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Training with a guarantee of employment: "Methodologist: from beginner to professional"
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A methodologist at Skillbox develops courses covering the entire process of creating additional and vocational training programs for adults, as well as educational courses for children. He strives to find the optimal formula for creating a quality product.
Methodologist at Skillbox. Holds a PhD in Economics. Interested in exploring innovations in educational technology.
In our previous article, we discussed how a methodologist can adapt existing videos, presentations, and longreads for an online course when a full review of the materials with a subject matter expert is impossible. Such situations can arise, for example, when a methodologist receives ready-made content from busy university or college professors or renowned private experts, or when an outdated course needs to be updated and access to subject matter experts is unavailable.
Often, the materials on which training is based do not take into account the specifics of the online format or are created in outdated formats. In this article, we will offer ways to independently improve exercises and tests to make them more engaging and effective. We will also discuss how to incorporate practical assignments into the course, which will significantly enrich the student learning experience.
Methods for Effective Test Redesign
Effective tests can not only reveal the level of material assimilation but also significantly increase student interest in the learning process. However, courses often contain traditional and monotonous questions, which only contribute to a feeling of boredom among students.
Improving testing formats and introducing interactive elements can significantly enliven the learning process, which, in turn, promotes deeper assimilation of information. Instead of simple questions to test memorization of facts, it is worth considering adding more complex tasks that will assess not only comprehension of the material but also the ability to apply acquired knowledge in practice. This approach corresponds to the second and third levels of Bloom's Taxonomy.
There are several ways to increase the interest and effectiveness of initial tests:
- It is recommended to use a variety of question formats. Don't limit yourself to multiple-choice or multiple-choice questions; add open-ended questions that require students to formulate their own answers. Tests can include exercises and tasks aimed at analyzing information, performing certain algorithms, or conducting mini-research. Later in the article, we will describe how to create such tasks based on materials from experts.
- Include multimedia components in the wording of questions. The use of images, videos, audio files, diagrams, and tables helps to illuminate the topic more vividly and makes the tasks more visual and engaging.
- Transform test questions into case studies. This approach allows for the reproduction of real situations and also promotes the development of analytical skills, decision-making, and critical thinking, which, in turn, significantly increases the practical value of the educational process. For example, as part of the course "Promotion on Yandex Market," we combined several test questions into one, supplemented with a case description.
- Create questions in a quest format to turn the knowledge assessment process into an exciting and interactive adventure. You can create a complex scenario in which the answer choice determines the further development of events, or offer a linear plot that unites all the tasks into a single narrative. With either concept, students will be additionally motivated to follow all the stages of the story, eager to find out how it ends, and the questions themselves will be perceived as logical steps within the overall storyline.
- Including comments on the answers to questions is a very useful practice. Explanations for incorrect answers help students understand and analyze their mistakes. At the same time, analysis of correct answers, supplemented with useful information or references, helps deepen knowledge and broaden horizons. This method makes the testing process more interactive and educational, which in turn helps increase motivation and allows students to learn from their mistakes when retaking the test.
Read also:
Research has shown that students benefit significantly from reasoning their answers on tests.
Effective Methods for Updating Exercises and Practice Tasks
Assignments presented in online courses, like test questions, are often standard and predictable—they are focused primarily on memorization and recall of information. They can be used to assess the extent to which students have learned and remembered the material covered, and, ideally, applied it to familiar situations. However, if all assignments are completed in the same format, it becomes tedious and can negatively impact learning motivation.
Using materials from a nutrition course, you can analyze various formats into which assignments can be converted for knowledge assessment. This will help engage students more in the learning process and allow them to determine how far they have reached the higher levels of Bloom's Taxonomy.
If feasible, it's helpful to present the information they need to learn as a graphic or diagram, then ask students to label its various components. This approach incorporates interactive elements and makes the learning process more engaging for students. For example, the task might look like this:
Level "Awareness"
Updated version: "Awareness" level
Crosswords are great for reviewing and refreshing terms and definitions, and they also provide useful practice in retrieving them. This format is more engaging than traditional vocabulary quizzes. Here's an example of the task:
Level "Awareness"
Updated version: "Knowledge" level. The task can be easily adapted into a crossword puzzle—this will not only assess students' knowledge but also make the process more engaging, perceived as a game rather than a routine learning activity. Crosswords help create associations between terms and their meanings, and can also be used for self-testing and preparation for various tests.
In order to encourage students to organize new knowledge in their memory and, thus, improve its assimilation, it is worth initially offering tasks that require structuring information. For example, you can offer the following task:
category "Awareness"
The "Awareness" Level
Another effective A method for organizing new knowledge that promotes deeper understanding and retention is through juxtaposition. To implement this approach, you can offer an assignment in which students must correctly connect elements using arrows or lines, thus creating logical connections. Naturally, this is only possible if the platform you're developing the course on supports this functionality or allows you to integrate content from third-party sources. Example of the task:
Level "Awareness"
The "Awareness" Level
When learning new information, it's important to use visualizations so students can not only memorize but also immediately apply the acquired knowledge in practice. This will help determine how well they understand the new topic. Here's an example of the task:
Level "Awareness"
Updated level: "Awareness"
Newly acquired knowledge can also be organized by completing classification tasks. This already indicates a higher level of knowledge use, and not just its awareness.
The "Awareness" Level
Updated level: "Use"
Another effective retrieval practice method, which promotes retention of new information and allows students to assess their understanding and interpretation of the material, is filling in the blanks in the text. In this type of assignment, students not only reproduce what they've learned but also apply their knowledge in practice. An example of such a task:
Level "Awareness"
Level "Usage"
In order to motivate students to analyze new information and delve into it To facilitate their mastery, you can offer them an assignment in which they must provide a detailed justification for their reasoning. This approach will not only help identify potential misunderstandings in their understanding of the material when assessing their work, but will also help the students better navigate the topic. An example of such an assignment:
Level "Use"
Updated version: category "Analysis"
Unlike solving a crossword puzzle, where the student only needs to remember the words and their meanings, creating such a task requires a deeper analysis of the material and its systematization, which allows you to find the correct Definitions. Furthermore, creativity is required here. Such tasks can be given individually, in pairs, or in small teams. An example of such a task could be:
"Awareness" level
Updated version: the "Use" stage (and partially "Analysis")
Tasks aimed at detecting errors also contribute to the analysis of new information. Here is an example of such a task:
Degree of "Awareness"
Updated Level: "Analysis"
Ways to Enhance Practical Application of Knowledge in Students
For a course to be truly high-quality, it is not enough to simply transform questions and assignments into more engaging and interactive formats. Without a practical component, it is often impossible to achieve the desired educational results.
Practical assignments completed as part of project activities demonstrate their effectiveness, especially in educational courses aimed at training specialists. They are as close as possible to real-world work conditions, thereby creating a true imitation of professional practice. In addition, successful completion of such projects allows students to build a portfolio, which significantly increases their chances of finding employment in a new profession.
Practical application of knowledge is important not only in vocational training, but also in courses related to scientific disciplines, as well as in educational and developmental programs, such as history, cultural studies, or philosophy. In these cases, practice takes on a different form. When the primary goal of a course is not to develop specific professional skills, but to foster deep understanding, critical thinking, and the ability to apply acquired knowledge in various situations, practice becomes an important means for active learning.
For example, as part of a course on evolution, you can offer students an assignment in which they must predict what mutations would be necessary for a hypothetical creature and how these changes might be retained in its descendants in a changed environment to increase the chances of survival of the species. In a course on the history of religions, you can assign an assignment in which students compare the ritual practices of different peoples and search for common archetypes that underlie them.
Be sure to obtain practical assignments from specialists or program curators, or create them yourself based on theoretical materials if your qualifications in this field allow it.
Based on our experience, we have developed a list of universal types of practical assignments that can be incorporated into courses in various fields. Examples are provided for professional courses.
The objective of this assignment is to apply acquired knowledge in situations that are as close as possible to real-life situations.
The student's task is to apply their knowledge to the development of a complex product, algorithm, or strategy.
As part of the "Nutrition" course, one assignment involves creating a personalized nutrition plan for a fictitious client whose characteristics are based on real-life examples from the practice of professional nutritionists. The student is provided with a questionnaire that reflects the client's goals and personal preferences, as well as their gender, age, height, weight, waist and hip measurements, work and rest schedule, physical activity level, health problems, bad habits, and dietary characteristics, including restrictions and preferences. The main task is to develop a diet that takes into account all the data provided, as well as to give general recommendations and, if necessary, offer consultation with specialized specialists.
Here are some suggestions for how this type of assignment could be adapted for curricula in various fields:
- E-commerce: Developing a strategy for opening an online store.
- Interior design: Developing a space design concept.
- Python programming: Developing a small digital product, such as a Telegram bot or a simple web application.
The objective of this assignment is to develop sustainable patterns of professional behavior and develop a systematic method for solving standard work problems.
The student's task is to create a unified tool that will be useful in their future professional activities.
As part of the Nutrition Science course, students were asked to develop a checklist for an initial client consultation. In creating this document, they summarize and use their knowledge of various aspects of consulting work. It is important that they cover all key steps in the process, from establishing contact and collecting a medical history, to analyzing the findings and planning next steps.
Examples of how similar assignments could be adapted for curricula in various fields:
- E-commerce: Developing a checklist for SEO optimization of product pages.
- Interior design: Developing a checklist for a client meeting.
- Python programming: Creating a checklist for developing application components.
The purpose of this assignment is to promote critical thinking in solving problems in the professional field, as well as to teach how to formulate reasoned conclusions based on the obtained data.
The student's responsibilities are to analyze the information, identify existing problems and develop possible solutions.
As part of the Nutrition course, students are involved in analyzing laboratory data and adjusting clients' diets. They receive the results of various blood tests, such as a complete blood count, thyroid hormone levels, iron, ferritin, glucose, and other important elements. Students' task is to correctly interpret these results, identify possible causes of deviations from normal values, suggest dietary changes, and provide lifestyle recommendations. If necessary, the client should also be advised to contact the appropriate specialists.
Here are some example assignments that can be adapted for courses in different fields:
1. For a marketing course: developing a product promotion strategy taking into account an analysis of the target audience and competitors.
2. As part of the psychology curriculum: conducting a study on the impact of social media on adolescent self-esteem, including analysis of the obtained data.
3. For an ecology course: creating a project to improve the environmental situation in their region, including a study of the problems and proposals for their solutions.
4. In a history course: writing an essay about the impact of a particular historical event on modern society, using primary and secondary sources.
5. For an art course: creating a multimedia presentation dedicated to the life and work of a famous artist or writer, with an emphasis on their influence on culture.
6. As part of a programming course: developing an application that solves a specific problem, with a detailed description of the stages of creation and testing.
7. For a business course: writing a business plan for a startup, including market analysis, financial forecasts, and growth strategies.
These ideas can serve as a basis for creating assignments that will stimulate students to deeply study the materials and develop practical skills.
- E-commerce: studying the stages of the sales funnel of an online store.
- Interior design: evaluating the layout of an apartment.
- Python programming: the process of identifying errors in a program.
The objective of this assignment is to organize and structure knowledge through the "explain it to someone else" method, as well as to test the accuracy and depth of their own perception of the material being studied.
Students need to process specialized knowledge so that it is accessible to people without professional training. It is important to create clear and logically organized material that will be understandable to a wide audience.
As part of the Nutrition course, students will be tasked with creating an informational memo for clients. Their task is to present the acquired knowledge in an accessible and clear way so that non-specialists can easily understand the material. To do this, it is necessary to use simple explanations and visual examples. Topics for work are selected from the proposed list, for example, "Ways to increase iron levels without using supplements" or "Recommendations for taking probiotics."
What assignment could be suggested for courses in other fields?
- E-commerce: A guide for beginners launching their first online store.
- Interior design: Preparing a memo for clients before starting renovation work.
- Python programming: A guide to creating a technical specification for developers.
In this article, we will discuss how to increase the usefulness and value of your course by developing additional resources for learners based on existing content. We will also explore the possibility of organizing live webinars, establishing effective interaction between students, and creating a feedback system.
Read also:
- Creating Academic Tests: A Step-by-Step Guide to the Process.
- Creating a High-Quality Assignment for Online Course Students: A Guide for Beginner Teachers.
- How to Make Tests a Memorization Tool, Not Just a Knowledge Assessment?
- Experts shared their recommendations on what types of assessment tasks should be offered to students in the context of the active development of artificial intelligence.
- To create effective practical assignments within a course using the CCAF model, it is necessary to consider several key aspects. First, it is important to define the context in which the material will be applied. This will make the assignments more relevant and timely for students.
Second, goals and expected results should be clearly articulated so that participants understand what success they should achieve. It's also important to include elements of review and feedback so students can assess their progress and identify areas for improvement.
Furthermore, it's important to ensure active student engagement by offering assignments that require students to apply their knowledge in practice. This could include group projects, case studies, or simulations that promote critical thinking and collaboration.
Finally, assignments should be regularly reviewed and adapted based on participant feedback and changes in course content to maintain their relevance and effectiveness. Applying these principles will help you create practical assignments that not only teach but also motivate students to actively learn.
From Beginner to Expert: A Methodologist's Path in the Profession
You will improve your skills in creating curricula for both online and offline courses. Learn to apply current teaching methods, systematize your knowledge, and increase your competitiveness in the labor market.
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