Clean Boating Reflection

AEDT 2130: Graphic Design, Digital Technologies and Learning

By: Ann Butosi, Elizabeth Donnelly, Kristiane Cartier
Marie Jose Danbrook and Carrie Maynard
Due: November 25, 2015
For: Dr. Emily Flynn-Jones

What we Learned about Design

Collaboratively and individually we have learned a great deal about graphic design.
We have learned all the necessary steps in a design cycle, including the importance of
a detailed action plan. We will reflect as a group on the design phases of our group
project, Clean Boating.

Plan
We have come to learn that having an action plan is very valuable. Without our
weekly, Sunday 9:30am meetings via Skype we would not have been able to stick to
our design goals and established deadlines. Having preset weekly meeting times
along with a detailed action plan helped us to achieve our end design goals. Our
meetings could run anywhere from an hour to three hours, but we were able to have
such great real-time collaboration during these times, allowing our project to develop
efficiently. At the end of each meeting, whatever was not accomplished during the
call, was divided amongst the members to do prior to our next call.

Curate
This was the most amazing process of an incredibly dynamic group. We each had tasks
assigned to us at the end of our weekly calls. During the call, we would table
whatever challenges we encountered and the brainstorming would begin. For
example, a member may have been looking for a graphic asset, such as a hose, once
mentioned, all five of us would be talking and searching simultaneously. Within
minutes the Google drive folder for Assets would be bulging with options. This was
the process for each and every part of our project.

Create
Once we had established our Learning Objectives, we created a Google Slideshow,
divided the sub-objectives and created a model for the content delivery. This helped
define content areas we needed to research and develop. We were able to break it
down to topics and subtopics:

Scene 1
Introduction

Scene 2
Leaving for the
cottage

Scene 3
Rest stop

Scene 4
At the cottage

Scene 5
Returning
home

* background
* characters
* situation

* background
* graphic assets
* situation or
decision

* background
* graphic assets
* situation or
decision

* background
* graphic assets
* situation or
decision

* background
* graphic assets
* situation or
decision

Breaking down our project into the smallest possible tasks was one of the best
approaches to building a complicated Learning Object with a diverse team that was
geographically diverse.

Compose
We used wireframe mock-ups to layout the approach to our serious game. This really
provided a terrific blueprint that was housed centrally and which everyone could
access. As we developed the parts and pieces independently, we were able to easily

update, collaborate and refine dynamically.

Critique
We received feedback from our peers and made the necessary modifications that we
collectively agreed upon. Here is our peer feedback:

Through a QA document in Google Docs, we individually critiqued our e-Learning

module and as a group, made the necessary changes in Articulate.

What we Learned about Digital Technology

For communication purposes we used Skype and Google Docs. We were able to screen
share and instant message via Skype, while compiling our assets, constructing our
wireframe and contributing to our QA document in Google Drive. These technologies
allowed us to overcome any geographical boundaries.
We decided to use Weebly for our design portfolio. Weebly allowed us to all have
access and update the site at our own convenience.
We created a simple and effective eLearning module using Articulate Storyline
This software is easy to use and we were able to create a learning object that would
be engaging for our target audience which varied in age quite a bit. The cartoon-style
characters along with the mascot Manny the well-travelled zebra mussel are likable
and help keep the mood light and relatable. We first storyboarded using MS
PowerPoint, dividing the story into 5 main Scenes each followed by a Question slide
where the participant would be asked to choose the next move our characters should
take.

We structured the answers into 3 levels, good/better/best with each choice offering a
little bit more information. Using an eLearning authoring tool such as Articulate
Storyline allowed us to also add a gamification element, which adds to the
engagement factor. Participants earn points according to the quality of their answer
choice and are awarded one or more fishing lures for their fishing hat at the end of
the module. We have also hidden a small Easter Egg in one of the slides for those
curious enough to look for it!
Please view our Clean Your Boat eLearning module at: http://www.snapshotsonline.com/cleanyourboat/story.html

Please view our design portfolio, to read our quick individual reflections:
http://aedtjuice.weebly.com