Inside IDT

Less is more. REALLY?

2011-12-01T08:23:00.001-08:00

Here's one situation where I don't agree with the saying "Less is more". In an environment that requires less and less of your capabilities, offers less enthusiasm and motivation, gives you less support for initiative and just gives you more of less.

Typically, I would agree with that saying, coming from a design background. I appreciate an intuitive use of white space in a creatively designed ad or page layout. I would try to convince clients that the target audience really doesn't have the time to read a thesis about what they have to offer - that a few strong points that sets them apart from their competitors will do. A bait of information that pulls in the customers and makes them want more is the way to go. Although not always successful, the few that buy into this idea usually get the most for their money.

But that experience hasn't worked very well with me as a person in my professional aspirations. Let's just say I'm a tad over ambitious. I like to exist in a fast paced environment, always having lots of different things going on, working with a talented team of creative people (creative here doesn't necessarily mean coming from an art background). I love technology. I love to work with people who love technology and seek to bring the best out of those who use them.

Getting into Instructional Technology has got me streamlining my passion towards education more and what better way to look at technology with all the digital natives the world is producing today and how they are becoming more and more uninterested in traditional education. I like the creative use of technology to enhance student engagement. It's amazing how a little creativity can change the climate in a classroom for both the young and old. Some have looked at this like magic and have accumulated all kinds of tools with the hopes of tapping into this mystery only to find that it doesn't work this way. And that's why I call it a 'creative use of technology'.

I love challenges. I often find that discovering some kind of technology and being able to use it to achieve some sort of feat is really satisfying. I can't exist in my comfort zone too long. The moment I begin to feel that I can do this and everything else required of me in this environment with my eyes closed, I begin to feel jittery and look up to the next rung to climb. I thrive on challenge - healthy challenges, though, not the kind that leaves you feeling worthless and of no good because you threw yourself to the wolves knowing there was no future for you in that area.

I know I can be more. Those who have overcome in society are not any different than you and I; they just believed in themselves and worked to achieve greater heights. I'm climbing on and I will have MORE, no less.

Most people want more from life–more fulfillment, more excitement, more pleasure, more peace, more self-assurance, more satisfaction, more happiness, and way more juicy stories to tell–but they’ll never get it because they let the lack of immediate know-how become an (unnecessary) obstacle. - TMFProject

What you didn't know about Adobe Acrobat Reader (or maybe you did!)

2010-03-07T15:46:00.001-08:00

This post is long overdue. Life got in the way and I really wanted to make this great - like a screen captured step-by-step run through and I still haven't gotten around to doing it so I'll just tell you some of the cool things I've discovered inside Adobe Acrobat Reader.

As you may already know, I am an Instructional Designer - I tend to lean towards the multimedia and graphics development more than the curriculum development bit of it and I like to think of myself as being more inclined to researching into emerging technologies and how to use them to enhance education whether through course design or just an adaptation of the tool. So with my background in Graphic Design, I typically have a lot of media samples to send along with my application documents when I'm on a job hunt. If you've been there, you'll know that it's not always acceptable to post projects that you've worked on on the job in your online portfolio and attaching them to every application may equally not be ideal.

So I found out Adobe has included a portfolio compilation option in the version 9, I think. Or maybe I didn't realize early enough that they had it. This feature gives you the opportunity to put together a really good looking, presentable portfolio composed of files native to different applications. I typically have JPEGS (for my layout designs) and Flash (for the animations). You may add native word documents, Excel sheets, native Illustrator files, I'd think nearly any type of file will work into the compilation. It then saves it as one file in .pdf format. The neat thing though is that when you open the portfolio, it often gives you a preview of the files inside Acrobat Reader and asks you if you want to open it in the native application supposing you have it installed on your computer.

I try to avoid the possibility where the recipient may not have the native application and therefore cannot fully experience the project the way they should by packaging it in a universally 'acceptable' file format. For instance if I have a native Illustrator file I'll want to share, I'll rather save it as a JPEG than upload the .AI file. Also, I'll upload an .swf version of a Flash animation instead of an .FLA file unless the person so requests to see the native file (especially in Flash) so they can understand the process of development. It also prevents the possibility of tempting the recipient or someone else on the other side to take your native files and modify it with ease to make something they'll later call their own.

There's also the option to give short descriptions of each file, maybe state the role you played in developing it and add other fine details necessary for the hiring manager to understand your role better. The best part of it all is the ability to secure the file with a password! You may activate the 'Require password to open' and 'Disable copying, printing and editing' or either of them. If you activate the 'Require password to open' feature, then you'll have to remember to share that with the hiring manager in your letter. To avoid the likelihood of forgetting, I usually just activate the 'Disable copying, printing and editing' feature. That way they can open the file and browse through the individual files and engage in the Flash activities like they are meant to only they cannot extract the individual files or print or share them without sending the whole package with all your details in it.

I'll have to try later to see if I can attach one sample to this post to give you a better idea but I thought it's a great way to keep copyrighted information that way even when you have to share it. Happy experimenting!

Developing a Portfolio

2009-07-06T13:54:00.001-07:00

I have often wondered what I'd need to have in my portfolio when I am out of school and job-hunting (that's not to say I'm waiting to get out before I start) and I know some of you have also thought about it once or twice. Well, this sure does answer most of my questions and I thought it would be useful for you too.

http://www.articulate.com/rapid-elearning/heres-why-you-need-an-e-learning-portfolio/

I am pretty new to the IDT field and although I find it very exciting and challenging as it is, I feel that I'm missing some scaffolding in the sense that many of the courses that make up the program dwell too much on Education, which makes sense to some extent, but doesn't quite help those of us who are from other backgrounds like design to fit in very well and have a clear perspective of where we're headed.

Often times I have had to go to sites like Monster to look up skill sets required for an Instructional Designer to land a job. Inasmuch as I pretty much qualify for most of these listings, my confidence level is not as high as I'd want it to be in that although I'm doing very well in all of my courses as of now with straight As I do believe me and my other colleagues who are of similar backgrounds have the tendency to take it for granted that we are doing well in class and therefore we'll be great Instructional Designers.

So that's one of the reasons why I roam about online searching for the materials that I believe will bolster me for what lies ahead. I have no doubt about what a great future I have in IDT but I want to be more than an employee to my employers. If I can give them more than they bargained for, I believe I'll feel a lot more content about being an Instructional Designer.

Interesting reads

2009-07-06T13:07:00.000-07:00

Many times I've stumbled on blogs and websites that had very interesting information. I've got many of them bookmarked but I guess this will help a lot more people zero-in on some of the good reads. If you find anything interesting and will like to share it, please do.

This site has some really important factors many of us do not often consider. Check it out. http://www.articulate.com/rapid-elearning/5-common-visual-design-mistakes/

I have always asserted that the IDT program should incorporate some visual design/communication courses that at least equips Instructional Designers with the ability to make necessary judgments about layout design. There are lots of good materials out there that are not getting to the right target audience because of the lack of visual appeal.

I hope this helps: http://www.myinkblog.com/2009/03/21/4-principles-of-good-design-for-websites/
Let's not just focus on the fact that the article is mainly about website design but consider the intelligent use of color and typography. Beautiful fonts and 'nice' colors don't always solve 'the problem'.