The first two courses I experienced in the Educational Technology Masters Cohort, SED 618 “Educational Multimedia” and SED 619 “Educational Website Development”, provided the most rewarding learning experience in the entire program. These courses were the framework for the program as I developed media literacy. My work experience as an Information Technology Systems Analyst typically involves the installation and accessibility of applications to the user community. These courses allowed me to experience desktop applications from the user perspective which greatly enhanced my knowledge of those applications. In particular, the Adobe Design Web Premium suite of products was introduced where Dreamweaver was utilized to create a basic instructional website. That website was then enhanced and incorporated in my independent study project for SED 699 which reviews the roles and responsibilities of a Data Center Manager.
Relation to Student Learning Objective
The Multimedia and Educational Website Development courses consisted of a sequence of exercises that produced creative images, slideshows, games and videos. Dr. Norm Herr did a superb job of teaching us the basics of website creation and exposed us to a wealth of tools and information to further develop our skills. Each project focused on a different topic and the relationship to student learning. As we were shown the vast array of tools available to develop content, I became more aware of methods to teach creatively and effectively. As I began to deploy the concepts presented in class my conceptual knowledge of the presented material became apparent. I was being taught how people learn while learning how to teach. My instructional website, entitled “Data Center Design & Management”, was the culmination of mastering skills in Adobe Design Web Premium as well as understanding the pedagogical content knowledge necessary to promote student learning.
Knowledge and Skill Assessment
Incorporating multimedia into instructional websites is an effective method to engage the viewer by providing visual aids to explain abstract concepts. Information expressed verbally can be reinforced through the use of images, graphics and video. Illustrating ideas through flowcharts and diagrams can provide the mental image necessary to promote cognitive retention. The content displayed throughout the website was a result of the mastery of skills learned and deployed from exercises completed in SED 618 and SED 619. Those two core classes were essential for the development of the skills I attained to master the creation of the instructional website.
The Data Center Design & Management website incorporates the concept of a “Data Center University” where basic concepts involved in operating an enterprise Data Center are presented. One major aspect involves the distribution of power and related infrastructure components such as diesel generators, power distribution units and high volume air conditioning units. A pictorial slideshow was embedded with a few animated images to illustrate concepts like air-flow and power systems. A video of Google’s large-scale Data Center is included to emphasize the concepts presented in the website, and is located under the “Instructional Videos” link. The website illustrates my subject knowledge in the Information Technology field and graphically demonstrates my ability to iterate that knowledge through methods learned in the Master of Arts program.
The Reflective Practice Student Learning Objective provided me the opportunity to create the Data Center University Website, and consider future additions. The website could be used as an inventory system to document installed equipment as well as offer best-practice solutions to prospective Data Center Managers. Technology and computer equipment companies could be referenced as potential vendor contacts. Additional training videos could be developed to explain maintenance and security protocols. In essence, the tools used and methods learned in the Multimedia and Website Development courses were utilized to develop and deploy course management material in my instructional website that is reflective of my learning experience and beneficial for student learning.