Overview
This training toolkit provides the fundamentals to develop and implement a strategic plan dedicated to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. What sets this plan apart is its unique adaptation to the characteristics of students, faculty, and local communities in the College of Oster, a higher education institution.
The course consists of four modules developed on Canvas LMS. It was created as part of project-based learning in the M.S. in the Instructional Design and Technology program at the University of Maryland Global Campus in the spring of 2023. A three-member team worked together to build the course over two months.
Analysis
We followed Learning Design Thinking (LDT) to structure the process phases. LDT strings six phases in order.
Frame >> Focus >> Identify Solutions >> Prototype >> Calibrate >> Implement
The proposal presentation video we created for the college’s leadership team narrates an overview of the first three phases.
This 10.5-minute video has audio.
Project Management
Project management (PM) is crucial in designing a learning environment.
As learning designers create effective learning experiences, project management is also an important skill for organizing vital components. Our role is crucial in delivering high-quality learning experiences within the planned timeframe, scope, and budget, thereby significantly impacting the overall success of the project.
Our team produced a PM Plan to map out all tasks to create a course. I contributed to making a schedule/Gantt Chart, risk management plan, and stakeholder communications plan and consolidated them all into a document.
Prototype
As the team designed the content, I architected the navigation structure with visual cues using icons throughout Canvas LMS.
As a crucial step in maintaining our course’s visual identity, I produced a brand board that will guide our team in creating cohesive visuals.
We published a prototype of one complete module, which is ready for the first round of review iteration.
Calibrate
Challenge:
During the first round, we performed usability testing to uncover the improvement areas. While the navigation aspect was a success, the content was found to be text-heavy for some learners. This reassures us that the system is user-friendly, but also highlights the need for content optimization.
Solution:
Upon receiving usability test results and feedback about meaningful interaction with learners, I turned the text-based welcome statement into a short opening video, answering learners’ “What’s in it for me” questions. This task demanded visualization skills to transfer the narrative from texts into appropriate images. I also minimized the appearance of onscreen texts.
This 3-minute video has audio.
Implement
We added four more modules and went through iterative revisions.
Log-in Credentials:
To log in as a guest user, please use the email and password provided.
https://learn.canvas.net/login/canvas
Email: wagarden6@gmail.com
Password: LDTrytestuser
You will find a couple of courses on the dashboard when you log in. Go to “DEI Strategy Planning Toolkit v3”.
After checking our course, please log out from the guest user account. This allows another reviewer to log in after you.
Team Dynamics
- Challenges:
- As a three-member team, we brought complementary skills, gradually developed the team’s process, and took turns in managerial roles. We went through the team stages: Forming, Storming, Norming, Performing, and Adjourning. As a newly formed team, although we didn’t know how to work with each other on the first deliverable, we each took a portion and contributed with the skills each possessed.
- Solution:
- As the projects progressed, we started to learn about each other’s strengths and skill sets. In addition to our daily responsibilities and life priorities as adult learners, I realized that each member’s time management and varied motivations directly influenced the team. The bottom line and team norms developed gradually, including claiming what each can contribute, being transparent about progress, sharing what affects our lives, and trusting the team members once we commit to the contributing portion.
Result
Communication, critical thinking, collaboration, conflict resolution, and leadership are fundamental skills that can be applied in any professional setting. However, when faced with tight deadlines and specific criteria, navigating the diverse backgrounds of team members working remotely presents its own unique set of challenges. I learned to effectively manage competing tasks, delivering value within the given time frame, all while maintaining trust in my team members.
More about this project
The full course description is available in my academic portfolio, linked here.