Web Design Applications Student Oriented Learning for Online

Web Design Applications: Student Oriented Learning for Online Nisar Keshvani (x 8264) keshvani@np. edu. sg www. np. edu. sg/~knh

Web Design Applications: Student Orientated Learning for Online l l l Scope of Presentation Context of Web Design Applications Teaching Strategies / Techniques Feedback What’s next? Q&A

Context of Web Design Applications • • • Students completed Intro to Web Design & Computer Graphics (core unit with software focus) WDA: appreciation of web design, content development, interactive media skills 1 hr lecture & 3 hour tutorials (16 hours p wk) 110 students Computer labs equipped with Macromedia package, etc

Challenges faced : • • Teaching Mass Comm students (intelligent, vocal, active, some hate PCs, esp female students) Media savvy Have to challenge them since they are netcrazy (blog users, heavy surfers with good home PC Setups) Sometimes better than NP labs

Organising your tutorials l l l - Tutorial organisation: Checklist and time sheets Multi-modular approach (variety) Journal Reflection (on-going assessment) Individual assignment feedback Self-driven (software) learning at individual pace

Web-based learning l l l WDA website components: www. np. edu. sg/~knh/wda Lectures, Tutorials, Assessment, Announcements Resources (lecturer and student recommended websites)

Encouraging Creativity l - Assessment for unit: Journeys Assignment (web based project which brings user on a journey) Reflective Journal (encourage student thinking) Online Publications (create a living publication around any topic or idea)

Encouraging Creativity & Peer Learning l l Peer tutoring (synthesis of learning) Field Trip (Visit to Singapore Art Museum to critique Nokia Cyber. Art Exhibition) Student-Teacher Developed Peer Assessment (Show points & final assessment criteria) Note-taking by students (from the white board) – satisfies their “Something on paper desire”

Reflective Journals l - l Reflective journal (purpose): a) lessons learnt during Web Design classes b) reflections and thoughts by student within Mass Comm, and in their personal lives, c) Documentation of the students’ assignments, and projects and evolution of ideas through the module. Show examples of responses

Sample of Journal Responses (open letter) Dear Nisar (positive comments): “A lot of teachers say that they would like to learn from us, but a lot of them don’t mean it, so I really appreciated it when you showed the Anna Sui (Ed: my contribution) website” – Germaine “I just want you to know that there are people who appreciate things you do. I can see you are putting in a lot of effort into this module. ” – Mong Xin “WDA has been enriching. Who can forget when you sit beside us and prompt us till we get solutions? I WON’T” – David Pillai

Sample of Journal Responses ii (open letter) Dear Nisar (positive comments): “Its incredible how a lecturer can make a technicallyinclined module interesting. . . I am surprised by how my learning has been made effective by the way you teach and to me that was interesting” – Benedict David “ps: i'm still wonderin how a person like me (yes I failed web graphics and design in year 1), can have his work requested to be published online by a lecturer. . . *shakes head dumbfoundedly*. And i really used to hate web design i tell ya. . . ” – Benedict

Sample of Journal Responses iii (open letter) Dear Nisar (positive comments): “I'd just like to say i really enjoyed your lessons and that you have contributed, in the most colossal of ways, to my newfound interest and skills in web or anything technical. I can actually turn on the computer without first conducting a blessing ceremony. (", ) I maintain that Dreamweaver rocks. . "Like sands through the hour glass, so are the Days Of 2 T 10. . . “ – Vanessa Yeo (show peer evaluation)

Sample of Journal Responses iv (open letter) Dear Nisar (negative comments): “Maybe you can try using more creative approaches to teach. More activities to stimulate interests and motivate … Not many people like web stuff – I just don’t have the interest and talent. Maybe 5 years or even one year down the road, I will forget all I have learnt. But at least I can boast I’ve set up websites before …” – Michelle Tan

Sample of Journal Responses v (open letter) Dear Nisar (negative comments): “I guess not everyone will be able to adapt to the way you teach student as in I can’t learn anything if you keep shooting me back with questions, everytime I ask you one” “You cant just stick to one kind of teaching method, because everyone is different, they are not standardised yeah. ” - Alen Seow

Sample of Journal Responses vi (open letter) Dear Nisar (negative comments): “Sometimes you are rather impatient and expect as if all students know everything. That is when I feel intimidated about WDA seeing some web savvy students know their way around. Somehow there are those who refuse to help. - Fairuz Shariff

What’s next? • • • End of semester? Its always back to the drawing boards To evaluate what went right, wrong? Currently working on my presentation techniques Students have indicated I am too lenient (be strict) Developing subject guide with NP Library Need to address comments about student learning technique (about 5 out of 110)

Contact • • • nisar keshvani, FMS tel: 64608264 keshvani@np. edu. sg Keshvani@np - www. np. edu. sg/~knh WDA - www. np. edu. sg/~knh/wda