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3 07, 2019

Creating Authentic Learning Experiences Part 3: Integrating Authentic Learning in the Curriculum

2019-07-09T15:09:22-04:00 July 3rd, 2019|Course Writers, curriculum, Curriculum Planning, Educational Content, eLearning|0 Comments

This is the third installment in a four-part blog series about authentic learning experiences. In the first part we focused on what authentic learning is. The second part looked at how to develop authentic learning experiences. This post shows you how to integrate these learning experiences into your existing curriculum. Authentic learning sounds great in theory. Who wouldn’t want to give students real-world practice with what they’re learning? You’re just having trouble figuring out how you can incorporate it into your curriculum. It may seem overwhelming. These suggestions will show you just how easy it is to incorporate authentic learning into any curriculum. You may have already integrated it in your course design. Videos You can use videos to show students exemplars of procedures and techniques they’ve learned. You can stop videos at specific instances to ask students pointed questions.  The videos guide your discussion and help students see a visual representation of what they’re learning Additionally, videos can also allow students to show rather than tell their learning. They have the opportunity to put the [...]

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19 06, 2019

Creating Authentic Learning Experiences Part 2: Developing Authentic Learning Experiences

2019-07-09T16:35:07-04:00 June 19th, 2019|Course Writers, Curriculum Development, Curriculum Planning, Educational Content, Instructional Design, Interactive Learning|0 Comments

This is the second installment in a four-part blog series on authentic learning. We’ll explore what the environments look like that facilitate authentic learning and how to create them.   The first blog explored what authentic learning is and how it can better facilitate student learning. Authentic learning bridges the gap between the classroom and the real world. This creates a concrete connection for students and better equips them to apply what they are learning. Students absorb new material, put it into practice with hands-on activities, and connect it to something they already know. The ultimate goal of authentic learning is to increase student engagement. The Current Problem Implementing this approach requires the right environment. Recent studies have shown the breakdown in traditional classroom settings. Part of the problem is the delivery method used in many classrooms. Often, the instructor talks the information at students. This method does not allow for deeper learning experiences. Authentic learning is the way to create those experiences. What does such an environment look like? 10 Characteristics of Authentic [...]

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16 01, 2019

4 Common Pitfalls to Avoid When Creating a Computer Science Curriculum

2019-05-09T16:57:54-04:00 January 16th, 2019|Course Writers, Curriculum Development, Curriculum Planning|0 Comments

Computer science is a vast field, and it’s in constant flux.  Computers and programming conventions will almost certainly change radically over the next 10 years.  Today’s innovative ideas will soon become industry norms. It’s not easy to design a curriculum for such a dynamic field.  Some computer curricula fail because they succumb to one or more of these four common pitfalls. Focusing on exciting innovations versus fundamentals.  It may be tempting to try to engage students with the most exciting new technologies.  The reality, however, is that “new” technology may be outdated within just a year or two.  Meanwhile, however, every student will need to understand the fundamentals of computer science in order to excel. Trying to teach everything to every student.  Computer science is a large and growing field, with a wide range of different specialties and applications.  Content development for a computer science curriculum should include segments focusing on a wide range of topics.  Possibilities range from programming to networking to graphics. Curricula should not, however, stress one element over all others.  Students will [...]

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24 10, 2018

5 Keys to Quality Assurance in Educational Content Development

2018-10-24T14:30:28-04:00 October 24th, 2018|Course Writers, Curriculum Planning, Instructional Design, Science, Uncategorized|0 Comments

Any content developer can tell you that having a solid quality assurance (QA) process will ensure deliverables that hit the mark. From our years of developing educational content development, we’ve identified the following five keys to quality assurance. Training Both client-provided and in-house training can ensure that project team members are up to speed on what is required for a specific project. Senior project staff can rally a team’s focus and confirm workflow readiness. Acceptance criteria checklists provide the development team with clear direction and requirements. Calibration Instead of jumping into a large project full-steam, it’s helpful to begin with a small calibration batch to give the development team a chance to get accustomed to the specifications and the client a chance to ensure their requirements are being met. Feedback can be provided and utilized by the development team to hone their understanding and improve quality. QA-Friendly Workflow A development workflow with collaboration and built-in overlapping reviews adds another layer of vital QA. Multiple rounds of review and revision lead to high-quality deliverables. Building adequate cushioning [...]

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3 10, 2018

Content Development Sweet Spots

2018-10-01T21:07:38-04:00 October 3rd, 2018|course design, Course Writers, Science, Uncategorized|0 Comments

Custom content development is much like building a custom home. If you had a choice, would you settle for a cookie-cutter home that’s going to meet only some of your needs or a custom-designed one that incorporates all your unique needs? Just as an architect spends time understanding why you want a certain type of window or flooring, a custom content developer acknowledges an organization’s unique content needs.  We at A Pass know that a generic, off-the-shelf product or service is not going to work in most instances.  Our years of experience have taught us that great content development must recognize this need to successfully reach learners.  The depth and breadth of our experience helps bring your ideas to life quickly and exactly how you envisioned.  Here’s a snapshot of what we do best. Courses and Lesson Plans Course design and lesson plans are at the heart of good content development.  They are the vital roadmap necessary to reach your learners.  As a full-service content provider, we design, write, and produce content across grade levels and [...]

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6 06, 2018

The SME in Curriculum Development

2019-04-25T01:27:00-04:00 June 6th, 2018|Course Writers, Instructional Design, subject matter expert|0 Comments

A subject matter expert, or SME, plays a critical role in the instructional design process. The SME is an expert in a particular content area, often with an advanced degree in this subject.  Individuals from a variety of professions can be SMEs, ranging from elementary educators to biologists in the field. During the curriculum development process, a SME may: Collaborate with the development team Add substance to outlines and storyboards Ensure that content is accurate Answer questions that arise about the content area The Instructional Design Process The SME and the instructional designer begin their collaboration early on by determining the needs of the learner and the learner’s characteristics. The SME and instructional designer create a list of characteristics that a learner in their class may have. The SME then works with a writer to create a course description. Then the instructional designer suggests a sequencing of the class. The SME approves the sequencing. Once the instructional designer creates objectives for the course, the SME evaluates the objectives based on the content and makes sure that [...]

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23 05, 2018

Why Outsource Education Content Writing?

2018-05-23T20:43:31-04:00 May 23rd, 2018|Course Writers, Curriculum Development, education, Educational Content, writing|0 Comments

The Worst Fake News Story in Education Ever: Those Who Can’t Do, Teach Any professional associated with education knows that teachers not only can do but must do much more than teach. Do some of these roles sound familiar? Conflict resolution specialist Data analyst Administrative professional Diplomat MC/Entertainer Communications manager And we haven’t even discussed content or curriculum development yet. In a 2014 study, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development found that teachers spend less than half of their time in school actually instructing students. Some of those non-teaching moments are unavoidable and necessary. But according to the same study, the second largest use of time by teachers is individual planning and preparation of lessons. What if we could reduce that time? What could teachers accomplish with those extra hours? Is it even possible to reduce prep time? It is--if educators take the leap and decide to outsource some content creation. We’re not talking about finding some faceless Internet vendor whose only experience with a classroom has been as a student. There are writers out [...]

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