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This eLearning software simulation was developed for educational professionals who require the knowledge and application of the Schoology learning management system.
● Audience: K-12 educational professionals (including administrators, teachers, specialists, and paraprofessionals)
● Responsibilities: instructional design, eLearning, script writing, and audio narration
● Tools Used: Articulate Storyline 360
The Problem
The Problem
In the spring of 2021, the leaders of the Schuylkill Valley School District made the decision to move to the Schoology learning management system. The district decided that it would be implemented with all teachers and in all classrooms at the start of the 2021-22 school year. Having a background in educational technology, I was asked to participate in a train-the-trainer course to learn the fundamentals of the new LMS. With that knowledge, I would provide professional development to the staff on Schoology. Although employees had knowledge and experience with Google Classroom, they required training and support on the features of Schoology.
The Solution
The Solution
To provide the best training and support on the new LMS, I proposed a combination of in-person and eLearning sessions. All educators attended face-to-face half-day professional development at the start of the school year. Supplemental training was provided with the software simulation eLearning modules that I created. The eLearning solution ensured that participants had flexibility and control over how, when, and where they completed their training. Having a digital library of training materials also meant that educators could review the concepts at any time.
My Process
My Process
Technical Considerations
Technical Considerations
I started by accessing the Schoology software myself. I identified the first few tasks necessary to
setting up a new course. I intended to use screenshots of my software for the slides in Articulate
Storyline. I wanted high quality images to make the user feel like they were in the program itself. In
order to do this, I adjusted the resolution of my display and changed the slide size in Storyline to
match. This ensured that the screenshots were crisp and clear. To further improve the quality and
professionalism of the screenshots, I hid the task bar at the bottom of my display.
Another piece that I worked with was the timelines in Storyline. Manipulating the timeline made sure that audio and visual elements were activated at the correct times.
Usability Principles
Usability Principles
For this eLearning experience, I applied an integrative approach by using a combination of demonstration slides and hands-on practice slides. Elements of interactivity have the learner complete the same tasks they will perform in the real tool. To make the module more engaging, I incorporated appropriate sound effects, like the sound of a mouse clicking on a selected item. I used motion-path animations to help guide the user’s attention and focus. I included queuing methods to re-direct the learner if they clicked on the wrong item. This is important in independent, asynchronous training to avoid frustration and keep the participant interested and engaged.
Results and Takeaways
Results and Takeaways
As a result of my project, 50 educators were trained on the fundamentals of a new learning management system and able to implement Schoology with their classes. I continue to provide ongoing support to teachers as they explore some of the more intricate features of the software. I enjoyed the process of training my peers and found adult learning principles not very unlike the pedagogy I apply with adolescents.
This was my first experience with script writing, and I wanted the narration on each slide to be brief and to the point. I think that I organized content (both audio and visual) into manageable pieces for the learner. I used the audio recording and editing tool in Storyline, but would like to explore a tool like Audacity to add further effects and have more sophisticated editing capabilities.
I also used this opportunity to explore the player settings in Storyline to provide accessibility features like a transcript, user controls and closed captions. By enabling player controls like volume control, play/pause options, menu navigation and a seek bar, the participant can customize their experience and get what they need out of the training. An available transcript and closed captions will benefit the learner who prefers written to spoken text.
Contact
Contact
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