Artifact+Number+2

Artifact #2



Moodle Site for Mature Workers [|http://womenrunners.com/moodle]

//**Password: forum**//
//**Find this class (50+ Learning Forum) under the "Personal Enrichment"** **category**//

EDTECH 795A Standard: Interpersonal: Interact effectively with others as peers, subordinates and leaders to accomplish goals.

As part of the internship associated with 795A, we were tasked with developing a series of modules for a self paced computer lab. This lab would take place during the 50+ Learning Forum, an event designed for mature workers who are seeking to enter the work force. Our modules were to be designed with the older learner in mind, using techniques to reduce cognitive load and good website design to enhance readability. A variety of people contributed to the final product, including my SDSU partner and committee members involved in the Mature Workers Learning Forum. This artifact represents a challenge in effective communication between my SDSU partner, as well as with members of the Learning Forum Committee. My partner and I communicated using Google sites and Wikispaces. The Committee used teleconferencing for the weekly meetings, and they also had access to the Google site and Wikispaces were our modules were developed. Because of the close knit relationship between our SDSU team and the committee members, community bonds were formed. After the event concluded, the online modules were made available to the committee for their respective uses. The largest challenge was in defining the 10 modules and in gathering the materials to fill them. While originally my partner and I wanted to develop each module, it became clear that this was neither feasible in our short time frame, but also our product was often not as good as what was currently available. We were pleased with the response to our modules, and these modules are now housed in the Moodle collection, available for future use. The second challenge was in working with a partner who is not locally based, as well as a committee of several individuals with different visions of our project. We used various methods of communication including Google docs, Google sites, Wikispaces and Google chat for our frequent interactions. Although I am one to want to do everything myself, this project required that I work both with a partner as well as with a committee of people associated with the forum. Our frequent meetings helped us to develop a series of modules which best reflected the needs of our target audience (mature workers). The committee requested that these modules become available for their use, which was easy to facilitate, using open source Moodle. These particular modules will be enhanced, and used again in future San Diego Continuing Education courses.
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