An instructional strategy involves organizing information and then deciding how to deliver it effectively and efficiently. This page describes our strategy and the procedures we use to elicit learning outcomes from students.
Presentation
and Participation
Preinstructional Activities
Preinstructional activities aim to motivate students and to provide a clear statement of direction and
purpose. To this end, our software tutorials use action-oriented
language to lay out specific learning objectives at the beginning of
each chapter. Throughout our tutorials, we provide samplings of typical work-related
situations and questions that students may be asked to perform. These scenarios
challenge and focus the student's attention on the relevance and purpose behind learning the
material. Attention is maintained throughout the instruction by asking progressively more difficult
questions and providing a sense of accomplishment at the completion of
each module.
Information Presentation
The Feature-Method-Practice
approach, designed by Glen Coulthard specifically
for the Advantage Series, is light years ahead of its competition in
instructional effectiveness. Students are introduced to the topic material
(Feature), provided with an example of the steps required to perform the skill or behavior
(Method), and then asked to apply the method themselves in a relevant example
(Practice). Learner feedback is offered in the way of large screen figures so students will know that they have completed the steps correctly. This
proven delivery strategy is used throughout our Microsoft Office 2000
and 2002/XP software tutorials.
Learner Participation
“Tell me and I’ll forget, show me and I may remember, involve me and I will
understand.” Students need ample opportunity to apply and
practice the methods and techniques presented. Our software tutorials do
not require or even promote the rote memorization of commands. Rather,
we strive to provide interesting and relevant exercises to help motivate
students learn through experience. Our ultimate goal is to build
independent critical thinkers who can apply software applications to the
various challenges and opportunities they will face in their education
and careers.
Testing
and Assessment
Pre-Testing
A pre-test instrument helps instructors test for prior knowledge and
experience before introducing a new concept, technique, or module.
Between our Instructor Resource Kits and the Brownstone
Diploma Network Testing System, instructors can easily create
pre-tests and even build electronic classroom grade books.
Embedded Testing
At the end of each module and throughout our software tutorials, we
include self check questions to help clarify the important concepts,
methods, and techniques covered by the instruction. These embedded items
can also be used to encourage and facilitate classroom discussion. Since
these questions are primarily for the student's benefit, answers are
provided at the back of the learning guide.
Post-Testing
A post-test instrument evaluates learning effectiveness as it results
to a specific topic or module of teaching. At the end of each chapter,
our software tutorials provide short answer, true/false, and
multiple-choice questions related to the material presented. Instructors
may also assign hands-on exercises (varying in difficulty) and a case
problems either for assessment or for a follow-up activity. Our Instructor
Resource Kits contain solutions for the end of chapter material and
the Brownstone Diploma Network Testing System allows instructors
to create and deliver post-tests and to compile a classroom grade book.
You may also be interested in our SimNet and ATLAS
learning and assessment products.
Follow-Up
Activities
Follow-up activities can be classified according to purpose: remediation, enrichment, memory aid, or transfer. Activities for remediation (for slower learners) and enrichment (for faster learners) are built into our content presentation at the end of each chapter. The six hands-on exercises are divided according to their difficulty level: two easy (denoted by a green circle), two moderate difficulty (blue square), and two "On Your Own" (black diamond) exercises. Instructors can assign specific exercises
from the tutorial, select additional exercises from the Instructor
Resource Kit, or ask students to create their own exercises (which has
proven to be a very successful teaching/learning technique.) To improve retention of the material, a chapter review, command summary, key terms, and glossary are provided in each tutorial. Lastly,
the use of case studies helps promote the transfer of instruction to
real-world applications.
