Chico State IDTS

Chico State IDTS is currently working with the Blue Room Theatre in Downtown Chico to improve the level of performance during show times. Members visited the facility and through collaboration and critical discussion are creating a series of job aids that will assist managers and volunteers alike. The finished project will be posted here. Production is currently underway.

This semester, IDTS is working with the Associated Student Government and Legislative Affairs Council to produce a series of short films with the intent to inform Chico State students about services that the Associated Students provides, actives and programs that Chico State is involved in, important legislative matters that occur, and more. Videos will be posted here, and on the IDTS Facebook Page . Production is currently underway.

The Associated Students Compost program has requested the assistance of IDTS to help them create an educational video.

AS describes composting as a practice that "diverts wastes that are currently going to the landfill. Composting also improves fertility, health of gardens, and gives an opportunity to learn about the processes of decomposition. It is easy, inexpensive and fun."
Visit AS Compost's website to learn more.

IDTS will work with AS Compost to create a video that is both informative and entertaining. This will be a chance for IDTS members with video production experience to show off their skills and be a great hands-on learning experience for members interested in video.

We are currently working on creating a database of Chico State IDTS alumni to be included on the "Alumni" section of the website

We think it will be a great way to improve networking between Chico State Instructional Designers as well as a way to show students what IDTS graduates have done with their degree.

If you are an alumnus who would like to be included click here.

Members of IDTS decided to approach Forest Ranch Charter School (FRCS) and offer a series of educational recycling workshops. Knowing the new school was environmentally themed we had high hopes and after receiving approval from the school's director, a team of IDTS members jumped into the project and got to work.

The goals of the project were to allow students to gain experience in instructional design, particularly curriculum building; while providing top quality recycling education to the FRCS students. We set out to complete 6 workshops all together. The school had 3 classrooms who participated. Our overall objectives were to leave the workshops knowing that the students could identify why environmental health is crucial for all life, why recycling helps improve environmental health, how it improves this and how they could properly participate in local recycling efforts.These objectives were met and each workshop was customized to be suitable for the age range and previous knowledge of the students participating. In addition each grade level had unique objectives created specifically for their grade level.

While working on this project, our students successfully went through the entire ADDIE model(Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, and Evaluation). It was a great experience for all involved. Not only did we learn to work with Subject Matter Experts (SMEs), build lesson plans, and utilize the ADDIE model, we also learned a great deal about working with teams and finding our own unique specialties as instructional designers. It was clear from the beginning we all had special qualities but this project allowed us to build from them while supporting the team as individuals.

In the end we were quite successful in our endeavors. We received nothing but positive feedback from the kids and teachers at FRCS. We have been invited back to conduct another set of recycling workshops this year and we truly hope to create an educational tradition between FRCS and IDTS.

Written by Project Lead, Adele Pfister

This year IDTS members will be presenting, along with Dr. John Roussell (our faculty advisor and mentor), our study on Generation M. It is very rare for students to present at this prestigious conference, especially undergraduate students. We are excited and proud to be sharing our research and conclusions with conference attendees.

Here is a description of the session:

Crossing Generation Borders: Creating Meaningful Learning for the Generation M Workforce
Dr. John M. Roussell and ID&T students of CSU, Chico

One of the many challenges in training and performance improvement involves the preparation of new professionals entering the workforce. These professionals are largely made up from what is now being called Generation M or Generation Millennium. Traditionally, instructional design models have included learner characteristics and instructional media selection components as a consideration when designing, developing, and delivering sound instruction. In looking at some of the characteristics of these new professionals from Generation M, there appears to be a stronger demand for looking at how training and workplace instructional experiences are being designed and delivered and how these align with other learning and communication experiences that are commonplace among members of this generation (i.e., MySpace, iPods, web blogs, videoconferencing, and webcasting).

• Identify various learner characteristics unique to Generation M.
• Identify various communication tools used by Generation M.
• Develop an appreciation for assessing learner characteristics and potential instructional media selection when designing training for Generation M.
• Identify possible barriers and benefits including communication tools popular with Generation M.
• Meet and interact with Generation M (ID&T students)