TOUCH TYPING PODCAST (PROPOSAL)

Touch Typing Podcast ( Proposal)


Submitted by:
Jennifer Gaspar-Santos
November 1, 2006


Contents


Project Overview/ Organizational and Instructional Need
Course Goals/Target Audience/Instructional Strategies
Course Outline/ Scope of Work
Key considerations/ Technical Info
Development Process
Timeline and Deliverables
Program Budget Estimate
Project Assumptions




Project Overview

Touch-typing lessons can be mundane and the drills can weigh down instruction and leave them lifeless. I am always looking at ways to improve the touch-typing program at my school. As of now, I have already created a touch typing manual in my print class that proposes engaging activities that teach the students about ergonomics, proper hand key placement and best practices etc., . For my ITEC 830 project, I would like to create engaging supplemental tools to the print materials by way of a Touch Typing podcast.

I will be creating a 2 podcasts (real brief 5 - 8 minute segments) , which will be geared for Computer Resource teachers and/or Technology School Specialists as well as students (Grades 3 and 4). The podcast will train computer teachers how to use the manual in the classroom and will give them some best practices about how to effectively teach an engaging touch-typing unit. For students, the podcast will give them some audio instruction that can be used in conjunction with the my print manual and exercises that will incorporate catchy beats and voice instruction. ( example : a series of letters will be accompanied by a music beat. Students will develop a rhythm of typing can through the rhythm of the music beats)

Because the podcast contributes to anytime/anywhere learning, students can download the podcast at home and practice along with their workbook. Teachers can also download the podcast onto their ipod and listen to it at home or at a time which works for them.

Podcasts also allow for free playback so teachers and students can rewind over pieces that aren’t clear or can repeat a section of the podcast to practice typing.

That sounds really cool. I know there are a lot of game-like software programs that teach touch-typing, so I think this would be really well received by computer resource teachers. -Mdevlinclancy 11/14/06, 4:58pm



Introduction & Organizational Need

_My school’s mission is to create life-long learners and to expose the students to challenging academic instruction. By providing them with various mediums of instruction such as a podcast, they will gain knowledge outside the traditional pen and paper and be challenged to seek information beyond the ordinary. I can also reach out to students who are familiar with and use the ipod regurly and work with them on an interface they are comfortable with.

Course Goals
Instructional goals: Teach best practices and tips to computer resource teachers; provide an engaging exercise for students to strengthen touch-typing skills

Communication goals: Contribute to anytime/anywhere learning by way of a podcast which will meet our students on an interface (an iPod) that they are already familiar with.

Learner performance goals: Teachers will be inspired to try new practices when approaching touch-typing. Students will strengthen their touch-typing skills and their motivation will increase given the variety of learning tools.


Target Audience

Computer Resource Teachers and Grades 3 – 4.


Instructional Strategies

The program will incorporate the following instructional strategies:


Information Presentation
Interface design and interactive features allow users to control the pacing, and sequencing of content. Course information will be presented in small, discrete chunks to minimize overload and enhance retention.

Audio
I will be using beats that will appeal to a younger audience. This feature will engage the learner to want to practice more.

Content Outline

6.Topics to be included in the podcasts:

For Teachers:
Best practices on how to implement engaging touch typing curriculum
Tips from other Teachers

For Students:
3-4 Exercises on Qwerty and Home Row Keys using catchy beats and voice instruction
Proper ergonomics
Proper hand-key placement


Scope of Work

Our team will provide user interface design, script and storyboard review, quality assurance and debugging services for the proposed podcast
Key Considerations
These are things that will ensure successes and failures:

360-degree conversation with all parties involved: administration, teachers, students and Sees

Formative Evaluation at every stage of the process

Deadlines and meetings are met

Feedback and Surveys * I will make sure there is some type of feedback loop to my podcast i.e. an email address, the website to a wiki or a blog that will have prompts to receive user feedback of the touch typing podcasts.



Technical Information

The Pod User would need broadband Internet connection,a computer, iTunes and functioning speakers.




Development Process ( Taken from Template )

[Project team] designs and builds in stages to ensure client input and feedback as well as quality and technical compatibility.

Content Review
Team will collaborate with client SMEs to review and optimize content prior to production of the tutorial.

Graphic User Interface (GUI) Design
Team will provide preliminary GUI and look and feel drafts, as well as composites, to allow client input and feedback. The final versions of these components will be revised based on the reviews.

Prototype
We will build a limited-scope prototype version of the online course with examples of the types of user features and interactions that will be included in the final product, but with limited content. This will allow us to conduct usability testing with a limited number of audience members to review design ideas – and revise as appropriate.

Alpha
We build out the tutorial –with actual content - for an alpha review. Feedback from the alpha review informs us of additional revisions or bug fixes that may need to be made to the tutorial prior to full-scale deployment.

Beta
We then Quality Assure the complete tutorial in beta version. The beta version will reflect any revisions required by the findings of the alpha review and will position the tutorial for full-scale implementation.


Deployment and Evaluation
Throughout the development process, we will stage content on a CD Rom for your review and approval. We will work with your technology team to ensure the audience easily accesses the course.



TIMELINE AND DELIVERABLES
The deliverables, timeline, and strategies to complete the project are outlined in the following table.


Needs and Content Analysis November 2
Design Document November 2
GUI Design November 9
Content Development November 16
Alpha version November 23
Beta version November 30
Final Delivery December 7


PROGRAM BUDGET ESTIMATE
[For the purposes of ITEC830, the budget is optional]


Activity Cost ($75/hour)
Content analysis and content design $ 525
Graphic design $ 75
Development of storyboards for programming $ 750
Course Programming (alpha, beta, final) user testing, and implementation to iLearn $ 525
Exam Programming (alpha, beta, final) and implementation $ 525
Total $ 2400

Evaluation $ 525

FINAL TOTAL $ 2925







PROJECT ASSUMPTIONS

The project development timetable and budget will be based upon the assumptions below.

Client will provide:

- Budgetary constraints

- Provide direction and evaluate how the project alignment with school curriculum


- Content and consult with team’s project manager in developing the “look and feel” of the course.

- Timely review of materials.

- Access to specifications and available publishing and style guidelines, and server access and software tools as necessary for conformance testing.

- Ongoing access to client’s primary ISP and technical contact.


Team will provide

-Timely review of materials and periodic update on current status of the project
-draft materials and strategies for completion
- Communication with an SME who develops actual touch typing instruction