University of the West Indies

Open Campus

Degree Name: M.Sc. Instructional Design & Technology

Course Name: Issues, trends, Innovations and Research in Instructional Technology and

Distance Education

Course Code: EDID6506

Course Coordinator and Facilitator: Dr. Camile Dickson Deane

Assignment One: Brief Learning Unit for a MOOC

Individual Assignment: Student Name: Candice E. Brown

Student I.D.: 04008579

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Table of Contents

Page(s)

Introduction ………………………………………………………………….3

Lesson Plan ………………………………………………………………….4

Description of the media & reasons for selecting it …………………………8

The media lesson ……………………………………………………………9

Reflection ……………………………………………………………………9

References

Appendix

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Introduction

Sociology is an advanced subject which is usually offered to students at the tertiary level.

Grades 12 and 13 students at the secondary level in many Caribbean countries have the

option of pursuing a Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations (CAPE) in Sociology.

The lesson prepared is a brief introduction to the discipline of sociology which is designed

using an online delivery method.

TEDed was selected as the best medium because it is relatively easy to use, allows for the use

of YouTube videos, its capacity to facilitate testing, online discussions, and provides relevant

teacher feedback. For these reasons and more TEDed is considered as an effective Massive

Open Online Course (MOOC).

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The Lesson Plan

Subject: Sociology Unit One

Grade: 12/13

Date: June 1-10, 2018

Topic: Sociology: Concepts and Issues

Sub Topic: An introduction to Sociology

Students should be able to achieve the following objectives

General Objective: to understand the core concepts and issues associated with the discipline

sociology

Specific Objectives

Cognitive

1. Define the concept sociology after watching a video with 100% accuracy

2. List at least 3 contributors to the discipline of Sociology after watching a video

and participating in online discussion forum with 100% accuracy.

Psychomotor

1. Utilise the MOOC TEDed to watch a video and participate in an online discussion

forum

Affective

1. Appreciate the importance of sociology

Instructional Materials

Resources

MCAT (2016, April 14), An Introduction to sociology [Video File]. Retrieved from

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32KG_ba_NJc

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Mustapha, N. (2013) Sociology for Caribbean Students. Second Edition. Jamaica: Ian

Randall Publishers

TEDed.com, Youtube.com,

Development of Lesson

Introduction: Students who have registered for Sociology Unit One will receive a welcome

email which will outline the requirements for participation in the course and a link to the

lesson.

Video Presentation: Students will be required to register their names and watch video.

Culminating activity: Students will be required complete the multiple choice questions and

short answer questions listed. All activities should be completed by Tuesday.

Additional Activity: Students will be required to comment on the findings in the Discussion

forum. Then reply to at least two classmates at the end of the week.

Evaluation

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Content

Let's Begin

After watching this video learners should be able to;

1. define the concept sociology

2. list at least three contributors to the discipline of sociology

3. explain the significance of sociology

Think

1. What is Sociology?

A. study of people

B. study of groups

C. study of society

D. study of living things in our society

2. What is the sociological imagination?

A. the ability to understand events which occur in society from the perspective of others

B. the ability to understand social problems in society

C. the ability to prevent social problems

D. the ability to construct the social science

3. Who invented sociology?

A. C. Wright Mills

B. Emile Durkheim

C. Karl Marx

D. Auguste Comte'

4. List the names of at least three major contributors to the field of sociology

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Dig Deeper

Unlike European Sociology Caribbean Sociology was developed in response to need for

resolution of the multiple social problems which existed as a result of colonization and

slavery. Caribbean sociologist such as Braithwaite, Beckford and MG Smith described the

nature of the Caribbean society in the theories of the creole, plantation and plural society

respectively. Each theory noted the social and economic challenges which inhibit the

development of the Caribbean society as a result of a controversial history and political

development.

Discussions

1. Sociology is described as a science of society. Explain the significance sociology

Description:

Its inventor theorised that sociology was a sciences and is characterised by similar principles

to the natural sciences.

Emile Durkheim conducted a scientific study of society on the social problem of suicide.

Sociology applies systematic approach to the study of society. Both the quantitative and the

qualitative approach is applied to understand society

2. Outline the sociological perspective presented in the video which you believe was most

significant.

And Finally...

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Sociology is the systematic society of human behaviour within groups.

Major theorists associated with sociology include; Auguste Comte', C. Wright Mills, Emile

Durkheim, Erving Goffman, Howard S. Becker, Stanley Cowen, Michel Foucault, Edward

Sayeed

Sociology provides persons with the competence to explain social problems by applying

scientific principles. It also helps persons to understand different cultures and learn how to

coexist and within a diverse society.

Description of the media used to deliver the lesson and reasons for selecting it

According to Conway (2017) TEDed is useful for any discipline. There is a plethora of

information available for student and teacher usage. Moreover the videos are strictly

educational and the media tool encourages lesson creation which can be shared via email and

social media. (Saxena 2014).

The most outstanding features of the platform is the facility to ask a wide range of questions

for learners at different levels. (Saxena 2014) It also supports use of distinct types of

questions such as multiple choice which assures timely and specific feedback. Other activities

include ‘dig deeper’ which can be used to provide additional content not presented in the

video and links for research. (Saxena 2014) The Discussion section is also very functional

because it allows for students to communicate openly and provide comments which support

group learning. This medium is also comparable with social media forums which offer the

same feature and is quite appealing for the youth.

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This media tool was selected because it is user friendly, relevant and is associated with a

medium which is relevant to the age cohort.

The TEDed media tool has an attractive and simple use interface. The instructions provided

for the use of the tool is clear and there was no ambiguity while preparing the lesson. It was

also noted that the media tool allowed for previews at every stage. The most significant

challenge was selecting an appropriate video for the subject matter of the lesson.

TED talks is an established source of information. The content is relevant and recognised by

academia. Moreover the resources provided on the websites can be beneficial for senior

students at the secondary level and tertiary students. Especially due to the fact that they are

required to utilise research skills for the sociology course and other areas at this level.

The media lesson

The following is an URL for the lesson. This link can be shared via email and social media.

https://ed.ted.com/on/CyAfrnDz

There is also link on the website for the lesson.

https://browncandice.weebly.com/edid6506.html

Reflection

Students of UWI Open Campus are well trained in use of MOOC. This resource is

advantageous because it supports learning in a dynamic way. As future instructional

designers will be required to become masters of these resources and this fact was significant

motivator while completing this assignment.

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This assignment was overwhelming perhaps due to the fact that I was not sure which

assignment to complete from inception. This was the first course which granted me the

privilege to choose the assignment which I would like to complete. Up until the last minute I

found myself doing both assignment 1 and 3 because I was not sure which assignment I could

most effectively demonstrate my knowledge of modern trends in education.

However I was convinced that assignment one would be my choice when I found that online

infographic resources were not as user friendly as they are advertised and the notion that

working while studying does not allow for the necessary time to complete a PowToon in the

designated period. I was therefore delighted by the simplicity of TEDed. In actuality teachers

do not have the time to develop complicated resources. There is need for more user friendly

resources which support the flipped classroom.

Notably I was also encouraged by the fact that the TEDed lesson which I created was vetted

over a period of 24 hours before approved. This provision assured me of the reputability of

the resources and thus increased its appeal. I was motivated to use this resource for one of my

actual classes. This activity proved successful.

The lesson selected is relevant content for the Sociology course which I currently teach. At

the commencement of each year this material is the subject of the first class. My readings for

this course and attempts at assignment 3 enlightened my on the necessity to ensure that my

next cohort benefits from mobile and blended learning.

Significantly feedback from Dr. Deane was also a motivator. She explained the need for

aspiring instructional designers to prepare ourselves for the global society rather than our

region which we love so much. Hence my choice for the lesson was tailored to accommodate

students of sociology from varying regions and students of sociology in different disciplines.

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References

Conway, P. (2017, March) Support Kids’ sense of wonder with outstanding short videos.

Retrieved from https://www.commonsense.org/education/website/ted-ed

MCAT (2016, April 14), An Introduction to sociology [Video File]. Retrieved from

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32KG_ba_NJc

Mustapha, N. (2013) Sociology for Caribbean Students. Second Edition. Jamaica: Ian

Randall Publishers

Saxena, S. (2014, February 08) Amazing features of TEDed that Teachers Would Love to

Know. Retrieved from http://edtechreview.in/trends-insights/insights/956-amazing-

features-of-ted-ed-that-teachers-would-love-to-know

Appendix

Figure 1: Website. Screenshot of page

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Figure 1: Lesson page. Screenshot of page

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