SALLY YAO
In the Blink of An Eye
Keywords: Professional Development | eLearning | Interdisciplinary Learning
Deliverables: 12-page teacher guide | Articulate Rise Module | Visuals
Year: 2023
Project At a Glance
This project uses a teacher guide Design 101 and an online module case study to showcase how scientific topic can intertwine with various disciplines. It offers a roadmap for teachers to craft interdisciplinary learning experiences for K-12 students.
01
My Role
Learning Content Creation
Graphic Design
User Research & Testing
02
TARGET AUDIENCE
Novice K-12 educators seeking to enhance engagement, integrate knowledge across subjects, and design captivating projects for current lessons. (Case Study designed for middle to high school teachers.)
03
PROJECT DELIVERABLES
Design 101 Teacher Guide
An Online Module about Color Perception
Project Presentation
04
TOOLS
FigJam & Xmind for brainstorming & mind-mapping
Procreate for illustration drawing
Figma for teacher guide design
Articulate for online module
Design Approach
Initiation-Focused
Offering clear pathways to empower novice teachers to start designing interdisciplinary learning experiences
Actionable & Applicable
Providing users with tangible tools and a specific example that could be applicable to their specific situations
User-Friendly Format
Ensuring content is concise, easy to read, and user-friendly for straightforward implementation
Timeline
Week 1
Brainstorm & Research
Identify Area of Interest
Mission & Audience
User Interview
Week 2
Prototype
Mind-mapping outline
Draw Visuals
First Version Online Module
Week 3
Evaluation & Iteration
Formative Evaluation
Finish: Online Module & Teacher Guide
Week 4
Final Pitch
Final Iteration
Pitch Practice
30s Pitch Challenge
Learning Experience
In the Blink of An Eye is composed of two parts:
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A teacher guide: "Design 101: Crafting Interdisciplinary Learning Experience"
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A Case Study: an online module about color perception
01. Teacher Guide
Modality: PDF (Click HERE for the complete document.)
Length: 12 pages, covers included
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Outcomes:
1. Acquire knowledge about tools and websites for effective brainstorming, idea generation, and finding inspirational content, enriching their resources for interdisciplinary lesson planning
2. Gain a practical understanding of the steps involved in designing engaging interdisciplinary learning experiences
02. Case Study
Description:
This online module delves into the neuroscience behind color perception. Teachers can integrate this science concept with another subject of interest. It can be directly assigned as homework and used as a launching pad for in-depth projects or engaging lessons during in-person sessions.
Click HERE for the complete online module.
Modality: online module
Time: 40 mins - 1 hour
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Outcomes:
Understand how complex concept turned into easily comprehensible and accessible learning materials through a concrete example
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Design Process
I used FigJam and XMind as tools for brainstorming and outlining the structure of the guide. These platforms helped to streamline my design process, from initial ideation to the coherent structuring of the guide and the module.
Formative Evaluation
Prior to initiating the design phase, I interviewed three middle and high school teachers with expertise in physics, humanities, and Maker education. A prevailing theme emerged among subject teachers, revealing their time constraints and perceived challenges in designing interdisciplinary lessons. The Maker educator expressed the need for a more structured introduction for new teachers entering the realm of interdisciplinary learning. Subsequently, after completing the initial draft of the online module and teacher guide, I conducted user testing with four teachers. I made revisions based on their behavior, questions asked, and feedback as they navigated through the module and the guide. The module now features optional sections, the guide is more concise, and additional clarifications are incorporated based on user behavior and input, ensuring the resources align effectively with educators' needs.
A Maker Education Teacher
Years of teaching: 7 years
Experience with Interdisciplinary Learning: 4/5 - A lot
Insights: "I need to teach new teachers how to do what I do."
A Physics Teacher
Years of teaching: 3 years
Experience with Interdisciplinary Learning: 1/5 - very limited
Insights: "I don't have time to design extra things, that involves ton of research."
* Both images are AI generated.
Next Steps
Revisit Guide & Module
Revisit and refine the guide and module to incorporate user feedback and enhance usability
Gather User Data & Measure Impact
Conduct data gathering and impact measurement to assess the effectiveness of the resources
Develop Further Exemplar Module
Develop additional exemplar modules to expand the range and depth of interdisciplinary learning content