The Jarz et al. article mentions the challenges of developing case studies using multi-media, them being both “creative and…technical” in nature. The article also describes how multi-media elements were integrated as a “didactic element” where the emphasis was on learning and presentation of information. The didactic focus for information delivery is on the entertainment aspect and the learning aspect; this learning model wants the learner to enjoy and interact with what he or she is learning. This is always a good plan for instructional design.
The learning theory itself, requires students to solve real problems, using solutions and information that others have learned while attempting to solve the same of a similar problem. Learning from history, learning from others’ mistakes, learning from others’ wisdom – sounds like a very useful model.
In this model, the designers collect and structure the information for the learner to analyze. Since there are many videos and other multimedia options to disseminate information to learners, we need an archive where we can get our hands on such items. In education, many of us search for videos on YouTube, SchoolTube, TeacherTube and Vimeo. Schools that can afford it have paid subscriptions to Discovery’s United Streaming and other channels. In higher educatrion, I have seen professors use TED videos and YouTube. Depending on one’s own experience, wisdom and knowledge, one could create his or her own videos or capture knowledge by interviewing experts.
The think I like best about this model is that the learner does not just consume the video content. The learner must actively apply deep learning (from multimedia and case studies) to solve the problem or test possible solutions. This application component makes this learning model similar to the other learning models we’ve recently covered in class. The big difference is that this model uses the case studies to anchor the instruction. Wang et al. suggests the multimedia provides not only context for understanding and for assessing the information, but also suggestions to solutions and opportunities for learners to critically analyze the suggested solutions.
This model reminds me of the STAR Legacy model in that it uses drama to motivate the learner to dig deeper and solve the problem. STAR requires a challenge and it is often embedded in a story. This model wants learners to have fun with the content and the context – so as to ‘get into it’ more and want to dig deeper into the video sequence. The design requires one to create roles for users, a navigational path, opportunities for the learner to analyze the content, create a storyboard, and then implement a way for active learning to occur. There are web tools available to collaborate with others when creating the story and roles – Penzu, Google docs, Plotbot, Toondoo, Sketchcast, VoiceThread, WriteWith, or Scribblar. There are many resources for creating logic maps or webs available online such as bubbl.us, MindMeister, and Gliffy.
Jarz. E., Kainz, G., Walpoth, G. Multimedia-based case studies in education: design, development, and evaluation of multimedia-based case studies. Journal of Educational Multimedia and Hypermedia. 1997. 6(1), 23-46.
Wang, F., Moore, J., Wedman, J., Shyu, C. Developing a case-based reasonling knowledge repository to support a learning community – an example from the technology integration community. ETR&D, Vol.51, No.3,2003, pp.45-62. ISSN 1042-1629.
It does sound like a very beneficial model. As you noted, the model is grounded in deeper learning while employing higher order thinking skills. You listed some great resources to create a rich multi-media experience that can be embedded into this model.
ReplyDelete"...learning from others' wisdom..." is certainly an exciting concept...being able to draw upon the intellectual capital of people who have experienced what we are needing to learn. What concerns me, however, is how we are going to find people who (1) have the level of expertise we are looking for, who will be able to clearly articulate their experience without superfluous embellishment, (2) how we are going to be able to sit them down long enough to create an audio or video describing that experience in a way in which the greatest number of people may benefit from it, and (3) how that information will be indexed for efficient retrieval. KITE seems like a good possibility for the last item, but such a task would be overwhelming for one organization. Still, it's great instructional design, worthy of consideration. Thanks for the great post!
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Al, you are so right, especially about the cost. That must be why law school is so expensive. Those students have to study all those cases -- all of which are transcribed and indexed. (forget videos) I need to look at these learning models with a more critical eye! Thanks!
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