8th Sakai Conference
4-7 December 2007Newport Beach
Multimedia Software and Multimedia Software and Design Instruction with SakaiDesign Instruction with Sakai
Daniel Tyger
Saginaw Valley State University
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Session Subtitles…Session Subtitles…
• Sakai Performance & Usability Myth-busting
• This Is Not Atlanta, This Is Sakai 2.4.x– “Slow loading discussions”– “Immature grade book”– “Resource sequencing and presentation”– “Difficulties with Assignments tool”– “Lack of group spaces / functionality”– “Not intuitive”
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Institutional ProfileInstitutional Profile• Mid-MI Regional State Institution• Saginaw Valley State University (since 1963)• ~9500 Students• Blackboard (BASIC) since 2000• Began piloting Sakai in SP ’06• Around 50 / 50 adjunct / full-time faculty
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The CourseThe Course
• Introduction to Multimedia Software (a.k.a. Multimedia Literacy)– Cross-listed graduate class (ETD 514 / CDMD
510)– 8-24 students– Nursing Informatics, Education, CDMD (bulk)– 1/3 of students often international – Mid-MI, working adults, night class 1/week 4-
7PM
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Course GoalsCourse Goals
• Course Goals & Description– Grow skills and apply major design software concepts
(e.g. vector v bitmap imagery, layers, frames, time-based media, tweening, etc.)
– Survey of professional software (Adobe CS3)– Individual Accountability: Compel students to produce
(lots of) products– Investment in and persistence at learning software
» Show course “Home” | Syllabus
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Does the CLE / LMS …?:Does the CLE / LMS …?:• Reproduce and extend the classroom
– Create comfortable places for Q + A (private and public)– Ability to showcase exemplary student work– Provide private teacher <> student consultation tools– Offer group sharing and discussion spaces– Opportunities for group synergy, peer critique, and
collaboration
• Aid with (not complicate) clerical tasks– Email, announcements, syllabus, schedule– Presentation of course materials (Resources)– Assessments, grades
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(J)Forums(J)Forums
• Community activities• Public asynchronous discussion forums
– Introductions - sample– Q + A; Problems & Solutions – sample 1, sample 2– Site & feature sharing – sample
• Recognized as online participation, valued• Largely student-led• Heavy student traffic and usage
– Profiles and (private) messaging were also used
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Student ProjectsStudent Projects
• Creative & Skill-Building Assignments – 1-1 Instructor-Student Consultation
• Multiple-file and inline teacher-provided stimuli• Multiple-file and inline student submissions• Download All / Upload All• Rich options, release to grade book• “Allow Resubmission”
» Show course assignments list
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Student ProjectsStudent Projects
• Authenticity and Process Assessment– Layered artwork required, easily submitted &
reviewed– Plagiarism and unsavory shortcuts inherently
discouraged– Praise and critique spawn improvement– Rapport grows between instructor and each
student
» Show examples
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Grading: Sakai vs. Frank DaneGrading: Sakai vs. Frank Dane
• Students must complete and submit assignment 1 before assignment 2 (etc.)
• Work may be submitted at any time during the semester, but a schedule of due dates is provided
• Ongoing averages of “work submitted to date” are provided throughout the semester
• Textual grades, points, and category weighting all used
– All I needed was category weighting…
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Student ShowcaseStudent Showcase
• Exemplary works publicized for most assignments
• Provides the “A” bar (+ “flack” reduction)• Reward high achievers• Inspire the under-performing• Can also be a “swap” space of all student
works by changing (sub)folder permissions & letting students upload their pieces
» Show Student Showcase
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Group AwarenessGroup Awareness
• Targeted sub-audiences can be reached– (Informatics, Ed Tech, CDMD)
• Announcements, Email, Resources, Assignments
• Group collaboration with Discussion & PM– Private asynchronous discussion– Email– Private messaging– File exchange via attachments
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Final Project WikiFinal Project Wiki• Public, organic, authentic, evolving workspace• Client Sign-up• Project “preparation” work• Comment feature• Embedded and linked items from “My Workspace”
and personal web space worked very well• Synergy and comradery were high• Links to final project sites for presentation, one-stop• Continuous revision, writing intensive, painless due
to instantaneous results
» Show Final Project Wiki
