1. Web Design Applications: Student Oriented Learning for Online Nisar Keshvani (x 8264) keshvani@np.edu.sg www.np.edu.sg/~knh

2. Web Design Applications: Student Orientated Learning for Online Scope of Presentation Context of Web Design Applications Teaching Strategies / Techniques Feedback Whats next? Q&A

3. Context of Web Design Applications Students completed Intro to Web Design & Computer Graphics (core unit with software focus) WDA: appreciation of web design, content development, interactive media skills 1 hr lecture & 3 hour tutorials (16 hours p wk) 110 students Computer labs equipped with Macromedia package, etc

4. Challenges faced : Teaching Mass Comm students (intelligent, vocal, active, some hate PCs, esp female students) Media savvy Have to challenge them since they are net- crazy (blog users, heavy surfers with good home PC Setups) Sometimes better than NP labs

5. Organising your tutorials Tutorial organisation: Checklist and time sheets Multi-modular approach (variety) - Journal Reflection (on-going assessment) - Individual assignment feedback - Self-driven (software) learning at individual pace

6. Web-based learning WDA website components: www.np.edu.sg/~knh/wda Lectures, Tutorials, Assessment, Announcements Resources (lecturer and student recommended websites)

7. Encouraging Creativity Assessment for unit: - Journeys Assignment (web based project which brings user on a journey) - Reflective Journal (encourage student thinking) - Online Publications (create a living publication around any topic or idea)

8. Encouraging Creativity & Peer Learning Peer tutoring (synthesis of learning) Field Trip (Visit to Singapore Art Museum to critique Nokia CyberArt Exhibition) Student-Teacher Developed Peer Assessment (Show points & final assessment criteria) Note-taking by students (from the white board) – satisfies their Something on paper desire

9. Reflective Journals Reflective journal (purpose): - a) lessons learnt during Web Design classes - b) reflections and thoughts by student within Mass Comm, and in their personal lives, - c) Documentation of the students assignments, and projects and evolution of ideas through the module. Show examples of responses

10. Sample of Journal Responses (open letter) Dear Nisar (positive comments): A lot of teachers say that they would like to learn from us, but a lot of them dont mean it, so I really appreciated it when you showed the Anna Sui (Ed: my contribution) website – Germaine I just want you to know that there are people who appreciate the things you do. I can see you are putting in a lot of effort into this module. – Mong Xin WDA has been enriching. Who can forget when you sit beside us and prompt us till we get solutions? I WONT – David Pillai

11. Sample of Journal Responses ii (open letter) Dear Nisar (positive comments): Its incredible how a lecturer can make a technically- inclined module interesting... I am surprised by how my learning has been made effective by the way you teach and to me that was interesting – Benedict David ps: i'm still wonderin how a person like me (yes I failed web graphics and design in year 1), can have his work requested to be published online by a lecturer... *shakes head dumbfoundedly*. And i really used to hate web design i tell ya... – Benedict

12. Sample of Journal Responses iii (open letter) Dear Nisar (positive comments): I'd just like to say i really enjoyed your lessons and that you have contributed, in the most colossal of ways, to my newfound interest and skills in web or anything technical. I can actually turn on the computer without first conducting a blessing ceremony. (",) I maintain that Dreamweaver rocks.... "Like sands through the hour glass, so are the Days Of 2T10... – Vanessa Yeo (show peer evaluation)

13. Sample of Journal Responses iv (open letter) Dear Nisar (negative comments): Maybe you can try using more creative approaches to teach. More activities to stimulate interests and motivate … Not many people like web stuff – I just dont have the interest and talent. Maybe 5 years or even one year down the road, I will forget all I have learnt. But at least I can boast Ive set up websites before … – Michelle Tan

14. Sample of Journal Responses v (open letter) Dear Nisar (negative comments): I guess not everyone will be able to adapt to the way you teach each student as in I cant learn anything if you keep shooting me back with questions, everytime I ask you one You cant just stick to one kind of teaching method, because everyone is different, they are not standardised yeah. - Alen Seow

15. Sample of Journal Responses vi (open letter) Dear Nisar (negative comments): Sometimes you are rather impatient and expect as if all students know everything. That is when I feel intimidated about WDA seeing some web savvy students know their way around. Somehow there are those who refuse to help. - Fairuz Shariff

16. Whats next? End of semester? Its always back to the drawing boards To evaluate what went right, wrong? Currently working on my presentation techniques Students have indicated I am too lenient (be strict) Developing subject guide with NP Library Need to address comments about student learning technique (about 5 out of 110)

17. Contact nisar keshvani, FMS tel: 64608264 keshvani@np.edu.sg Keshvani@np - www.np.edu.sg/~knh WDA - www.np.edu.sg/~knh/wda