Project
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I spearheaded the design and development of this interactive eLearning project tailored for educators. This initiative aims to equip teachers with research-based strategies to cultivate inclusive classrooms, fostering an environment where every student feels valued, respected, and actively engaged in their learning journey.
Responsibilities: Instructional Design, Subject Matter Expert, eLearning Development, Visual Design, Storyboarding, Action Mapping, Prototyping
Tools Used: Articulate Storyline 360, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, PowerPoint, MindMeister, Envato, Word
The Process
Recognizing a critical issue within the educational landscape, it became evident that educators were grappling with the ineffective implementation of culturally responsive pedagogy. This resulted in detrimental consequences such as inequitable learning outcomes, student disengagement, and a lack of inclusivity in the classroom. After meticulous analysis, it was apparent that educators were ill-equipped with the requisite skills and knowledge to seamlessly integrate students' cultural backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives into the teaching and learning process.
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To confront this challenge, I proposed the development of an immersive eLearning experience centered around culturally responsive pedagogy. Our primary goal was to enhance student engagement, promote inclusivity, and cultivate a supportive learning environment. This would be achieved by empowering educators with the tools and strategies needed to effectively implement culturally responsive teaching practices. The eLearning program would provide participants with interactive scenarios designed to navigate culturally diverse classrooms, engage with students from various backgrounds, and address cultural biases and stereotypes.
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Understanding the gravity of misconceptions such as tokenism and stereotyping, I underscored the importance of highlighting these as detrimental consequences of ineffective practices. Educators would be sensitized to the risks of tokenistic inclusion, where diversity is merely superficial, lacking genuine engagement and understanding. Similarly, the dangers of cultural stereotyping would be emphasized, illuminating the harmful impact of assuming uniform characteristics or experiences among students based on their cultural backgrounds. To further underscore the urgency of rectifying these practices, I proposed incorporating elements of gamification, such as a "cultural awareness meter." This tool would gauge educators' sensitivity to cultural diversity in the classroom. Additionally, feedback mechanisms would offer educators insights into the repercussions of their decisions on student learning and engagement. This mirrors the feedback loop they would encounter in their teaching practice.
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With the client's endorsement of the proposal, we embarked on the development of the eLearning program, confident that our bespoke solution would empower educators to create inclusive and culturally responsive learning environments. This endeavor aimed to foster improved academic outcomes and a more equitable educational experience for all students, thereby addressing the pressing need for transformative change within the educational landscape.
Action Map
I collaborated with another leading expert in culturally responsive pedagogy as my Subject Matter Expert (SME) to design an eLearning program aimed at empowering educators with the tools and strategies to effectively implement culturally responsive teaching practices. Together, we developed a comprehensive action plan that aligned with the core principles of culturally responsive pedagogy, aiming to foster inclusive classrooms where every student feels valued, respected, and engaged in their learning journey. In designing this eLearning program, we are committed to dispelling common misconceptions about culturally responsive pedagogy, such as tokenism, cultural stereotyping, and the imposition of a one-size-fits-all approach. Instead, we aim to equip educators with the knowledge and skills needed to authentically engage with students' cultural backgrounds and create inclusive learning environments that promote equity and inclusion.
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Through this collaborative effort, we believe that educators will be empowered to implement culturally responsive pedagogy effectively, ultimately fostering positive outcomes for all students and creating a more equitable and inclusive educational experience.
Storyboard
Once the action map for the culturally responsive pedagogy series was finalized, the next crucial step was to develop the flow of the eLearning narrative through a text-based storyboard. This served as the foundational blueprint guiding the overall project development.
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The process began by envisioning the journey of an educator striving to implement culturally responsive teaching practices in their classroom. Building upon this narrative framework, I meticulously crafted choices and detailed consequences for each key action identified in the action map. Continuous collaboration with the Subject Matter Expert (SME) ensured accuracy and relevance throughout this phase.
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Iterative refinement was a central aspect of the storyboard development process. Multiple rounds of feedback were solicited from professional instructional designers and the SME, facilitating enhancements to the story's coherence, instructional effectiveness, and overall user experience. This collaborative exchange of ideas and perspectives enriched the narrative, ensuring alignment with educational objectives and learner engagement.
Slide from storyboard
Storyboard Mockups
Visual Mockups
Once the text-based storyboard underwent revisions and received approval, I transitioned into the visual design phase, leveraging the capabilities of PowerPoint, Photoshop, and Illustrator to craft immersive mockups. PowerPoint served as the canvas for initial layout exploration, allowing me to experiment with slide compositions and arrangements.
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Utilizing Photoshop and Illustrator, I meticulously maintained a consistent visual style across all elements, from backgrounds to characters. Custom color palettes were crafted based on the initial concept, with Photoshop aiding in the editing of assets to harmonize with the chosen color scheme.
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Ensuring a coherent narrative, I sourced and edited imagery representing culturally responsive pedagogy, carefully incorporating elements that reflect diverse perspectives and inclusive practices. The design of interactive elements such as prompt boxes, buttons, and fonts prioritized the objective of fostering cultural understanding and equity, resulting in minimalist prompts with subtle design accents.
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Upon achieving satisfaction with the visual mockups, I transitioned to creating a visual storyboard, seamlessly integrating the visuals with the text-based script. Finally, employing Articulate Storyline 360, I translated the refined elements into an interactive format, further enhancing the user experience and promoting culturally responsive learning.
Style Guide - High-Fidelity Mockups
Interactive Prototype
For the development of our culturally responsive pedagogy e-learning package, I utilized Articulate Storyline 360 to construct an interactive prototype, drawing from the visual mockups and storyboard to lay the foundation for the scenario's programming. This prototype encompassed crucial elements such as the title screen, scenario introduction, and the initial question's outcomes, both correct and incorrect.
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To ensure a seamless user experience, I integrated smooth fading transitions and crisp animations for each prompt and slide element, maintaining narrative immersion throughout. Additionally, I employed custom animations, utilizing motion paths and audio cues to enhance engagement.
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A significant feature of the prototype was the implementation of interactive elements, such as feedback mechanisms and progress indicators, providing learners with immediate feedback on their decisions and progress within the scenario.
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Upon completion of the prototype, I solicited feedback to refine the look, feel, and overall experience of the e-learning package. Incorporating received input, I made minor adjustments to enhance user engagement and immersion. With these refinements in place, I proceeded to full development, confident in the effectiveness and appeal of the e-learning package.
Scene Build outs in Storyline
Full Development
The full development of the Culturally Responsive Pedagogy series in Articulate Storyline 360 proceeded efficiently, benefiting from the groundwork laid during the creation of visual assets and programming frameworks for various sequences.
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Custom Visuals: Visual assets were carefully selected from Envato and underwent editing in Photoshop and Illustrator to ensure cohesion and immersion within the scenario. Tasks such as resizing, layer editing, recoloring, and asset merging were executed to maintain a seamless visual experience.
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Custom Animations: Each scene was enriched with bespoke animations aimed at enhancing user engagement and effectively conveying the principles of culturally responsive feedback. These animations served as dynamic illustrations, reinforcing the importance of culturally sensitive approaches in educational settings.
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Gamification: To underscore the significance of culturally responsive pedagogy in assessments and assignments, interactive baseball and cricket games were devised. Custom animations were crafted, drawing inspiration from renowned playing fields worldwide, to evoke the atmosphere and excitement of these sports while driving home the educational message.
Experience an excerpt of the course
Reflections
Upon sharing the completed project online within my network, I received an overwhelmingly positive response, with praise for its polished presentation, immersive qualities, and engaging dialogue. Notably, a consulted colleague expressed admiration for the experience, envisioning its potential as a valuable asset for educators.
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Reflecting on the project, I identified several avenues for further enhancement and expansion, given additional time and resources:
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Expanded Narrative Pathways: The positive reception to alternative consequences showcased the potential for increased narrative complexity. By expanding branching pathways throughout the experience, I aim to enhance replayability and offer a broader range of outcomes, fostering deeper engagement and satisfaction for users.
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Expanded Scenarios: While the existing scenarios provided valuable insights into culturally responsive pedagogy strategies, I recognize the need to diversify situations to better reflect real-world challenges. By incorporating multiple scenarios requiring distinct approaches, the experience will become more comprehensive and effective in preparing learners for varied teaching contexts.
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Expanded Playing Options: While the current game setup offers an engaging cricket experience, I acknowledge the importance of broadening the range of playing scenarios to cater to diverse player preferences. By introducing multiple gameplay situations with unique challenges and strategies, players will benefit from a more immersive and adaptable gaming experience, ensuring greater enjoyment and skill development.
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This project has not only afforded me the opportunity to collaborate with subject matter experts and peers, but also to integrate valuable feedback and acquire new skills in instructional design and eLearning development. Above all, it has been a creatively fulfilling endeavor, enabling significant personal and professional growth.