Coordination and clearly defined roles within the team are essential for a successful learning module. This phase involves assigning team roles based on individual skills and responsibilities, developing a detailed project schedule, and identifying and compiling necessary external resources.
Start by sketching a timeline for your project. This should include deadlines for all important milestones such as completion of content creation, the technical setup, and testing phases. Utilize project management tools like Trello, Asana, or even a shared Google Sheets to visualize your timeline and track progress.
Next, it's important to define the roles within your team. Consider the unique skills and strengths of each team member. Here are a few role examples:
- Project Manager: Oversees project timeline and manages communication between team members.
- Content Developers: Responsible for creating the instructional content.
- Technical Lead: Handles the technical aspects of the module creation on the Appropedia platform.
- Quality Assurance: Reviews and checks the module for errors, consistency, and clarity.
With today's technology, there are several frameworks and digital tools for team building and project management to help streamline the process and increase productivity. Typically, project management software follows the agile development method and focuses on releasing products by features.
To create a comprehensive curriculum, follow these steps:
- Break down your learning objectives into specific topics.
- Decide on the order in which the topics should be taught to make the learning process intuitive and build on previous knowledge.
- Choose the methods of instruction for each topic. This could be written content, video lectures, interactive simulations, quizzes, etc.
- Begin to plan the simulation and self-assessment components.
- Identify Potential Resources
Start by mapping out the key topics and concepts you'll be covering in your module. Then, identify what external resources could help explain, illustrate, or delve deeper into these topics. These resources might include:
- Research articles and academic papers
- Online textbooks or e-books
- Medical databases and journals
- Videos, infographics, and other multimedia content
- Software applications or digital tools
- Websites of relevant health organizations or institutions
- Prepare Instructions for External Platforms
If your module incorporates resources from other platforms or apps, it's important to provide clear instructions for accessing and using these tools. Write a step-by-step guide detailing how learners should navigate to the resource, any sign-up or login procedures, and how to use the key features of the tool that are relevant to your module. Remember, the goal is to make the learning experience as seamless as possible for your learners.
- Finalize List of Appropedia Knowledge and Skill Pages
Go back to the list of pages you've previously explored on Appropedia. Based on the content and structure of your module, decide which pages you want to directly link to within your content.
- Integrate Resources into Your Module
Finally, carefully plan how and where these resources will be incorporated into your module. They can be weaved into the content, used as references or further reading, or even form the basis of assignments and activities. Always ensure the incorporation of these resources enhances learning and does not overwhelm or confuse the learners.
When creating the curriculum and defining learning objectives, also start to consider how you will evaluate whether these objectives are being met. This is where drafting an evaluation protocol comes in.
An evaluation protocol is a structured document that outlines how your module will be tested upon completion. It helps to ensure a systematic approach to the testing process, and it is crucial for gathering valid, useful feedback about your module.
Here's how to start drafting your evaluation protocol:
- State the Purpose: Define what you hope to understand from the testing. This could be user experience, knowledge gains, or overall satisfaction, among other things.
- Define the Scope: Determine what aspects of the module you'll test. This could include content, usability, and design.
- Outline the Methodology: Describe how you'll conduct the testing. This could be through interviews, surveys, quizzes, or observing users navigate the module. You may use different methods for different aspects of the testing.
- Create the Test Plan: Based on the above, come up with a step-by-step plan for how to conduct the testing. This might include a list of tasks for users to complete, or questions to ask in an interview or survey.
Remember, this is just a draft at this stage. It's okay if things change as you develop the module. The idea is to start thinking methodically about how to gather and interpret feedback.
