Data-based Decision Making

Value the use of data as the starting point for professional work

Context

In this project, my partner, Steve Corbett, and I helped design and develop an undergraduate biology course for non-science majors. Our Client, Ms. Susan Kaiser, a grant administrator at San Diego State University, created the course, called Biology 350: Emerging Technologies in Human Health Care. Our challenge was to provide instructional design support to create the framework of the entire course. However, due to a limited project scope we only developed a complete set of instructional activities and tools for one out of 15 weeks in the semester. We conducted a brief front-end analysis (FEA) to determine what needed to be included in the course. The FEA consisted of two parts:

1. Content analysis of Client-provided information and materials.
2. Content mapping analysis using a simple spreadsheet.

The artifact I have chosen to represent my mastery of this standard is the content mapping tool we used to carry out a content analysis.

Linkage

Rather than a performance analysis or training needs analysis to begin the FEA, we performed a simple content analysis of Client-furnished information such as journal articles, video clips, and news articles. Because our Client was also the subject matter expert on emerging technologies like stem cell research, she had already written draft course topics and the supporting learning objectives.

After the initial content analysis, we use our content mapping tool to organize the draft course topics and learning objectives she had initially written. Using the tool we determined which topics were covered by the Client’s draft learning objectives. Based on the information we gleaned from the tool, we finalized the learning objectives for the course, which then helped us determine the overarching learning goals and course structure.

Challenges & Opportunities

To perform the content mapping analysis, we used a simple spreadsheet as the mapping tool, containing the learning outcomes and goals in one column followed by the proposed course topics in the subsequent columns. We placed an X in cells where the objective covered a given topic. For unresolved items and unclear objectives, we wrote down comments and questions to the Client in another column of the mapping tool.

Because of the very specific scope of the project, we did not look at any other university problems, development goals or strategy issues. Additionally, our Client had predetermined the training solution to use a blended approach, comprised of on-campus face-to-face instruction and web-based discussions and activities. In addition to a literature review and audience analysis, the content analysis was just one of three methodologies we used.

The content mapping analysis helped us finalize the learning objectives for the course and ensure that the objectives aligned with the university’s general education (GE) requirements. Performing the alignment first allowed us to:

• Eliminate redundant objectives
• Refine the wording of objectives to clarify student expectations and performance
• Determine if any GE requirements were not satisfied
• Write new learning objectives to ensure that unsatisfied GE requirements were met

Results

After completing the initial mapping, we discussed the results with the Client during a web conference meeting and clarified all unresolved issues and questions. Based on the Client’s inputs, we finalized the learning goals and objectives for the course.

Personal & Professional Development

I have to admit that I have never enjoyed doing performance or task analyses. However, I had a positive experience conducting this content analysis because of the easy-to-use content mapping tool. The mapping tool’s visual results helped us easily confirm that our Client’s draft learning objectives satisfied the proposed course topics. If a topic did not contain any Xs, we knew that we had to write a new learning objective to make sure that the topic was covered. When a tool is easy to use, I am more apt to use it, especially if I have to perform a challenging task.