Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Farnoush H. Davis
Boise State University
05/04/2010
Define the visual context
To begin the design of this unit of instruction, the visual context first needs to be defined. This
allows the course match the needs of the students. Each area of the context needs to be clear, so
that the following work can be designed in the best way. The unit of instruction I am designing
1. Learner characteristics
2. Learning environment
3. Delivery media
The learners are in-service military men and women a wide range of age (from 18 to 40)
and social educational background. The learner’s needs are mostly addressed, given the course
limitations and budget issues. This unit is designed to be a hybrid course. Face-to-face classes
occur in the Defense Language Institute (DLI), Monterey, CA with a small number of learners in
each classroom. DLI is a US Military institution, and so has unique requirements, but also a very
structured and rigid structure so that everything is designed for a learner with a slightly above
average ability will be successful, and those who are not as able are left behind as the course
progresses.
This unit of instruction is delivered through books and CDs, along with a DVD player,
computer laptops, Smart Board, graphics, and Web applications. The purpose of using the
different medium is to make the language learning process more effective and interactive,
especially in the grammar section. The computer related equipment used such as monitor
displays, connectivity, firewalls, and printers – all of which impact the design of graphics and the
instruction – are pre-determined. However, the limitations and available platforms are presented
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by the institution. The production format is presented in high quality of color depth and
I also tried to cover some elements that need to be considered for a successful language
learning process: a) a native speaker instructor who knows effective instruction methods and
techniques, b) trained instructors to integrate technology into the course, and c) online/distance
learning facilities for intensive courses for the learners out of the area.
another visual – incorporate relevant knowledge to improve learning. The unit content is
summarized in this visual. The layout of the graphic begins with “Start” in the middle, and other
sections (Vocabulary, Grammar, Reading, Listening, and Exercises) branch out from it. These
sections of the lesson are well-organized on pillars and gateways to link to the related page.
Attention Visual
http://edtech2.boisestate.edu/davisf/506/AttentionVisual.html
taking a taxi, exchanging currency, and the hotel check-in. The background image is a famous
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monument in Tehran which used to be the entrance of the city. I used arrow shapes to show the
sequence of the images. The arrows are in different shades of brown to again show the order of
the images. I tried to create contrast between the images and show layers. For example, the
background image is blurry; the arrows are a little transparent and in a different color, but the
main images on the top are in real color to grab the attention more.
The images are linked to the related websites. I found the appropriate Persian website for
each topic, since the learners at this unit are able to read and understand Persian and they can
for easy understanding, and a plain background to not distract the learners. In order to reduce the
memory load, I provided the English meaning of each word in a rollover action and also an audio
I put the new words in a group to decrease the memory load and facilitate the process of
remembering. The words related to taking a taxi are on the right and those related to the hotel
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Mental Models and Near Transfer
http://edtech2.boisestate.edu/davisf/506/ntenglish.html
structure comparison. I tried to make this content more interesting since grammar is an abstract
part of the language learning. I provided the grammatical note and examples in both English and
Persian to make it easy to build the relationship between them. For the Persian version of the
Procedure Visual
http://edtech2.boisestate.edu/davisf/506/visualprocedure.html
images for each section and English text to accompany the audio in Persian to decrease the
cognitive load. I also used transformational visuals such as arrows and numbers to show relation
and sequence. The text also appears in rollovers to make the visual more interactive.
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Concept Visual
http://edtech2.boisestate.edu/davisf/506/visualconcept.html
To build this visual, I used a counterexample of a real text and the related questions. To identify
the different elements of the reading skill I used different colors for emphasis and also audio in
English to make sure the instructions are clarified. To relate the learner’s prior knowledge to the
reading topic I used an image from a previous lesson. I tried to engage the learners with the
concept of the lesson visually by creating concept images - word bubbles, thought clouds, note
Fact Visual
http://edtech2.boisestate.edu/davisf/506/visualfact.html
load, the fact is not explained in text. This graphic also helps
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bilingual examples. Using arrows, phonetics of the Persian example, and audio make the fact
Process Visual
http://edtech2.boisestate.edu/davisf/506/visualprocess.html
the related questions - is provided at the end of the dialogue. This also helps the learner to build a
mental model of the system. The questions at the end are in Persian and the provided audio also
Principle Visual
http://edtech2.boisestate.edu/davisf/506/visualprinciple.html
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colors, circle), and a video example to manage the cognitive load and higher level of engagement
with the activity. The purpose of this PCL exercise is to simulate the learner’s reading and
writing skills as well as apply what they have learned in the unit.
In planning and designing this course of instruction, I used the five-step visual design model
outlined in the Graphics for Learning text (Clark & Lyons, 2004) This five step process allowed
me to think through the requirements, and determine the best way to present the material. Most
of the choices for the individual lesson components have been explained in the section above, but
Step one was determining what the goals of the course of instruction would be. This step
goes hand in hand with the second part – define context. In my case, step number two became
the first step, as I had to find out who the audience was, and what the course structure should be.
The scenario I chose had very specific requirements based on the composition of the learners and
the institution, so I had to make sure that my goals matched the audience that I was designing
for.
military institution. The goal of this program is to teach a student to a near fluent level by end of
the course. This means a very traditional learning process. However, by using technology and
learning techniques, it is possible to better re-enforce the material and shorten the training time.
I had to research what delivery media was available, what the class size was, if there were budget
or space limits, etc. Once I understood these things I was ready to move to the next step.
2. Goals: This step seemed simple at first. The goal is to effectively teach non-native
speakers a new foreign language. But this turned out to be the simple goal. The real goal of the
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course design was to decrease the learning time, re-enforce the material using technology, and to
make the parts of the course interesting and involve the students in learning.
3. Design Visual Approach: This course was designed to be used in many formats. It can
be used for an entire classroom and used by the teacher, it can be used in smaller groups and also
individually as the components are easy to navigate and can be done at a learner’s own pace.
This is useful for both review and for distance education. The accessibility is the key to this unit,
and other units to be designed could follow the same format to make sure that the course can be
used in any situation to maximize the investment of time and money that these courses require.
All of the components have to be usable by both the student and the instructor with the same
explained in the above section, but as the fourth step and for the purposes of this EDTECH
course, it was important to use each example of visuals to see how they could be used in this
unit. Some of them worked better than others for this material, but all of them had some good
5. Apply Principles of Psychological Instructional Events: Step five and step four were
two more steps that were done mostly at the same time. Using the visuals along with the
principles required a determination of both what the content was and what was the best way to
present it. Presenting facts needs different visuals than presenting concepts, and learners low in
personal motivation need different principles than if you are teaching complex content. Each of
these had to be considered for each section to choose the best way to present the material.
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AECT STANDARDS (Applicable to EDTECH 506)
Candidates demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to design conditions for learning
Supporting Explanations:
"Design is the process of specifying conditions for learning" (Seels & Richey, 1994, p. 30). The
domain of design includes four sub-domains of theory and practice: Instructional Systems
Design
"Instructional Systems Design (ISD) is an organized procedure that includes the steps of
1994, p. 31).
Within the application of this definition, 'design' is interpreted at both a macro- and micro-level
in that it describes the systems approach and is a step within the systems approach. The
"Message design involves planning for the manipulation of the physical form of the message"
(Seels & Richey, 1994, p. 31). Message design is embedded within learning theories (cognitive,
principles of attention, perception, and retention which are intended to communicate with the
learner. This sub-domain is specific to both the medium selected and the learning task.
Assignments:
1. Directing attention
6. Motivating learning
8. Visualizing a procedure
9. Visualizing a concept
"Instructional strategies are specifications for selecting and sequencing events and activities
within a lesson" (Seels & Richey, 1994, p. 31). In practice, instructional strategies interact with
learning situations. The results of these interactions are often described by instructional models.
The appropriate selection of instructional strategies and instructional models depends upon the
learning situation (including learner characteristics), the nature of the content, and the type of
learner objective.
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"Learner characteristics are those facets of the learner's experiential background that impact the
effectiveness of a learning process" (Seels & Richey, 1994, p. 32). Learner characteristics impact
strategies. For example, motivation research influences the selection and implementation of
interact with instructional strategies, the learning situation, and the nature of the content.
Assignments:
2. Unit of Instruction
2.0 DEVELOPMENT
Candidates demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to develop instructional materials
Supporting Explanation:
"Development is the process of translating the design specifications into physical form" (Seels &
Richey, 1994, p. 35). The domain of development includes four sub-domains: Print
Technologies.
Development is tied to other areas of theory, research, design, evaluation, utilization, and
management.
"Print technologies are ways to produce or deliver materials, such as books and static visual
materials, primarily through mechanical or photographic printing processes" (Seels & Richey,
1994, p. 37). Print technologies include verbal text materials and visual materials; namely, text,
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graphic and photographic representation and reproduction. Print and visual materials provide a
foundation for the development and utilization of the majority of other instructional materials.
"Audiovisual technologies are ways to produce or deliver materials by using mechanical devices
or electronic machines to present auditory and visual messages" (Seels & Richey, 1994, p. 38).
Audiovisual technologies are generally linear in nature, represent real and abstract ideas, and
based resources" (Seels & Richey, 1994, p. 39). Computer-based technologies represent
electronically stored information in the form of digital data. Examples include computer-based
"Integrated technologies are ways to produce and deliver materials which encompass several
forms of media under the control of a computer" (Seels & Richey, 1994, p. 40). Integrated
technologies are typically hypermedia environments which allow for: (a) various levels of
learner control, (b) high levels of interactivity, and (c) the creation of integrated audio, video,
Standards 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, and 2.4 are fulfilled in at least 2 of the following assignments:
1. Directing attention
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3. Minimizing memory load
6. Motivating learning
8. Visualizing a procedure
9. Visualizing a concept
3.0 UTILIZATION
Candidates demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to use processes and resources
for learning by applying principles and theories of media utilization, diffusion, implementation,
and policy-making.
Supporting Explanations
"Utilization is the act of using processes and resources for learning" (Seels & Richey, 1994, p.
46). This domain involves matching learners with specific materials and activities, preparing
learners for interacting with those materials, providing guidance during engagement, providing
assessment of the results, and incorporating this usage into the continuing procedures of the
organization.
"Media utilization is the systematic use of resources for learning" (Seels & Richey, 1994, p. 46).
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Utilization is the decision-making process of implementation based on instructional design
specifications.
Assignments:
1. Directing attention
6. Motivating learning
8. Visualizing a procedure
9. Visualizing a concept
In this course, our work related to three of the five AECT standards – 1.0 Design, 2.0
Development, and 3.0 Utilization. Each lesson met the standards in some way, while some
lessons met more than one standard. For each standard there were also subsequent standards
The first standard included Instructional Systems Design (ISD), Message Design,
Instructional Strategies and Learner Characteristics. These were factors in many lessons, as each
assignment required us to determine the best design system, who to best convey a message to the
learners, the best strategies to convey that message and also to determine how the characteristics
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of the learner would change the way that we designed the presentation of the material. Of
course, each lesson had a specific goal in mind, so often we were matching the content to the
design or message visual system for the assignment, instead of finding the best way to present
the material for the course. In a real situation, we would use the standards to make sure that our
strategies were appropriate for the material, but in this situation, we were using the strategies
Each lesson supported this first standard, or at least one of its subsequent standards. 1.1
Instructional Systems Design was important in every lesson, as was 1.2 Message Design. The
two became the standards used to plan the entire unit of instruction. 1.3 Instructional Strategies
was also important in every lesson, and was the framework for them all with the design of the
five lesson plans. The lessons on motivating learning and accommodating learner differences
Standard 2.0 Development, was also important in every lesson, although the sub-points
were used in different lessons. 2.1 Print Technologies was modified for our technology-based
instruction. We did not use books or printed materials, but the use of text was important in my
lesson, as the unit was for language instruction. In a traditional environment, the lesson materials
would not have been virtual, but would have been handed out to the students in the course. By
using this standard as a principle to develop the lesson, all of the materials were available in an
on-line format, so that the students could access the course material from any location with an
internet connection. 2.2 Audio-Visual Technologies was also an important standard, as many of
my lessons had an audio portion. The use of audio-visual technologies in this medium does not
allow for the degree of interaction that you could have in a traditional classroom, as the materials
deal with a particular scenario with no option for natural changes and redirections. However, by
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using the lessons in a traditional classroom as part of a hybrid course, it lets the student learn the
materials and still have assistance from a “real” teacher. The only way to meet this challenge of
on-line language learning is to have a synchronous lesson where a teacher is part of the online
instruction, making the lesson fully distributed through a computer format, while still allowing a
While the entire unit used computer based technologies (2.3) it was really more of an
integrated technologies course (2.4), because of the nature of language learning. Each lesson
used a variety of materials and mediums to present the lesson, all of them given under the control
of a computer. Other subjects might not need to use the full range of media, such as print and
audio visual. This was a good experience as it showed the challenges of teaching a subject like
language using technology, because there are some parts of the instruction that still require a
“human touch.” This only makes sense as communication is a human attribute, and most
computer instruction only requires and correct response to a question or problem, and does not
require interaction.
Standards 3.0 Utilization and 3.1 Media Utilization were also important in each of the
lessons. I used different media in the lessons on directing attention, awakening prior knowledge
and especially in minimizing memory load. Video clips, interesting images and appropriate
dialogue examples gave the learner chances to recall things that they had previously learned, and
also reinforce them with things that would stick in their minds and help them to remember. I also
used interesting and different backgrounds in my presentations, sometimes making the slides
look like storybook pages, and also using a real hotel registration form to emphasize a real-life
task that would be memorable for them. The lessons on visualizing - procedures, concepts, facts,
processes and principles – all required an appropriate and effective utilization of media.
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Mission and Conceptual Framework
The Boise State College of Education seeks to prepare professionals by using integrated teaching
and learning practices. This is the core of this course, and the use of many different approaches
has broadened my ability to present information in many ways and to many audiences. The
challenges presented this semester also have followed the mission of the EdTech department.
This course clearly promotes and requires the use of current and emergent technologies for
teaching and learning in a global environment. The skills, concepts and principles that were
practiced in this course such as near and far transfer, analyzing the learner characteristics and
utilizing different media formats showed the wide range of options available for teaching in an
electronically delivered medium, as well as the importance of choosing the right format to best
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References
(2000, October). Retrieved April 26, 2010, from AECT:
http://www.aect.org/affiliates/national/Standards.pdf
Clark, R. C., & Lyons, C. (2004). Graphics for Learning. San Francisco: John Wiley & Sons.
Mlinaric, I (Photographer). (2007). Tehran, Behesti Avenue [Photograph], retrieved February 12,
2010, from: http://www.flickr.com/photos/eye1/2152371768/in/faves-36208015@N02/
Scarto (Photographer). (2007). A fistful of Rials [Photograph], retrieved February 12, 2010, from:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/scarto/467114385/in/faves-36208015@N02/
Ario (Photographer). (2005). Azadi Tower [Photograph], retrieved February 12, 2010, from:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ario/78430266/in/faves-36208015@N02/
Ezbob74 (Photographer). (2006). Old Hyatt in Tehran [Photograph], retrieved February 21, 2010
from: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ezbob74/316940286/
[Room key, bell and passport]. Retrieved March 31, 2010, from:
http://www.fotosearch.com/photos-images/citizenship.html
[Untitled photograph of bellboy carrying suitcases]. Retrieved March 31, 2010, from:
http://www.fotosearch.com/photos-images/bellboys.html
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Biography
I have a B.A. in English Instruction from Azad University in Mashhad, Iran. I began studying in
Boise State University in Spring 2009. I am a qualified Persian medical interpreter, and a
qualified interpreter for the ADA County Court. I have tutored both English and Farsi in Iran
I translated and published an English novel “The Dark End of October” into Farsi in 2004
and 2005. I was trained and employed as a translator and project coordinator in the Jahan
Translation Agency, Iran. Upon graduation I intend to teach Persian in traditional and on-line
formats.