eJournal Entry 5

Critiquing each other’s Instructional Design Document helped me to narrow the focus of my instructional goal. For the purpose this project my instructional goal is:

Students will show understanding of the use online tutorials, in order to gain the necessary library skills needed to successfully use the resources in the school library.

My Instructional Strategy involves using online media with three different instructional presentations that will inform users how the Dewey Decimal System is setup, how to search for books using the card system Destiny in addition to properly searching for information using the Ebsco databases. Students will then have an opportunity to use this information in various parts of the library.

I will draw on cognitivist approach using multimedia then a variety of constructivist activities to further aid in learning. The Instructional Design with will begin with an online tutorial consisting of presentations, instructions and activities. This will be followed by constructivist activities to aid in learning. To help me identify these methods I looked at:

1) Motivation - In order to motivate the students and interest them about the tutorials, I will have teachers bring their classes to the library. This will vary the environment from the classroom setting. This material will be presented at the beginning of the year, and for many of these students they will be in a new learning environment. The material will also not be the usual subjects they study, and it is designed for them to be successful and feel confident in the library.  Seventh grade students move to the Junior High School after the fifth grade and a new school with a different atmosphere is always exciting. After viewing the information there will be activities using one or two partners to aid in learning. This will let students move around the library, work with others and explore the books and resources. They will also have time practice using the card catalog.

2) Prerequisite and Sub-skills - My tutorial will be combination of three different areas which are necessary to search for books and finding information in the library. Each tutorial will be discussed separately:

a.)The prerequisites for the first tutorial are knowledge of using a computer and understanding the layout of the library.  I feel from working with other students in the past that they will be well acquainted with both. Sub-skills developed during this tutorial will include developing critical thinking, vocabulary and categorizing skills.

b.)The next tutorial will be on the Destiny Card Catalog system. The prerequisites for this tutorial will be the same, basic knowledge of the computer and the layout of the library. Sub-skills developed with this tutorial will help develop vocabulary, learning and memory skills.

c.)The final tutorial will cover the Ebsco Databases.  The prerequisites for this tutorial will be knowledge of the computer databases and letter writing skills. Sub-skills developed will include development of accessing information, critical thinking, vocabulary, spelling, and punctuation. 

3.) Practice and Feedback - Each tutorial will be discussed separately:

a.)The practice for the first tutorial will involve learning about the Dewey Decimal System. Students will first begin with a tutorial of the Dewey Decimal System.They will watch a Vimeo production, Introduction to the Dewey Decimal System. Next they will then visit the Thinkquest website Do We Really Know Dewey? They will click on the link Pre-Dew Review and begin by learning about Fiction and Non Fiction. Then they will click on the link for Dewey and the Alien to learn more about each Non Fiction Category. To check for understanding, students will complete the Dewey quiz, the instructor will then assign one to two partners to work on a commercial project for one Non Fiction Section.  This will be in the form of Windows Movie Maker, Slide Rocket or other media of their choice that involves pictures and audio. Feedback will be in the form of a rubric. Each student will receive a rubric based on the video activity noting strengths and weaknesses.

b.)This tutorial will involve students learning about the card catalog system Destiny. They will first view a Sliderocket presentation of the Destiny system and how to access location and key information for different books. Students will play the game “Order in the Library” .  When students feel confident finding materials on the library shelves they will then complete a scavenger hunt with a partner to find various resources in the library. Feedback will be successfully completing the scavenger hunt and checking answers for understanding. The sheets will be graded and returned to students to save as a resource.

c.)  The third tutorial will involve students will viewing a presentation prepared by Ebsco on using the Student Research Center. They will then practice the skills they have learned searching the databases for information needed for an assignment involving writing a persuasive letter. This letter addressed to a US Senator or US Representative will explaining the difficulties students are having in the classroom with limited technology using research to back up arguments.  Feedback will be in the form of a rubric. Each student will receive a copy of the rubric with all areas graded but special interest will be shown on the research used in the letter, noting the relevance of the information used.