Computer Assisted Instruction

The purpose of Assignment #3 of the MDDE 610 course is to use a CAI program to learn something new and report on the learning experience.

This page provides a definition of CAI ; an overview of the selection process in choosing a CAI and the reason for the chosen topic; vairous demonstrations of learned content; ending with a personal reflection of my experience learning with CAI.

As defined in the MDDE 610 course content, CAI stands for computer-assisted instruction. CAI is when the computer is the instructional device that a student interacts with to learn specific content. CAI is an effective and convenient alternative learning tool for a self-directed learner. Examples of CAI are YouTube and online tutorials.

The CAI program that I chose to complete this assignment is Lynda.com. My employer, Okanagan College, has purchased licenses to Lynda.com to provide professional development opportunities to their staff. The staff at Okanagan College has access to more than 900 online courses and training opportunities. As employees at OC we request a license by completing an online service request from our IT department and join a waitlist.

To complete this assignment I have chosen to learn more about the iPhone 4.  I have recently purchased an iPhone and love it; however, I am unfamiliar with its basic features “bells and whistles”. This assignment has given me a great opportunity to explore basic features this device has to offer.

By participating in a Lynda.com tutorial, I am hoping to learn basic features of the iPhone that will help me use this device efficiently. I have learned a few of the features of the iPhone and find some features intuitive; however, self-teaching can often be an ambiguous task.  Specifically, I would like to gain more knowledge regarding iPhone’s settings, syncing the iPhone to my desktop, managing telephone calls and contact lists, and using the video and camera.

• Lynda.com provides a comprehensive and sophisticated website with thousands of up-to-date training seminars.
• Available at any time allowing users to access 24/7.
• Lynda.com is compatible with Macs, PCs and Smart phones.
• The tutorials are organized based on main topics. The main topic link directs you to a list of courses that can be filtered to find exactly what you are looking for.
• Classes range from beginner to expert. 
• You can work at your own pace, revisit tutorials.

Considering how to demonstrate my achievements in Mahara was a challenge. At first I was intrigued by the idea of recording my iPhone screen while demonstrating newly learned concepts. I began scouring through available iPhone apps and the Internet looking for any information on this topic. As a result, I did find a software product that provides this feature; however, to install the software one must "jailbreak" their phone. I recognized the "jailbreak" term and revisited a forum in the MDDE 610 classroom that specifically discusses what exactly "jailbreak" means and its potential hazards. After much deliberation I decided not to try this so called "jailbreak" and moved on to more familiar territory. 

Consequently, I decided to use PowerPoint to demonstrate learned concepts and achievements as a result of taking the iPhone basic course delivered by Lynda.com. PowerPoint is a presentation software program developed by Microsoft.  I chose PowerPoint for its ability to provide a consistent, professional format and its ability to incorporate text, photos, audio, and video. In addition to handling various media, PowerPoint presentations can be saved in a variety of formats allowing for easy distribution to a captive audience.

To create the content for the slides I used my iPhone to take screenshots and video. I also utilized the Jing software to record my desktop and audio to demonstrate iPhone software. Once I created slides, I added audio to each slide. I found this to be slightly intimidating and more difficult than expected. I found my mind frantically searching for the right words causing slight pauses and rephrasing throughout the audio. I soon discovered that this an area in dire need of improvement.

Once I completed my slides, I used Camtasia to record and edit each slide. I then uploaded the finished product to YouTube and inserted them into Mahara. It is amazing how endless days of creating slides, adding videos, adding audio and editing four videos only amount to a mere 12-15 minutes of video. 

Overall, I found my experence with CAI to be effective in acheiving the assignment objectives. As a result of my expereince I have identified a series of advantages and disadvantages regarding CAI.

Advantages

• Ability to choose topics from a list of videos rather than being forced to watch all the videos (self-directed).
• Ability to stop, start and rewind the video enabling the learner to learn a skill then practice what is learned.
• Learning at your own pace fits nicely with a busy schedule.
• The presenter was clear and easy to follow.
• Offers a great alternative to reading research papers.  

Disadvantages

• All the videos were presented by the same person.
• Watching a series of videos can often be monotonous.
• Lack of asynchronous/synchronous communication and the ability to ask questions.

I plan to use Lynda.com again to continue learning more about the iPhone and its advanced features. These tutorials provided a quick and easy way to learn an ample amount of information. As for instructional purposes, I will consider using CAI technology (short tutorials) in F-2-F classes or possibly online classes to support classroom teaching or to provide an alternative approach to learning.