception of tenure track, in the P-12 system there are teachers that once in the system only do the minimum. My children have had fantastic teachers and less than stellar. At least there is some stability for teachers--well there was stability in being a teacher, where now it seems no one is safe from the economic downturn.

Chapter 27

Lets begin with what skill set I believe I need improvement or better yet development: my lack of classroom experience is a drawback. I have taught at the community college level, although that said, I think that knowing more about teaching theory and pedagogy, learning more about teaching strategies, the development of course content. I continue to work on this. My experience at the community college level, I was hired to teach a class, it was my responsibility to come up with all materials. There were no guidelines to follow, for example how does this class fall in place with the program. What is the larger picture.

My strength, I feel as if I’m interviewing for a job! I have an ability or I find it intuitive to work with course content materials and determine what works with online learning. I have great working relationships with instructors, and I have a good sense at figuring what they want in their course. I am an excellent project manager. I am able to juggle lots of projects at one time. I also work well with people, sometimes with difficult personalities; I am a good problem solver. I am also client minded, or customer focused. That said I am very good at problem solving with students as well as with instructors. With my design background I have a very strong ability to visualize where development is going and this art background also gives me a great sense of how to organize spaces; pages, organizational structures.

I had a great time exploring the Google site. I have just begun looking at the marketing tools available. My website is a work in progress: http://sites.google.com/site/techtools1/ which markets my graphic design freelance business. I was also exploring the iweb sites available, which is part of the iLife package on my MAC. It also includes iTunes (this is free), iPhoto, iMovie, and GarageBand. All programs work in conjunction with each other. Some of these products I have use more than others, and will continue to work with. That said, it does cost to host the site, and really doesn’t offer design flexibilities.

I also liked working with Camtasia, which I’ve not had much exposure too. I have used Jing, which is MAC compatible. Jing is very simple to use so far. I do look forward to the full Camtasia editing feature for future projects.

Screencast sample

I worked on several video's in Jing. Started with a Indesign tutorial, then moved on to an Illustrator business card tutorial and finally settled on an movie on overall design. I had a difficult time staying within the 5 minute timeline. In fact I couldn't seem to get all I needed in under the 5 minutes which is offered with Jing, the MAC version from Techsmith.

Google sites

The exploration of Google sites has really been fun and informative. I had not explored the wide range of options offered by Google. Here is my site so far, still a work in progress. Not that it needs an explanation, the site is about my graphic design service. It's something I promote and market.

http://sites.google.com/site/techtools1/

Mapping Project Website

This site was an exploration of a website. I work on a MAC which offered a service called iweb. It really was easy to use, and free for 60 days. Since I've discovered Goodgle sites, I'm sure I don't fee the need to pay for web space.http://web.me.com/mlfojtik/Site/Welcome.html

Week 5 Mapping Project

Part one: mapping project

Project objective: Identify all National Parks, Monuments, Seashores and Recreation Areas listed.

Steps to begin your project: follow instructions to create a Google Maps project:

http://maps.google.com/

1. Click on My Maps


2. Then click on create new map


3. Please title like this: Map Project – (Your name)


4. Allow the map to be Public


5. Create your map


6. Please follow the key provided and submit a completed Google map by providing the URL
   address in the Map Project drop box

When submitted your assignment, the URL embed code can be found by clicking on Link in the right corner of your browser.

Map Project Key

A. Pacific Border:
1. Olympic N.P.
2. Oregon Caves N.M.
3. Redwood N.P.
4. Point Reyes N.S.
5. Pinnacles N.M.
6. Channel Isl. N.P.

B. Cascades:
7. North Cascades N.P.
8. Mt. Rainier N.P.
9. Mt St. Helens N.M.
10. Crater Lake N.P.
11. Lassen Volcanic N.P.

C. Columbia Intermontane:
12. John Day Fossil Beds N.M.
13. Craters of the Moon N.M.
14. Hagerman Fossil Bed N.M.
15. Newberry Volcanic N.M.

D. Sierra Nevada:
16. Yosemite N.P.
17. Devils Postpile N.M
18. Sequoia-Kings Canyon

E. Northern Rockies:
19. Glacier N.P.

F. Middle Rockies
20. Yellowstone N.P.
21. Grand Teton N.P.
22. Timpanogos Cave N.M.
23. Dinosaur N.M
24. Fossil Buttle N.M

G. Southern Rockies:
25. Rocky Mountain N.P.
26. Florissant Fossil Beds N.M.
27. Great Sand Dunes N.M.
28. Bandelier N.M.

H. Colorado Plateaus:
29. Colorado N.M.
30. Arches N.P.
31. Capitol Reef N.P.
32. Canyon lands N.P.
33. Black Canyon of the Gunnison N.P.
34. Cedar Breaks N.M.
35. Bryce Canyon N.P.
36. Natural Bridges N.M.
37. Mesa Verde N.P.
38. Rainbow Bridge N.M
39. Canyon de Chelly N.M.
40. Grand Canyon N.P.
41. Sunset Crater N.M.
42. Petrifield Forest N.M
43. El Morro N.M.
44. Zion N.P.
45. Grand Staircase-Escalante N.M.
46. El Malpais N.M.

I. Basin and Range:
47. Great Basin N.P. (Lehman Caves)
48. Death Valley N.P.
49. Organ Pipe Cactus N.M.
50. Chiricahua N.M.
51. White Sands N.M.
52. Carlsbad Caverns N.P.
53. Guadalupe Mtns. N.P.
54. Saguaro N.M.
55. Big Bend N.P.
56. Lava Beds N.M.


J. Great Plains:
57. Theodore Roosevelt N.P.
58. Devils Tower N.M.
59. Jewel Cave N.M.
60. Wind Cave N.P.
61. Badlands N.P.
62. Agate Fossil Beds N.M.
63. Capulin Vol. N.M.
64. Mount Rushmore N. Mem.

K. Central Lowlands:
65. Chickasaw N.R.A.
66. Indiana Dunes N.L.

L. Ouachita:
67. Hot Springs N.P.

M. Ozark Plateau:

N. Superior Upland:

68. Isle Royale N.P.
69. Voyageurs N.P.

O. Interior Low Plateau:
70. Mammoth Cave N.P.

P. Appalachian Plateau

Q. Ridge and Valley

R. Picdmont

S. Blue Ridge:

71. Shenandoah
72. Great Smoky Mtns. N.P.


T. Adirondacks


U. New England:
73. Acadia N.P.
74. Cape Cod N.S.


V. Coastal Plain:
75. Cape Hatteras N.S.
76. Padre Island N.S.
77. Biscayne Bay N.P.
78. Everglades N.P.
79. Cape Look-out N.S.

View Week 5 Mapping Project in a larger map

Week 5 Reflection

Outsourcing: is very prevalent in the world of business. I have thought about it in the past as a cyclical trend that may swing one-way or the other, from contract to the full time employee. An interesting fact stated in the book; corporate America spent an estimated $.62.5 billion outsourcing training. That really is a remarkable figure. As a freelance designer for the last 15 years, I certainly could see trends, based on the economy. I filled that “contractor” gap in the industry for outsourcing.

Classroom training: another interesting fact I found in chapter 18, that 70% of training in the US was still delivered in the classroom. I would have thought, certainly in larger companies, more training would be delivered via the computer. A small part of my job is Blackboard training for instructors in a group setting, which I believe is an important part of the introduction process to Blackboard. That said, said, could eventually more be delivered via the Internet, both synchronous and/or asynchronously, a resounding yes!

Roles of Instructional Designers: I can relate. I certainly find myself drawn to the sole designer. At my job as an instructional designer, the dream to be part of a development team is just that, a dream. I am the development team. The department, Online Education (name change as of July) is growing and maybe someday there will be the help we need. It is overwhelming at times, there just isn’t the time needed to create and design effectively. That said, on some level I enjoy working on the entire course. I am able to fill many roles, weaving in and out of job titles metaphorically speaking. For example, I know when to become a consultant, as some instructors only want me to provide strategies, problem-solving ideas, or to help with evaluating course materials to develop an initial course structure. There are other instructor’s that are very hands off, give me creative license to develop. That works for me.

Chapter 21
Systemic change: I have to agree that a product approach to ecological systemic change seems a better option, compared to a process approach. I was surprised at the fact there has only been three major initiatives for change in the educational system since the 1960s; Sputnik, National at Risk, No Child Left Behind. The cycle for change and improvement will not diminish only become more pronounced and there seems to be no shortage of intellectual ideas how change should be delivered.

I did like the Step-Up-Excellent approach which talks about a five-step process for eventual district improvement, which features a collaborative effort. Whatever the initiative, we do need a team approach and to all work together for improvement. I also like the effort towards the pre-launch preparation with this Step-Up-Excellent approach. Certainly on a lower level, or relatable to instructional design, the better pre-prep time done on any project is time well spent. And of course, the bottom line, if discussing education or industry, these systemic improvements all cost money, with continued focus on development there has to be funding available.

Week four : The Internet and the impact on education

I see a pattern in the reading as a new technology emerge, the great predictions in education, industry, etc. made for spectacular changes on the horizon. For example, Thomas Edison in 1913, predicted “Books will soon be obsolete in the schools…It is possible to teach each branch of human knowledge with the motion picture. Our school system will be completely changed in the next ten years.” This of course has not happened. I do believe there has been major advancements though in instruction design in recent years, and the profound uses we have for computers in education, industry, entertainment, to name a few, certainly there is a major shift in instructional materials and how they are delivered via the computer.
A good example is in higher education with the explosion of online classes available. The Internet has changed the way our education institutions can deliver a course. I can speak for myself when I say, it satisfies a nitch--giving students outside the standard college, university demographics, now have the opportunity and/or a choice to go back to school. Are we concerned the online education model will replace the traditional face-to-face classroom? I’m not worried. Although the growth is enormous right now, I’m not sure what online education will look like in ten years. Just as a “motion picture” can add to the education objective, online classes will continue to become more sophisticated in the ability to deliver course materials that are more interactive, interesting and hopefully a great learning experience.

I was able to apply a bit of the technology we’ve been learning in class to a real world application the other day. As we are exploring how to create, use, hyperlink a podcast into a course. I have begun to apply this technology particularly, how to embed an instructor introduction video in the course. I use a MAC at home and (PC at work) which has Garage Band installed -- learning this software to create podcasts, and learning how to edit has been a lot of fun. I look forward to working with instructors to help create high quality videos or audio podcasts, and learning more about the editing phase in the future. Very cool! As podcasting is a technology that can be downloaded and kept on your computer and this is unrelated to our lesson on Podcasting, this was an interesting site that I’ve found a website similar to YouTube called vimeo.com. Create a video and upload, just like YouTube, it has a create flair to it.

Human Performance Improvement
When I started my job as an instructional designer one of the technical requirements was I would eventually become an expert at using the course managements system called Blackboard Vista. On day one, I had no experience using Blackboard. A training program would have been fantastic to have in place. It took me 4-months to feel as if I could troubleshoot, and create online courses with relative ease. As talked about in the chapter, having a training program in place would help with the demand to produce a technically good course sooner. So that said, to have procedures in place and clear expectations, and regular feedback would have reduced my frustration level as well as my co-worker. These are great ideas, and with the right resources in place. I think there are companies that create practices and procedures that are relevant to their workers and maximizing an organization’s bottom line. My analysis, or to break down the need for ID training, I see it this way. There is the human factor, us that make up the department. We work toward a goal, the performance itself, and then the learned task or the end accomplishment, or end mission, through “systematic, systemic” approach to meeting the demand of supporting online courses.

This podcast discusses American Art Pottery, describing the finishing touches of an exhibit at the New American Wing, a collection of 45 years of work, is an educational experience to bring this exhibition to The Metropolitan Museum.
Audio Podcast example

Vicksburg Soccer 2009

My daughter is the goalie. She just finished her season this week.

Nürnberg, Germany (My Omi lived near the altstadt)

View Larger Map

What is Graphic Design?

The Bookmark Connection

The Blogger

To address the question, what are my impressions of using a blog? I’m not someone who has ever kept a diary in the past. Maybe because I’m an artist, I have stacks of art all the way back from high school… a record of of sorts. My opinion of a blog is a record, an electronic diary. I’ve not used a blog before; personally I don’t have a desire to make my personal writings public, my life just it’s that interesting. That was my perception of a blog, it was a personal diary. That said I can see many other useful mediums. As an artist, I could create a blog, although more on the visual side, to track my art. I can see marketing advantages to using one, maybe an online newsletter. What I did find interesting was that many blogs are syndicated and one could subscribe using RSS, a connection to both mediums. For example I like this website of woman photographers http://nymphoto.com/index.php, the site is simply organized which includes personal blogs. That does interest me to read blogs in this context. To change my tune, while writing this article, I was told of a blog of a woman going through cancer, with five small children. You know, I may not want to record my life, there are plenty of create writers that do and do a wonderful job of keeping a blog. It was touching, well written and I enjoyed reading it. So that said…

I’ve not used RSS “the Really Simple Syndication” before, cute acronym! I enjoyed setting it up my web feed, personalizing what feeds to include, what not. I’m not sure I will reference the page often though. The Daily Beast thedailybeast@e.thedailybeast.com isn't a RSS feed, although it's a "condensed" version of news of sorts. I kind of liked it, and it reminded me of the content of a feed. That said, I like the choices we have, overwhelming, but good.

Article evaluation

The amount of information we have access to these days is overwhelming, information overload. What is important and what isn’t? The Cone of Learning by Edgar Dale article, I think both blogs and RSS is a passive way of learning. You certainly are receiving visual information, although most of what you’re doing is reading. And didn’t the article say that we retain very little of the top of the cone? That higher on the cone, the less senses are used. The most abstract way of learning. To really learn we need to demonstrate, apply, practice, analyze, design, to create is very important in the learning process. That said I can't say I am convinced or know yet that blogs and RSS feeds is really relevant to actual learning. Maybe I’m missing the point of evaluating these mediums.

I certainly received direct, purposeful experience by the act of creating a blog and RSS, as stated in the Cone of Learning article. Both verbal and visual learning was happening, first hand doing. Also in the article, maybe all the snippets of information we are creating in blogs and RSS feeds are a “contrived” experience. With all this complex information flooding our brains, this is a way we can “edit” these mediums. Simplify what we get. It does seem to be the way streaming information is being presented these days with mediums like Facebook, twitter, etc. It seems the trend of the way we get information.

I did like the article Falling Asleep at Your Keyboard: The Case for Computer Imagination. With the continual evolution of technology we need people to think outside of the box. As a creative, I’d like to think I’m part of that process, certainly when it comes to graphic design. In the beginning of the article, billions of dollars have been spent to upgrade technology, although the use is still flat and limiting. The article doesn’t really address this, gave scenarios, good and bad. Flash for the sake of flash, there needs to be a purpose. As an instructional designer, Blackboard is limiting in some ways, you read, use discussion boards, maybe view a power point, and watch a movie, do an assignment, take a test. What could I do make the course better, more engaging, impact learning and thinking? I haven’t found it within the parameters given. I explore incrementally although it seems to be more organizational than technology. Personally I’ll keep working on that question though.

Like the conclusion in the Siegel article, “we need to focus more on how the new tools impact our ability to think and learn.” That I agree with. How would I consider Siegel’s concept “imagination,” in the current tools we explored this week in class, I think the blog is somewhat more “imaginative.” There are certainly more custom tools for unique looks, photos, video streams, etc. More is more of a creative edge as content is created a author. When you look at a person’s blog, the blog takes on a personality. The RSS reader is more static in that respect. I can see the advantage of the tool is a connector of ideas and thoughts. And by exploring new tools we certainly learn are something.

Grand Central Station in New York City.

Photo from Grand Central Station in New York City in April.

Technology

• Cool tool: http://tinyurl.com/btmdy6


• News: http://www.thedailybeast.com/


• Signup for free software: http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/


• My love of art and education: ARTstor userservices@artstor.org


• My design website: http://mlfojtikdesign.com/


Forgotten link to images for Shutterfly.

• One of my photo sharing sites hhttp://basketballjv2009.shutterfly.com//

Reading Analysis

I seem to have trouble focusing on a particular idea presented in both articles, although, after reading both articles, I seemed be drawn more to Roberto Joseph’s article “Beyond Technology Integration: The Case for Technology Transformation.” That “new technology is typically used to support existing methods in the filed, over time, investment and resources, the new methods frequently result in quantum improvements.” This seems to ring true for me. The author seemed to question, will technology methods change in the same way.

As part of my job as an instructional designer, and for that matter a graphic designer, technology is a very important part of my job. I spend time, as part of what I do, searching, looking for new technologies that might enhance the productively of my job. Specific to graphic design, the field has changed dramatically since the 1980’s. When I started in graphic design, I used a drafting table with straight edge to create my designs. Another example are typesetters who were very specialized at what they did, using phototypesetting machines, that’s all they did, plug in code, typed in text producing gally proofs. Technology completely changed the industry on all levels, design, to production as well as the rolls that people played, because of technology advancements, jobs became integrated. Has this happened in education, have jobs evolved, evaporated because of technology?

In education the idea of standardization in the Joseph’s article was an interesting concept. I certainly felt that when I was in school, being part of a large group, unsympathetic to different ways we all learn. I can see technology as very useful to utilizing better ways to individualize education. As in any industry though, new technology is a investment, as well as maintaining the quality and the future relevance. There needs to be people to develop and the money to do the job well. The wonderful possibilities although does the article address what kind of change, what are the tools? Maybe because of my design background, or the lack of classroom teaching, I tend to think in terms of the tools (technology) I work with.
• Improvement in my design, problem solving
• Productivity improvements
• Technology improvement, program upgrades – elimination of one technology replacing other.

On the other hand, Postman talked about “great problems of education are of a social and moral nature and have nothing to do with dazzling new technologies.” Are we experts because of our technology, what about the overflow of technology, the balance that needs to be there and lastly a consistency of human interaction. When computer’s came to be common place, anyone could consider themselves as an expert graphic design or a typesetter or a printer of sorts. Does technology make you an expert because you have it? I don’t believe so. They are just that, it enhances a core goal.

As someone who works with online classes, I don’t see the classroom becoming a thing of the past. My belief is it’s important to continue to teach our children in how to socialize with one another, teach children how to learn, the practice of going to school is important, as stated in the article. Technology can improve on what’ve there, or can change and evolve to meet the needs of modern society. As for the “Of Luddites, Learning, and Life” article, I can see the point of the author. Is there a limit, too much growth? Although technology is here to stay and is changing the way we function as a society.