Crystal James

  Part One: Project Management in IDET 5320 This week, my role as the project manager for our IDET team involved setting up foundational structures to streamline our project’s development. Here’s a breakdown of the strategies I employed to facilitate collaboration and organization: Google Docs for Design Planning : I created a centralized document where our team could collaboratively draft our design plan using the ADDIE process. This document has become our primary point of reference, containing all ideas, insights, and iterations. It helps ensure that each member has access to the project vision and specific deliverables. Google Slides for Role Allocation : To make the division of responsibilities visually accessible, I designed a Google Slides presentation, detailing each team member’s role within the ADDIE phases. This approach provided clarity, making it easy for team members to know their duties while keeping a sense of collective direction. Collaborative Meetings on ADDIE : ...

  Individual Learning Experience Polishing My Professional Portfolio This week has been all about refining and elevating my professional presence, with a significant focus on revamping my instructional design portfolio. I dedicated many hours to giving it a fresh, polished look by reorganizing the fonts for consistency, adding professional photos of myself, and incorporating a new footnotes section that mirrors high-quality, professional websites. Each element, from the headers to the background visuals, was meticulously chosen to ensure a cohesive and inviting user experience. My goal was not only to enhance the aesthetic appeal but also to align with what hiring managers and companies seek in potential candidates. This extensive work has reinforced my attention to detail, an essential quality in instructional design, and fueled my excitement for the field.  Key Insights from This Week’s Readings A central theme that resonated with me was the situated nature of cognition —an ...

This week has been an enlightening blend of tech exploration, strategic learning, and skill refinement—all with a focus on preparing my portfolio for future opportunities. I dedicated substantial time to updating my Google Sites portfolio, especially enhancing the “Home” and “About Me” pages to create a more focused and engaging user experience. I spent several hours watching instructional videos and researching consulting insights, all in service of making my portfolio not just visually appealing but also strategically aligned. The adjustments were small but meaningful; reorganizing text, improving layout, and streamlining messaging to draw attention effectively. My goal was to balance clear communication with a compelling narrative, a skill I strengthened this week as I refined my storyboarding approach and deepened my knowledge on best practices for eLearning. This journey also led me to Mindomo, a powerful mind-mapping tool designed to align with how we naturally process ideas. Unl...

This week was a whirlwind of excitement and new experiences that fueled my passion for instructional design. It kicked off with several days spent updating my portfolio, a project that has been both rewarding and essential. I’m focused on making my portfolio not just a collection of work, but a showcase of meaningful, impactful projects. I want hiring managers to see my growth, creativity, and commitment to making a difference in the field of instructional design. The Road Trip to TAMUCC: A Four-Hour Expedition The highlight of my week was the journey to visit the Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi campus—a four to five-hour drive each way. Though it was a long trip, my enthusiasm never wavered. I found myself daydreaming about instructional design ideas and potential projects as the miles rolled by. The coastal scenery was beautiful and inspiring, stirring up thoughts about how amazing it would be to design training programs by the beach or even work for an outdoor company someda...