New Article on First Principles of Instruction

My friend--Dr. Joel Gardner--recently started a Wikipedia article on M. David Merrill's First Principles of Instruction. Joel has conducted an extensive amount of research into First Principles, and published the result in his dissertation and this journal article.

PDF-based GrantSAT Tool

At the request of an instructor that uses the GrantSAT instrument in her course, I've created a PDF-based tool that automates the process of scoring the 75 different criteria that GrantSAT uses to rate a grant proposal. The video is on YouTube and the file can be downloaded from the FACT website.

PDF Assignment Builder surpasses 4000 views

I was on YouTube today and saw that the "how-to" video on the first version of the PDF Assignment Builder now has more than 4000 views. When I posted the latest version, the original only had about 2500, but I guess people are still watching it :)

Presentation on the OAR model at Utah State University

On Thursday I presented to the Instructional Technology Student Association (ITSA) from the Instructional Technology and Learning Sciences (ITLS) department at Utah State University. I was speaking to graduate students and gave them an overview of the Objectives-Resources-Activities (OAR) model, explored the FACT Instructor Guidebook for online course development and answered their questions about Instructional Design.

Here's the video.

Course Activity Maps

I've posted a new video to YouTube that shows a Course Activity Map featuring the new Acquisition Activity and Application Activity icons from the OAR model. This CAM also incorporates Activity Layers and Activity Increments.

oarmodel.com

In September I was dismayed to learn that a Wikipedia Administrator decided to delete the OAR Model article. This article had been up for two years, is still (as of this post) linked to from the Instructional Design article on Wikipedia, and about six months after its creation was the top result on Google. I haven't decided if/when I will appeal the decision.

So, I bought the domain www.oarmodel.com today. Right now it just has a picture of the OAR model, but more to come....

FACT Instructor Guidebook 3

The FACT Instructor Guidebook uses the OAR model as a framework for online course development. It guides them through the process of identifying their basic pedagogy, creating a Course Statement, and exploring some acquisition and application activities.

Here's a "how to" video.

The latest version of the FACT Instructor Guidebook is available at the Faculty Resources page.

 

Updated version of the Assignment Builder available

I have recently released an updated version of the Assignment Builder. The new version allows users to add delete/questions with the click of a button, as well as lock the title, instruction and question fields before sending an assignment to students.

Here's a video.

Here's a link to the PDF file.

Online Course Syllabus Template

In the current issue of the Journal of Interactive Online Learning, authors Lewis, Baker and Britigan recommend the use of a template for designing an online course and syllabus:

"Use a sample course and materials as a template or foundation on which instructors can build a new course, customizing it as necessary. The template provides the basic course structure and navigation, introductory information modules, and suggestions for content to enhance the course site. Using the template also speeds up development time and may also facilitate the course development process for new online instructors - for example, a course syllabus template that shows all the key components and content areas in detail."

Here's a link to the full text.

Online Syllabus Template Tool (OSTT) Licensed from Utah State University

I have entered into a licensing agreement with USU to develop the Online Syllabus Template Tool.

I have also developed a version 3, which can be downloaded from Google Docs.

PDF Assignment Builder update

Well, I had an interesting few minutes this morning :)

I created a post on AcrobatUsers.com about the PDF Assignment Builder. This morning I received several comments that suggested I was violating Adobe's EULA.

I contacted a Adobe representative, a very nice young man that I will call "Carl". He spoke to an Acrobat licensing specialist, and confirmed that because no third-party (non-Adobe) software was used to create the file, that I was in compliance with their license.

Subject Matter Expert Personal Resources Inventory (SMEPRI)

I've created a video that shows how to use the Subject Matter Expert Personal Resources Inventory (SMEPRI).

You can download the SMEPRI here.