Computer Applications Learning Project

 

Assignment Description

The Computer Applications Learning Project is an analysis of how and what students learn from performing specific skills in the process of working with new computer applications.  During the first few weeks of CS 1000, this project requires careful thought about what specific skills relate to the learning of new computer applications as taught in lab.  Students will then select, use and assess these skills while learning TWO other different programs not taught in CS 1000.  The whole idea of this project is to transfer the prior computer knowledge gained in lab and lecture to the learning of new applications that will be useful in a student’s future career.  The programs must be SUBSTANTIAL applications that require SIGNIFICANT learning.  Students must produce tangible results using these applications.

 

Project Skill Self-Assessment

During the process of learning how to use two new programs you will complete a series of Self-Assessment Journals to assess your ability and progress in becoming a self-learner of new computer skills and applications. Your assessment needs to explain in some detail the various approaches you used in learning the applications along with significant insights you gain from self-assessing of your learning processes and project development.

 

Assessing Learning Skills

From the 20 specific computing concept and application learning skills listed on Page S-11, you should choose at least 4 of these skills to focus on during the first few weeks of learning new software applications.  As you progress, you will use additional skills to successfully complete this project. Your analysis of your skills will come from writing your weekly Self-Assessment Learning Journals and assessing your understanding of the terminology and by transferring knowledge of skills to your learning of new applications.  This self-analysis will provide you feedback for reporting on your progress in learning new applications.

 

Implementation of Action Plan

When you begin and as you progress in learning a new computer application, you should prepare and implement action plans for improving significant learning skills.  As you will soon discover, following through with your action plans (the implementation of your specific learning skills) will lead to steady progress on your computer application project. Your use of self-assessment and the Learning Process Methodology for improving your computer applications skills will allow you transfer that knowledge in understanding new information technologies and computer applications, and become a self-grower in learning computer skills.

 

Value of the Project Self-Assessment

The real value of your self-assessment depends on the effort and thought you put into the preparation and implementation of your short- and long-term action plans between each self-assessment.  Therefore, on a periodic basis, you should analyze your strengths, areas of improvement and insights in relation to your abilities in learning new computer applications.

 

Requirements of the Applications Learning Report

The outline for your Computer Applications Learning Project Report should be generally structured as follows:

 

1.       Introduction points out your general reasons for choosing this project and what you expected to accomplish.

2.       Details about the functions and capabilities of software you studied.

3.       An analysis of how you applied self-assessment to learning these applications.

4.       Description of the actual learning process you used in learning at least two “new computer applications” outside of class applications.

5.       Identify the most important skills you developed from this software learning project and explain how you can use these skills to your advantage in the future.

6.       Summary discusses your ability to self-assess the development of the learning skills you used in learning your two chosen computer applications.

7.       A Start-Up Self-Assessment Journal and at least 5 Project Self-Assessment Journals.

8.        Include a list of resources used in learning these new programs.

 

Some Critical Thinking Questions

What role did language development and understanding the meanings of the menus, commands and other terminology play in your learning of the computer programs?

 

Why did you want to learn the two new programs you selected and what Information Processing Methodology skills were most helpful in learning these programs?

 

What Learning Process Methodology steps did you used in recognizing and understanding the meaning of various symbols, icons and buttons, dialog boxes, etc.?

 

What action plans did you incorporate into your learning of new computer applications, especially when you got frustrated?  What insights or new understandings did you learn about yourself in the process?

 

Requirements of Your Computer Applications Learning Project Portfolio

You must use a word processing application to write your project report.  You may also integrate information from some other applications -- Internet browsers, spreadsheet, database, presentation, email and your selected applications -- in preparing your report.  Since the quality of content of your report is the most important, no suggested length guideline, requirement or limit of pages for your Computer Learning Applications Project Report is provided.  However, in many cases the extra pages for charts, graphs, illustrations, computer-produced results and a reference (bibliography) page exceed the report.  Please use a 12-point type size and double-space the lines with a half-inch indent at the beginning of the paragraphs.  The use of subheads is suggested for appropriately separating topics and improving readership.

 

Special Note: Be sure to include your Self-Assessment Journals as an appendix with your project report in addition to other references.  The evaluation of your Computer Applications Learning Project Report requires that your graded journals be included in your Portfolio.  Self-Assessment Journals that are not reviewed and dated by your lab instructor during the assessment process (weekly) will not receive credit during the grading process.  The report grade will be based on the criteria listed below:

 

Evaluation of Self-Learning Project Progress Report

Progress Criteria

Outline of development plan

10

 

Report on project and skills progress

10

 

Research support – results, illustrations, resources and 3 Weekly Self-Assessment Journals

10

 

Instructor Project Feedback Interview

5

__

Total Points

 

35

 

Evaluation of Computer Applications Learning Project Report

Project Criteria

Level of thought and analysis

10

 

Overall quality of content – project planning and implementation

10

 

Effort on the Project

5

 

Quality of writing the Project Report

5

 

Completeness of the Project Report

5

 

Results, illustrations, resources and bibliography

5

 

 

 

40

 

Self-Assessment Criteria

Your level of effort and diligence throughout the self-assessment process

10

 

Your ability to self-assess project and skills performance

10

 

Your commitment to improving your growth through self-learning

5

 

Primary referencing of information in the Self-Assessment Journals

5

 

 

 

30

Journals

Start-Up Self-Assessment Journal

2.5

 

5 Weekly Self-Assessment Journals (Each worth 5.5 points)

27.5

 

 

 

  30

Total Points

 

100

 

NOTE: As is the case with ALL of your assignments in this class, you should keep copies of ALL of your self-assessment journals.  Your copies not only will serve as backup in case of loss during the evaluation process, but more importantly you use your Self-Assessment Journals in formulating weekly action plans in becoming a self-grower learner and as research resources for writing your Computer Applications Learning Project Report.