Design Document

Susan Genden

Wayne State University

Design Document

Susan Genden

Wayne State University

Digital Layout I:Adobe InDesign Training

Digital Layout I:Adobe InDesign Training

What is Adobe InDesign?What is Adobe InDesign? InDesign is a page layout program Using it, we make professional files for high quality

documents that can be sent to a commercial printer or distributed as pdf files

A sample of good designA sample of good design

InDesign allows you to combine text and graphics and provides a wide selection of tools and formats

What is the current situation?What is the current situation?

A community college class meets for sixteen weeks, twice weekly for three hours per class

Students learn how to use the software, basics of typography and page layout through demos, hands on exercises, some page layout critiques, quizzes and projects.

Learners range from: new high school graduates to seniors, a few have disabilities, all matriculate in the graphics dept.

Introduction to the problemIntroduction to the problem

The lead graphic design professor rejected new InDesign training materials for various reasons.

The training materials used were from extant exercises from a different layout program, QuarkXpress, and from an old version of InDesign.

The different instructors had no uniform curriculum

Part way through the course, I was told that all instructors were to use the same midterm exam and final project.

Needs assessmentNeeds assessment

Since some exercises used by the instructors were provided from an earlier version of the software training, the instructions were not always correct

These exercises were complex and hard to follow. Because of few pre-existing materials, each

instructor created and tested course materials during the course. This resulted in duplicate curriculum development.

Students came in at different competency levels and worked at different rates.

Needs assessment – cont.Needs assessment – cont.

When asked to perform independently, many students could not transfer these skills to new work without assistance

Better organization would benefit the students in ensuring good coverage of the necessary subject areas

One of the instructors prepared the exams after training had begun without knowing what other instructors were teaching. This meant that all students might not have learned the materials

Solution: Course redesign for Digital Layout I: Adobe InDesign Solution: Course redesign for Digital Layout I: Adobe InDesign

More organized framework, clearer directions Exercises prepared in advance for the proper

software version used Creative exercises to apply knowledge at regular

intervals, not just follow exercises More critiques to give them design feedback Start with the basics to include students with no

background

Training Design - prerequisitesTraining Design - prerequisites

The students must be able to follow visual demonstrations, to read printed

directions Students will have a basic understanding of

computer and operating system use They will know how to use the network and

jump drives for retrieving lessons and backing up

Students should have CD-Rs or jump drives to back-up work.

Training DesignTraining Design

Potential obstacles: A great deal of material to cover for a good

understanding Some students with special needs may need

to work without time limits. These students should contact the instructor to make special arrangements.

Many students have jobs and must be able to arrange enough lab time to finish the work.

The application may freeze. Students must learn to back up files frequently.

ObjectivesObjectives

The student will be able to: Describe and use the point system of measurement Classify typefaces Understand and use basic typographic principles in

page layouts Navigate through an electronic document in

InDesign. Create a simple layout in InDesign CS using frames

and by importing text and images Combine text and graphics in page layout Change application defaults that affect documents

created in this computer application

More ObjectivesMore Objectives

Use the InDesign tools needed to create and modify text in the electronic document

Understand and be able to place and modify graphic images in the document

Use master pages to design and format page layout

Define and apply colors in the page layout Create and manage layers Output to various imaging devices as

appropriate for web and printed InDesign documents and PDF files.

MaterialsMaterials

The instructor will need: A chair and a computer with a USB port and with Adobe

InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, and Acrobat installed to give demonstrations and to modify associated graphics

Network access to post data files Connection to overhead projector Overhead projector and screen Whiteboard an dry-erase markers Access to photocopier Color laser printer and printer paper Visual Quickstart Guide to InDesign CS – reference book Jump drive to bring in any files created elsewhere and post on

the network Instructor guide

DesignDesign The course was divided into nine modules

given over 16 weeks. The modules integrated more time for

creative work and transfer of exercise skills to independent work

The curriculum included more critiques of work to help develop design skills

All objectives were considered in the development phase so students would be prepared for the midterm and final projects

DevelopmentDevelopment

I will be the main person to develop the student and instructor guides. Two other instructors will assist and will help incorporate older materials that meet the objectives

The software used to develop the guides will be Adobe InDesign, Adobe Photoshop, and Adobe Illustrator. The graphics will be imported into InDesign. Print production of the final digital files will be completed by school print department.

DevelopmentDevelopment

Instructor (5) and student guides (60) will be developed and printed for the implementation

Guides must include CDs with exercises Print examples in color and hand out separately

from the student guides. These will show correct color use. They may be printed from finished pdf files of the completed exercises on the instructor CDs

Instructor guides must be written to accommodate either a PC or Macintosh

ImplementationImplementation

The instructor will Introduce topics Review objectives Demonstrate lessons on the computer Assist students individually as they go through the

student guides and complete exercises. The instructor will make sure that students have data

files to complete the work and printed color samples Allow time for questions and answers, interactions,

conduct critiques Students with particular disabilities will be given extra

time to complete projects and to take quizzes or exams

Formative EvaluationFormative Evaluation

Materials should be tested on a small sample of students who do not know the program

Pilot testing and feedback should indicate likely success.

All three instructors should try out the materials for missing or confusing directions and steps

Summative EvaluationSummative Evaluation

All students will take surveys on software skills on the first day of class

A final evaluation by students (level 1)at the end will show their assessments

At least one quiz (short answers, multiple choice, and/or matching) and possibly more will be given during the course to assess skill mastery (Level 2)

MidTerms and Final Projects show mastery

Summative EvaluationsSummative Evaluations

Portfolios will show transfer of learning Instructors (level 2) evaluate the course Follow up (level 3) evaluations with

supervisors in internship placements or job placements. Did they transfer the learning to new job? Do their new skills help the company (level 4)?