Reflections

Reflections from conception to completion

The original conception of this learning artefact was to try and deliver to the common user a way of expanding their learning network by using the virtual world Second Life, as I found out, this simple suggestion turned out to be bigger than I thought.

Personal learning

I thought of ways my target audience, the common user could employ Second Life as an educational search engine, navigating to in world locations finding answers to there questions, then I realised they will need to know how to use the viewer, and I all started there, before I could comprehend the enormity of this task I realised they need to find and download the viewer, then they would need to register, and even if they did get that far, how will they know what to do when they log in, how will they know how to behave,what kind of resources can I offer. 

After the initial design of what I wanted to do, the next step was, what kind of vehicle do I want to use to present my learning project, after looking at different types of media I thought I would use a website because it would be easy to access, for the user as well as for me to use links as part of my artefacts resources, I will use Blogger a free online blog hosting site, its simple to use, easy to add media to and its free. 

I chose to teach three modules, installing the Second Life software onto the users PC, Using the SL viewer to perform its basic functions, and accepted behaviour in the virtual world.
The first page will be an introduction to the learning artefact, a description of its purpose, the mediums it uses, and the outcome for the user and the tasks the user will perform.
The next three pages will involve the learning modules designed for the user to follow their progress as they perform each task and the final page will be some examples of successful learning in Second Life.

After each module will be an assessment, each assessment will ask the user about its specific page, how they  find the learning process, their opinion about each task and if there is anything they fell may help to improve the site.

Ethical issue

My hopes are to design a very user friendly artefact, its purpose is to teach but it must also be simple, not meaning that its for dummies, the simplicity of it is also for quick access. 
I have accounted for almost every problem encountered perform the three basic modules on my blog.

Accessibility and technical issue

I will use a slideshow Power point and a PDF to present the blog, this is for the user to download and use when needed,
I created the files and uploaded them to my Google drive thinking it would suffice.
I failed to realise that the user required a Google account to use the survey so I put the power point on slide share at least there the user if unable to log in with there Google account will be able to view it on Slide Share.

The hardest part of the learning objects design was the constant correcting of it requiring that sometimes I would have to redo portions of the blog over and over.

Technology map

The blog uses the viewer to log into Secondlife, the user uses the blog to learn how to get onto Second Life, eg download viewer, use viewer to login.
The user learns how to use the viewer by following the modules on the blog.
The user is given an assessment to provide information about the blog an to use as a self assessment tool allowing the user to track their progress, also the user is asked to provide opinion on improving the blog
The assessment is a Google forms tool.
The blog offers the user links to more detailed information if required.
The PDF and Slideshow are downloadable and for the user to use as reference and self assessment.

Future proof

The assessment helps improve the blog for others who may use the blog, the user is asked to comment on any improvements they can think of that may help improve the site.

Teaching and learning effectiveness

Pedagogical approach the user employs are visual, memory and activity based, they are required to follow visual examples and perform each task as shown, using this approach the user is expected to gain in ability as they progress through the modules.

Project plan

I tried keeping to my original project plan but as I progressed through creating the blog I found parts of its design required more attention than others, as I kept falling further behind my project plans due dates, I began questioning if I would be able to complete the blog on time.

I kept modifying the blog and I found even the date constraints would cause problems but kept plodding along, I thought even if I'm behind that as long as I put in some time every night then at least I would have something to work with.

I didn't account for the users ability to understand the viewer,
this is when I realised that I needed to add a third page to the blog, the understanding the basics of the viewer module. Once added to the blog and even though it put me back more than I needed, I was able to continue onto the next step

The PLN page, I thought of creating a how to get out there in the virtual world and begin increasing your learning network, initially I was thinking to show the user how to increase their PLN by joining groups, attending various educational classes and befriending like minded people to hang out with, thinking of Secondlife as another social network tool to add to the a users PLN, thats when I realised I needed to teach the user how to do all that, and to do all that, the user needed to be able to use the viewer or at least to be able to perform the basics of the viewer, I thought if the user could perform the basics of the viewer, then everything else, such as getting out into the virtual world would follow.

Possible improvements

I would create a more extensive blog, add more media and more links to learning tools and helpful URLs.
I would like to create an original site that users could improve and add to as they progress through its modules.
I would also like to expand into adding more learning modules such as a learning how to build or learning about employment.