Minicourse Features & LMS Declaration

Instructional Design Document

For context to my minicourse, please visit my instructional design document linked below or in the IDD section of the menu above. 

Visit: IDD | Jennifer R. Grigsby

Features of My Minicourse

The following provides a high-level overview of the features and learning expectations from my minicourse. These features are designed to engage students, encourage practical application, and foster a deeper understanding of the material.

For more detailed description of the features, expand the title by clicking on the down arrow to the right. If interested, see the IDD for alignment with the learning objectives and features identified, so far, below. 

Self-Assessment Tools

Learners will have opportunities to independently assess their knowledge and skills, fostering reflection and personal growth.

  • Pre-course Self-Assessment: Students will begin the course by evaluating their understanding of nutrition concepts, helping establish a baseline for growth.
  • Activity 1: Nutrient Analysis Table (Grocery store activity): Students visit a grocery store and log the foods they typically purchase in a table, noting each item's macro and micronutrient content. This activity helps them assess the nutrient density of their usual choices. 
  • Activity 2: Balanced Plate Exercise (In-course activity): Students sort foods into appropriate macronutrient and micronutrient categories using an interactive drag-and-drop exercise.

Multimedia Presentations

Dynamic presentations will integrate text, video, audio, and animations to create an engaging learning experience.

  • Welcome Introduction: A pre-recorded video sets the tone and outlines the course and expectations.
  • Recorded Instructor Notes: The course includes multimedia explanations of key concepts, ensuring learners can review material at their own pace.

Assignments and Projects

Students will complete practical assignments that require them to apply course concepts to real-world scenarios.

  • Activity 1: Personalized Meal Plan Creation: Students develop a detailed, personalized meal plan for one week tailored to their health goals, dietary needs, and lifestyle.
  • Activity 2: Budget-Friendly Grocery Challenge: Students simulate grocery shopping on a budget, selecting nutrient-dense foods that align with their meal plans. They will either research or visit a grocery store to compare costs, focusing on economical yet nutritious choices.

Virtual Classrooms

Weekly real-time online sessions will allow for interactive discussions and deeper student engagement.

  • Live Class Discussions: these sessions provide a platform for learners to ask questions, discuss course material, and collaborate with peers in a virtual classroom setting. Features like screen sharing and virtual whiteboards will enhance the learning experience. 

LMS of Choice and Elements of the LMS 

Reach 360 is a relatively new learning management system (LMS) offered by Articulate 360 that integrates with courses developed using Rise 360, as well as other Articulate tools like Peek 360, Presenter 360, and Engage 360. For my minicourse, Reach 360 provides a centralized platform to host, track, and manage course content for up to 300 students while offering analytics to assess learner engagement and performance. Its user-friendly interface ensures that learners can easily access the minicourse across devices, maintaining the responsive design and interactive features developed in Rise 360.

The LMS supports features like SCORM and xAPI compatibility, ensuring the minicourse integrates with existing organizational systems, if needed. Through Reach 360, I can assign learners to courses, set deadlines, send notifications, and track progress through reporting tools. Though I have not tested the functionality yet, it appears to allow administrators to monitor metrics such as course completion rates, quiz scores, and learner interactions, providing insights to improve the course. Additionally, the platform's collaborative features appear to enable integration of multimedia from Peek 360, Presenter 360, and Engage 360, which provides additional options to enrich the content and to create a multi-faceted learning experience for participants. Reach 360's scalability also ensures the course can support a wide range of learners, whether targeting small cohorts or larger groups up to 300.

Support Resources for Reach 360

Articulate provides extensive tutorial support for licensed users to ensure they can effectively build and manage content within their LMS. This includes access to a comprehensive knowledge base, step-by-step video tutorials, and detailed guides covering everything from basic setup to advanced features of tools like Reach 360, Rise 360, Presenter 360, and Engage 360. Additionally, licensed users benefit from priority access to customer support, including live chat and email assistance, ensuring timely help for troubleshooting and questions—which I have used often over the years.

Beyond Articulate's official support, the user community contributes a wealth of knowledge through YouTube, offering tips, tricks, and creative solutions for building and enhancing courses within Reach 360. These user-generated resources often provide insights into real-world applications, unique design techniques, and efficient workflows.