Inspire Blog Category: Resources, Tools & Trends

Students as Content Creators through Non-Disposable Assignments (NDAs)

NDAs and Open Pedagogy One of the principles upheld by the open pedagogy movement is that the role of the learner must be active and the tasks that they engage in must be meaningful. These are not new ideas by any stretch, but as we move toward a more open pedagogical environment, it becomes necessary to examine the types of assignments that we create and assign. How do these tasks contribute to efforts to democratize education and increase learner autonomy, engagement, and freedom? What makes an assignment open? To answer these questions, this post will explore the relationship between open pedagogy and open assignments.  While interest in the topic of open pedagogy has steadily gained steam in the roughly 50 … Students as Content Creators through Non-Disposable Assignments (NDAs)
by · June 27, 2022

Project-based Learning (Part 2) – Mindful Design

Ashlee M. C. Foster, MSEd | Instructional Design Specialist | Oregon State University Ecampus Whether a pedagogical approach is affirmed by research and/or practical evidence intentional design and effective deployment of pedagogical strategies are essential. We will begin with an exploration of evidence-based design components, which build upon the characteristics of Project-based Learning (PjBL), as discussed in Project-based Learning (Part 1) – Architecture for Authenticity. Getting Started Begin with the end in mind. Take a moment to establish the outcomes, goals, and real-world connections that will underpin the project. Consider using the following elements as your guide.   Identify the Course Learning Outcomes (CLO) students should be able to demonstrate upon successful completion of the course Identify the intended project outcomes … Project-based Learning (Part 2) – Mindful Design
by · June 13, 2022

Assessment Design Considerations for Ungrading

Over the last couple of terms, I joined a series of reading sessions with instructional design colleagues to read Alfie Khon and Susan Blum’s book Ungrading. Why Rating Students Undermines Learning (and What to Do Instead) and discuss the practices and implications of this approach to reconceptualize assessment design and the place of grading. This two-part blog aims to capture the takeaways from those discussions including the main concepts, approaches, types of activities, implications, and challenges of adopting ungrading practices. This first part of the blog covers a brief overview of the concept of ungrading, its major benefits, and design considerations; and the second blog will include a summary of the types of ungrading practices and challenges to implementation ––all … Assessment Design Considerations for Ungrading
by · June 6, 2022

Project Based Learning – Architecture for Authenticity

By: Ashlee M. C. Foster MSEd, Instructional Design Specialist | Oregon State University Ecampus Did you know a pedagogical approach exists that positively impacts student academic achievement and engages them as active participants in learning? Great news…there is! Let me introduce you to the world of Project Based Learning (PBL).  What is PBL? PBL is a student-centered pedagogical approach where students, both individually and within small groups, engage with meaningful, relevant, and authentic projects which result in a product. Oftentimes, PBL is commonly associated and/or thought to be interchangeable with Problem Based Learning. However, there is a distinction between the two. The principal focus of PBL is on the active construction of knowledge. Additionally, student autonomy, beliefs, values, and motivations … Project Based Learning – Architecture for Authenticity
by · May 31, 2022

Designing the open course: Why Instructional Designers should follow a “right to repair” plan

Intro The concept of the ‘right to repair’ has been on my mind recently, both as a user of tech products and as a designer of online courses. Electronics are notorious these days for their enigmatic design. The user is not trusted to make repairs or is restricted in the ways they can interact with device components. This is a choice made by manufacturers to limit access to approved vendors or repair shops. Instructional Designers have a similar choice when building courses. Do we follow a restrictive approach to modifications, or open up courses by anticipating, welcoming, and providing the resources for modifications? Difficult by design I recently experienced the restrictive side myself as I needed to fix an air … Designing the open course: Why Instructional Designers should follow a “right to repair” plan
by · May 23, 2022