This tutorial served as my final master's project. The purpose was to train a staff of 46 teaching practitioners how to use a new, complex tool in their learning management system: The Brightspace Competencies Tool. There are so many applications to using this tool and I covered everyone with everything from basic interactions like roll-overs and click boxes to interactive screen simulations, and links to helpful resources.
You can watch the "Highlights Reel" from my complete Competencies Training program (including interactive tutorial and LMS course design) below:
Training Challenges
To complete this project, I not only had to learn how to use the Competencies Tool myself, but I created the video demos, the (5) simulations and the all the visuals vector files. I also had to design the course (set up with eight modules) within Brightspace.
Creating Mental Models
I used the Competencies tool to create a "competencies structure" for this course so I could link course objectives to assignments (quizzes) that trainees would have to master to complete training. After completing a quiz, a trainee could then check their competencies results to self-monitor their progress through the training program.
The Brightspace course competencies structure put the teachers in a "student" role. Teachers would now know how their students would see results from their own courses once competencies were enabled. Within training, teachers saw the "teacher" side of the process. In this way, both the training module (designed in Adobe Captivate) and course design (set up in Brightspace) provided the teachers with different perspectives, that when used in tandem created a very wholistic learning experience.
Project Gallery
View sample project images here!
My Design Process
Needs Analysis
Before I could start developing the Competencies Tool LMS course and interactive Training module for TDA, I needed to analyze both the needs of TDA administration and their teacher (trainees). To do this, I set set up a conference call with TDA's School Improvement Coordinator and also administered a needs assessment survey to TDA staff. Sample survey questions below:
Summary of Needs Analysis Results:
While most teachers preferred opportunities for "hands-on experiences," there was almost an equally expressed need for "watching and learning" opportunities as well. Teachers also expressed a desire to be able to collaborate with their peers during training vs learn on their own. Summary of training desires of staff include:
Step sheets provided during training
Video demos are more specific to TRECA vs generic D2L help videos
Having a community forum during training available
More visuals; work related examples specific to TRECA teachers
Amply time to process and practice new skills
Work independent and then participate in group activities
Design Parameters for Competencies Tool Training Project:
16 weeks allowed for development time (semester project).
Note: Training was not only delivered on time but a few weeks ahead of schedule.
All teachers (regardless of teaching experience) had no more than 2 years experience working with their current LMS.
Administration determined the final quiz threshold of mastery to be 70% or higher.
Teachers should be able to:
Explain/Understand what the competencies tool is and does
Use the tool to design a competencies structure for each course
Assign an Ohio Learning standard to an objective within a competencies structure for each course
Associate Activities with Objectives to achieve competencies data for each course
Utilize competencies-based release conditions for personal use in courses as desired
Access, Monitor and Interpret data received from a competencies structure to better serve students
Learning Outcomes:
The main objectives of this training course were then identified as follows:
Learners will be able to:
Explain the purpose and benefits of competencies.
Recall and identify the 3 main elements of a competency structure.
Create and edit a basic competency structure.
Write effective descriptions for competencies and objectives.
Recall the 5 release condition options for competencies and explain their applied effects.
Access and interpret data from a competency structure to make decisions.
Monitor Student Progress through Competencies Results.
Make results visible to learners.
Administration Testimonials
"I worked with Correy for several months as she designed a professional learning opportunity for our teachers focused on setting up a competency model for learning standards. She took all of my input and created a very professional, engaging learning opportunity for my teaching staff (45 teachers across K-12). I am extremely happy with the level of detail she was able to use because it truly offers teachers concrete examples about the entire process. The work Correy did to create this content is clearly evident in the activities she designed to encourage reflective learning of the teaching staff." --TDA School Improvement Coordinator
"Correy developed a teacher training for us, using our learning management system and Adobe Captivate. Correy was an excellent collaborator. She engaged in dialogue with us about the focus and parameters of the project, iterated her course design, and integrated our feedback. We are excited to provide this training to our 45 teachers. Correy's course will make a positive impact, and will help our faculty implement standards-based instruction." --District Instructional Coach
Teacher Testimonials
"The Brightspace competency tool is really dense and there is a lot of tiny details so I appreciated the author of the training going the extra mile to provide supplemental resources that could be accessed as needed."
"The interactive practice pieces were the most helpful. Also, having the modules separated in Brightspace, so that I can return to them in the future is helpful."
"It was good to see exactly where to click and where to go to add the information into Brightspace. I liked being able to work along with the course (open my own class in a new tab and work on my competency as I worked through the modules)."
"I have played with competencies before; this was a nice, thorough review. While I feel like it's more aimed at those that haven't touched competencies before or are lower on the tech ability scale, it'll be a valuable resource, especially for new hires and those beginning to transition."
"Thank you for providing this training opportunity. It was different from what we have looked at before and was presented in a way in which we have never before received PD."