Job  Aid:  Using  KidBlog.org  in  the  Classroom    

 

 

Jennifer  Kaupke  

EDT503  

October  28,  2012  

Introduction As part of the Common Core Standards, students are required to be able to use technology to collaborate with others. In an effort to meet this standard, we are urging our teachers to set up a class blog. Our district has approved the website Kidblog.org for this purpose. The job aid created walks teachers through the process of setting up a classroom blog, changing the settings and direction on how to moderate comments & posts.

“With some guidance and support from adults, use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing as well as to interact and collaborate with others; demonstrate sufficient command of keyboarding skills to type a minimum of two pages in a single sitting.”

Scope of the Learning Module

Audience The audience for this job aid is teacher in the K-12 setting. Little technical skills are required of the user. The main focus for our use of this job aid is 2nd-8th grade teachers of English Language Arts, however, teachers of other grades and subjects could use this job guide. The motivation for users is that they are required to teach all Common Core standards and this provides them a simple way to meet the standard: “With some guidance and support from adults, use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing as well as to interact and collaborate with others…”

Prerequisites The user should have basic understanding of what a blog is, how to access the internet, and what conversations are appropriate to the students they are teaching.

Goals • Objective:

o Users will set up a classroom blog where students can interact and collaborate with one another and the teacher in a meaningful way.

• Givens: o The user understands what a blog is o The user can access the internet o The user will moderate conversations between students and provide meaningful opportunities for

student collaboration • Type of Task:

o This task is simple yet has many steps involved. Upon completion of setup, the task requires continued attention for maintenance of the classroom blog.

• Assessment o Assessment will be based on proper setup of the classroom blog.

Motivation Users are motivated by ease of use and being able to meet technology standards within the Common Core.

Performance Gap This job addresses the performance gap for those who are not familiar with the setup of various Internet applications. This job aid will walk the user through the necessary steps and alleviate the frustration of figuring out how to navigate the application.

Instructional Media Choices

Module Content The content of this job aid explains the steps to setting up a classroom blog.

Delivery and Interaction This job aid was developed by collecting screenshots of the various pages within the setting of KidBlog.org. The job aid walks the user through the steps of this setup process and can be implemented at the user’s desired speed of completion.

Cognitive Load To avoid an excess of cognitive load this job aid was designed with many different elements including: minimal technical language, text at the users reading level, graphics which are integrated with the steps, and the avoidance of split attention. Throughout this Job Aid, focus was placed on breaking a complex process down into smaller steps and presenting parts of a process instead of the whole process at once. Additionally, color has bee utilized to identify important elements within the design to draw the users attention. Providing the appropriate amount of whitespace also allows the user to remain focused on the correct portion of the guide without facing split attention problems. I used consistency in colors, fonts, and visuals to avoid distraction. The combination of these elements and taking into consideration the five basic gestalt principles has provided a document that effectively manages cognitive load for the user.

Click here to create your new class. Next time you visit the site you will login below.

This username will be visible to students so you may want to use your last name or similar.

You can create multiple classes (for middle school or if you want to have multiple projects) or one class so all of the students you teach will participate in the same blog.

Complete all information on this account setup page

Below is your Dashboard. Here you will find a summary of the actions taken on your blog. This is the screen you will see each time you login.

Here is a summary of how many posts, comments, etc. are on your blog.

Here you can view the most recent comments

to your blog.

Here you can view the most recent posts to

your blog.

(1) Click here to create a new post.

Creating a New Post

Add your post title here

Add the content of your post here (3) Click here to publish

(2) Add a title, text and any desired media (photo, video, music,

PowerPoint, etc) to your post.

Media can be added to your post here (optional)

Deleting a Post

(1) Click here to review posts

(2) Click the checkbox next to the post(s) you would like removed  

(3) From the drop-down menu, select “Move to Trash”  

(1) Click edit below the title of the post  

(2) Post will open and can be edited following the same steps as creating the initial post  

Editing a Post

Approving / Deleting a Comment

(1) Click here to review comments

(2) Click the checkbox next to the post(s) you would like approve, deny or delete  

(3) From the dropdown menu, you can select unapproved, approve, mark as spam or move to trash  

(1) Click the “Users” tab

Adding / Removing Users

(2) Click here to add a new student

Choose a display name that will be easy for you to tell which student is posting. Example: their first initial with their last name

Again, choose something easy to remember

(3) Complete this form for each student in your class.

(1) Click on the settings tab

Adjusting the Settings of your Blog

The default time zone is Chicago, so make sure

you adjust this.

(2) Begin by reviewing the setting under the

General sub-tab

This is the site your students will use to access your blog

(3) Choose the look and feel of your blog by

picking a new theme

To preview the theme click Preview. Once you have chosen the theme you like, click activate

Make sure this is set to your classes only so it is not available for public

comment.

If this is checked it will send you an email every time

someone posts to your blog

Be sure that you have this

checked so that you can

moderate posts.

(4) Define rules for

posts to your blog

Make sure this is set to your classes only so it is not available for public

comment.

If this is checked it will send you an email every time someone

comments on your blog.

Be sure that you have this

checked so that you can

moderate comments.

(5) Define rules for

comments to your blog

EDT 503: Job Aid Project Student Name: Jennifer Kaupke    Scoring Rubric:

Category  Points  Possible  

Points  Awarded  

 Comments  

The  chosen  task  is  appropriate  for  a  job  aid  and  the  job  aid  format  is  appropriate  

5   5   Good  choice  and  audience.    Teachers  need  a  simple  and  quick  reference  to  get  started  with  tasks.    They  certainly  have  enough  to  read  as  it  is.  

Elements  are  properly  aligned   5   4   I  think  a  little  tweaking  would  do  you  well.    Some  items,  while  they  fit  fine  on  the  page,  are  not  totally  aligned  with  each  other  seem  like  they  are  displaced  to  conserve  room.    I  would  also  consider  narrowing  your  page  margins  to  give  you  more  space  to  work  with.  

Good  use  of  contrast   5   3   Your  arrows  are  the  same  color  as  the  web  page’s  trim.    If  it  weren’t  for  the  shadows  you  included,  I’d  be  really  confused.    Try  red  or  black.    Red  circles  are  a  thumbs  up!  

Similar  elements  are  in  close  proximity   5   4   Close  proximity,  yes.    However,  some  things  are  not  separated  enough  and  start  to  blob  together  too  much.    Consider  separating  groups  from  each  other  more.  

Similar  elements  are  repeated   5   5   Very  consistent!  Graphics  are  well-­‐designed,  consistent  with  guidelines    

5   4   Consider  a  darker  and  more  readable  font.  

Instructions  are  error  free  (spelling,  grammar)   5   5   Just  fine!  Design  is  well  justified  in  the  design  document  and  it  adheres  to  the  template  provided  in  class  

5   5   You  present  a  good  argument!    I  would  suggest  expanding  a  bit  on  how  you  are  managing  cognitive  load  though.    You  are  actually  using  quite  a  few  practices  beyond  what  you  stated.    (You  are  breaking  a  complex  process  down  into  smaller  steps,  presenting  parts  of  a  process  instead  of  the  whole  process  at  once.)  

Limited  or  no  extraneous/distracting  content   5   4.5   The  only  problem  I  have  is  the  font  choice.    It  distracts  me  because  it’s  hard  to  differentiate  as  instructions  from  the  screenshots.  

Point  Total   45        General  Comment:  Great  Job  Jennifer!!    The  only  real  sticking  points  for  me  are  the  font  choice  and  some  gestalt  grouping  issues  (see  comment  above).  

EDT 503: Job Aid Project Student Name: Jennifer Kaupke    Scoring Rubric:

Category  Points  Possible  

Points  Awarded  

 Comments  

The  chosen  task  is  appropriate  for  a  job  aid  and  the  job  aid  format  is  appropriate  

5   5   Very  applicable  and  appropriate.  

Elements  are  properly  aligned   5   5   Yup.  Good  use  of  contrast   5   5   Possibly  change  the  font/color  of  the  directives  from  the  text  that  simply  

explains  what  an  object  is.  Also  you  might  want  to  put  a  colored  frame  around  your  text  so  it  provides  contrast  between  the  screen  text  and  your  directives.  

Similar  elements  are  in  close  proximity   5   4   Everything  is  so  close  on  the  design  document  that  screen  tend  to  run  together.  Perhaps  spread  them  out  more  and  provide  a  number  that  indicates  which  screen  is  what  step.  

Similar  elements  are  repeated   5   5   Nice  use  of  graphics  and  repetition.  Graphics  are  well-­‐designed,  consistent  with  guidelines    

5   5   Great  presentation.  

Instructions  are  error  free  (spelling,  grammar)   5   4   Minor  mistakes  in  the  design  document  and  job  aid  (but  hey  it’s  a  draft!).    Design  is  well  justified  in  the  design  document  and  it  adheres  to  the  template  provided  in  class  

5   5   Elaborate  more  on  how  it  minimizes  extraneous  cognitive  load.  

Limited  or  no  extraneous/distracting  content   5   5   Very  good  use  of  limiting  extraneous  content  by  cutting  out  unnecessary  parts  of  the  screen  shots.  At  times  there  are  multiple  directions  and  I  am  unsure  of  where  to  start.  

Point  Total   45   43    General  Comment:    How  will  the  job  aid  be  delivered  (website,  overlay,  handout,  etc)?  I  would  recommend  explaining  in  greater  detail  how  the  job  aid  minimizes  cognitive  load.  For  the  job  aid  itself,  I  would  recommend  spreading  out  the  images  so  there  is  greater  proximity  between  each  image  as  they  tend  to  bleed  together.  I  would  also  recommend  adding  numbers  and/or  colored  frames  that  draw  the  users’  attention  to  your  directives  by  providing  eye  catching  contrast;  at  times  your  text  blends  in  with  the  screen  text  so  I  had  to  search  more  than  was  necessary.  I  think  you’re  doing  a  great  job  highlighting  the  uses  of  the  program,  I  just  think  these  minor  changes  could  make  it  even  better.  I  hope  my  comments  helped!  Jared  O’Leary  

 EDT 503: Job Aid Project (Peer Review, 2nd Round) Student Name: Jennifer Kaupke Reviewed by: Melissa VerSchage Scoring Rubric:

Category Points Possible Points Awarded Comments

The chosen task is appropriate for a job aid and the job aid format is appropriate

5 5 Two thumbs up! Blogs are so relevant!

Elements are properly aligned 5 5 Yes Good use of contrast 5 5 The red boxes and arrows really pop out from

blue/orange environment. Similar elements are in close proximity 5 5 Arrows lead me to elements Similar elements are repeated 5 4 Yes, but need to be more consistent with use of

arrows. See comments below. Graphics are well-designed, consistent with guidelines

5 5 Yes!

Instructions are error free (spelling, grammar) 5 5 Clear and concise! Design is well justified in the design document and it adheres to the template provided in class

5 5 Yes!

Limited or no extraneous/distracting content 5 5 Point Total 45 44 General Comment:

I read the original reviews from round 1 and you've done a great job improving the job aid. Separating the steps onto separate pages and using landscape formatting allows the images to be larger and easier to read. Kudos! The text is much easier to read with the red boxes and san serif font (Century Gothic?). I am so glad you changed the arrow colors as they now stand out and are so much easier to follow. Your red arrows and boxes are consistently used throughout, except for page 9 and 19:

• Page 9: Two of the four steps are labeled with arrows. The two that don't use arrows look like the text at the top of the page, causing confusion. Consider using arrows whenever giving instruction.

• Page 19 has a similar issue as page 9 (need arrows to recognize actions). Page 13 appears to be an addition, and should probably have it's own heading (Edit a Post). This page currently looks like it's part of Reviewing/Deleting a Post. It was recommended in the Round 1 reviews that you consider numbering steps since this is a sequential process. Though I agree with this comment, I have to say that I had no issues understanding sequence due to your great layout. Though it isn't necessary, adding numbered steps would eliminate any doubt lingering about sequence. You did great work with this job aid, both the original and the revision.