Making Progress

Yesterday, Sunday the 21st, I wrote the narrative and intervention options (aka "decision points") for Case Based Scenario #1-- Charlie. Then, I plugged the narrative and decision points into Quandary to build my first action maze. Even though this is technically out of order in terms of the sequencing of the PDD and ID of the project itself, I realized that I would not be able to complete writing Part II (especially the objectives and storyboards) until I had at least some familiarity with the software I'd be using to build my project. I feel like I have crossed a major gap in my own mental model of my project. I honestly think that I will finally develop some flow in developing the PDD and the design of the ID project from here on out. What a relief! The constant anxiety of wondering how I was going to pull this whole thing off has been so wearing on me. Maybe now I'll be able to think more clearly since the fog of my own anxious mental state has been removed.

Frazzled

Obviously, I am not keeping up with my postings on here. I feel like I'm just writing in a void. It might have been better to have paired up with someone for this ID blog. Maybe it's not too late. I could put the word out there, and see if anyone want to join me on my solo blog.

At any rate, I'm feeling rather frazzled. It's a simple case of information overload. If I'm not reading research and theoretical papers for my Project Design Document (PDD), then I'm working on the PDD itself. I just feel so rushed and so pressed for time. I have to begin with the end in mind, but since the technology I'll be using to design my ID project is so new to me, it's hard to visualize THE END product. Also, I haven't written the case based narratives yet that will anchor the simulations. I'm going to shoot to get at least the first of the three I'm planning to build into my ID project done tomorrow. Finally, academic writing is so droll and esoteric that I grasp what I'm reading in fits and starts. Definitely a case of bottom-up vs. top down processing of the readings. Whew! It's a lot to have on my plate.

Actually, I think my favorite part of the PDD process is the instructional design process itself. I suppose that's because it's the most familiar to me, and it has a pragmatic application. I'll start getting down and dirty with that tomorrow.

Beginnings...

Beginnings of any sort can be challenging. Beginning an instructional design project can be particularly challenging. You have to conceptualize the goals, instruction, and design components of a project with a seemingly impossible deadline glaring right at you.

For the course I am taking this semester, ITED 8300--- Technology Tools for Training and Education, I have just a matter of weeks to develop an ID project, learn two new technology tools, and meet the course requirements and objectives. I think the semester will zoom past me. I will use this blog to document my accomplishments on the various phases of the project as I execute them. Stay tuned. It's sure to be a wild ride.