Happy Hapai: Evaluating the Usability of a Pregnancy and Childbirth Preparation Website

Session Description
Pregnancy and childbirth are wonderful experiences for many women, and even their partners. During the period of gestation, there is a strong focus on the overall wellness of both mother and child, as well as planning for the birth and postpartum care. For individuals living on Oʻahu, there are many resources available; however, it can be a tiresome process to find the information expecting families need and want. As a quick reference, many individuals find themselves seeking answers on the Internet. For these reasons, there is a need for a comprehensive, location-based resource to assist expecting families.

To address this need, the researcher designed and developed an online resource containing useful information to help expecting parents make informed decisions about their pregnancy and delivery (https://dmyoshimoto.wixsite.com/happyhapai). A usability study of the website was conducted with the purpose of evaluating its functionality, navigability, and ease of use, as well as determining participant satisfaction. The study recruited nine (n = 9) participants, specifically individuals of child-bearing age who were pregnant or planning to have a child in the future, to evaluate the online resource. After three iterations, the results of the study indicated that the instructional resource was more appealing to the target audience with relatable images, consistent and clean page layouts, and clear and concise information.

The presentation will discuss the study’s results, including methods, project design, analysis of data and participant feedback, design implications, and modifications. The results support the idea that usability studies provide valuable feedback for developing resources that are effective and functional.

Presenter(s)
Demi Yoshimoto
Demi Yoshimoto, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, HI
Demi Yoshimoto was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii. She received her B.Ed. in Elementary and Early Childhood Education from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Following her undergraduate education, she began her teaching career through the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program in Okinawa, Japan. There she taught English to high school students. Upon her return to Hawaii, she entered the Hawaii Department of Education and began teaching Grade 2 at a local elementary school. She decided to continue her education at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, and is currently in her final year of the M.Ed. Learning Design and Technology Program.
Session Type
LTEC Session
Audience
All Audiences

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Helping the Helpers: A Learning Assessment of Domestic Violence Online Advocacy Training

Session Description
The purpose of this learning assessment study was to explore how the use of case-based scenarios and continuous assessment effects learner engagement for domestic violence advocates participating in an online training from the Hawai`i State Coalition Against Domestic Violence (HSCADV). For this project, an online learning module on the essential elements of safety planning was developed that addressed: victim choice and autonomy, threat assessment, and safety strategies for victims who are in or planning to leave an abusive relationship. A three-part, fictional case-study video was filmed and played throughout the course of instruction to engage learners and tie the instructional content back to the learners’ job-related functions. Participants in the study were also asked several questions throughout instruction that required them to relate the facts of the scenario with the training content. After rating the instruction across the affective dimensions of attention, relevance, confidence, and satisfaction, learners in the study generally found the training to be engaging. Participants with learner characteristics most similar to first-time advocates provided the most consistently positive ratings. This presentation will discuss the findings and recommendations for future study.
Presenter(s)
Suzanne Brown-McBride
Suzanne Brown-McBride, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, HI
Suzanne Brown-McBride is a consultant and student at the University of Hawaiʻi LTEC program. She lives on the Big Island with her partner, Pug and French Bulldog.
Session Type
LTEC Session
Audience
Novice, Intermediate

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E-Portfolio Development & Pathways of Learning for Middle Schoolers

Session Description
Attending the School of the Future Conference inspired the idea of creating an e-Portfolio to prepare the next generation of the workforce. With a 49% of the college graduates not meeting the employers’ expectations, the idea of creating an ePortfolio to prepare eighth graders to obtain the essential skills to meet these expectations. These 8th graders will be directed to a website where they will find mini-lessons. These mini-lessons display activities that are related to the HA concepts as well as the 21st Century principles. The students collect evidence of their best academic and multiculiculars activities while making sure that they complete the requirements from the mini-lessons.
Presenter(s)
Maeva Anderson
Maeva Anderson, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, HI
Maeva Anderson is a 2nd year student in the Learning Design and Technology at the University of Hawaii Manoa.
Melanie Chan-Vinoray
Melanie Chan-Vinoray, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, HI
Melanie Chan-Vinoray is a 2nd year student in the Learning Design and Technology at the university of Hawaii Manoa. She will graduate from the program at the end of this Semester.
Session Type
LTEC Session
Audience
All Audiences

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The Usability of an Early College Online Resource

Session Description
Early College is quickly becoming a popular option for high school students to simultaneously earn high school and college credit. However, for high school counselors looking for course information, tutorials and guides about the Early College program in Hawaiʻi; there is no centralized source of information to provide such resources. To address this need, an online instructional resource in the form of a website was created for high school counselors interested in Early College at the University of Hawaiʻi — West Oʻahu. A usability study was conducted to evaluate the website design for its ease of use, navigation, user satisfaction, and participant interest in the resource.

This session will discuss the usability study’s methods, participants, and results, emphasizing design implications, and subsequent website modifications. In terms of measures, the usability study used the System Usability Scale (SUS) and Design-oriented Evaluation of Perceived Usability (DEEP). Data from the study found the online instructional resource to be a highly valuable source of information, with functional accurate content, and easy to navigate. Participants also reported satisfaction with the online instructional resource. The results of the study suggested that the instructional resource was able to provide high school counselors with a single online source, which provided tutorials, instructions, and Early College course information to better help their students. The outcome of this study highlights the importance of implementing well designed online resources to serve Hawaiʻi’s school counselors. Future modifications may include reaching out to both parents and high school students.

Presenter(s)
Brandon Carlos
Brandon Carlos, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, HI
Brandon Carlos grew up in Waiʻanae, Hawaiʻi. Earning his B.S. in Psychology and Sociology from the University of Hawaiʻi — West Oʻahu (UHWO); he moved into the education field as the Early College Coordinator. He is currently a Learning Design and Technology Masters student at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa by night and an Early College Coordinator for UHWO by day. Brandon is passionate about supporting high school administrators, faculty and students and grateful to have had the opportunity to create an online instructional resource for the Early College program.
Session Type
LTEC Session
Audience
All Audiences

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Using Learning Centers in Inclusion: A Usability Study of a Teacher Resource Website

Session Description
Inclusion learning ensures that each student is provided with a differentiated curriculum that assists them to achieve learning objectives. Learning centers geared toward providing students multiple means of learning content provides students with this type of differentiated instruction. As the Hawaii Department of Education (HIDOE), moves forward with implementing inclusion classrooms in public schools, educators need support in finding resources that will assist them in effectively providing an environment in which all students can achieve.

The purpose of this usability study was to create and evaluate the ease-of-use and navigation of the Learning Centers for Inclusion Teaching and Learning (https://learningcentersforinclusion.weebly.com/). This website contains information and resources to support inclusive teaching and learning for K-5 teachers at Lihikai Elementary on Maui. The website was developed using Weebly, a cloud-based development platform. The design of the website was guided by the ARCS Model and the Gestalt’s Principles of Universal Design. The usability study recruited 9 participants who gauged the navigability of the website and the effectiveness of the content found on the website. Three rounds of usability testing were conducted and rated using Molich, Jeffries, and Dumas (2007) as well as measured the average task completion time by participants. Verbal feedback during the study and results collected via pre-surveys and post-surveys indicated positive user experiences including the application of the website as a tool for inclusive teaching and learning. The session will further discuss the approach to the usability study and the outcomes, which include methods, design strategies, study results, and lessons learned.

Presenter(s)
Tiana Guerrero
Tiana Guerrero, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, HI
Tiana Guerrero is a part-time teacher at Lihikai Elementary School and a second-year graduate student in the Learning Design and Technology (LTEC) program at the University of Hawaii at Manoa (UHM). Upon receiving a B.Ed. in Elementary Education from UHM in 2018, she began teaching at her alma mater, Lihikai Elementary, as a growth block teacher for students who need additional support in a variety of subject areas. She has been privileged to be working in her dream position as a teacher in the community that helped to grow her love for teaching and learning. To further support her community and the teachers at Lihikai, she created a website that provides the teachers with resources that will assist them in differentiating their instruction to meet the needs of all their learners.
Session Type
LTEC Session
Audience
All Audiences

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English Basics and Foundations for 9th Grade

Session Description
English Basics and Foundations for 9th Grade is a 15 week course focused on learning various types of writing, with emphasis on the development of written communication skills, how to analyze text, and collaboration. There are five main modules for the course that deal with narrative, poetry, drama, rhetoric, and research. The researcher spent time talking with former students and close relatives about their experiences in the english classroom. Through an exercise in empathy, the researcher was able to understand the wants, wishes, and needs of these students that played an important role in the development of this course.

This online English course was designed using Canvas for students to develop writing and reading skills at the 9th-grade level. Courses are designed to give students the opportunity to build upon foundational skills in english with personalized feedback and instruction. It is important to build upon foundational skills because these are the skills that students will be carrying with them for the rest of their lives. If they do not have a proper foundation, they will not be prepared for the “real-world.” Knowing how to write, read, and communicate are essentials to building a successful life and go beyond academics. According to ACT.org, the official site of the ACT, developing foundational skills are “essential to conveying and receiving information that is critical to training and workplace success” (ACT, 2014).

The session will discuss the design, objectives, development, and findings of this project. The course was designed in accordance with peer/instructor feedback and target audience’s reactions and opinions. The Universal Design for Learning was used while considering the development of the course.

Presenter(s)
Tasia Nakasone
Tasia Nakasone, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, HI

Session Type
LTEC Session
Audience
All Audiences

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Orientation to Medical Simulation Website for Medical Students – a Usability Study

Session Description
The Institute of Medicine’s report, To Err is Human (2000), documented 98,000 annual deaths attributable to medical error. Simulation based medical education (SBME) was recommended as one mitigation strategy. Today, simulation is almost universally used in U.S. medical schools. To prepare first year medical students for SBME, the John A. Burns School of Medicine offers a classroom lecture and subsequent bedside orientation and scenario. However, student feedback has revealed recurring negative experiences including feeling stressed, unprepared and desire for more orientation. To address these issues, the researcher developed an asynchronous orientation module delivered through a website using WordPress.

Merrill’s First Principles of Instruction (2002) was used bring relevancy to the module through visual demonstration of tasks, real-world examples, and scaffolding. Bloom’s Taxonomy (2002) informed the cognitive framework for the curriculum. Upon completion a usability study was performed with fourteen (n = 14) first- and second-year medical students. The study involved three iterations of cognitive walk-throughs measuring learnability, efficiency and error rate, satisfaction and ability to prepare the student. The results of the usability study found evidence that the instructional module’s system usability scale rating was excellent. (Brooke, 1996). However, additional data found a low effectiveness rate of 50% and a problematic efficiency rate as measured by task completion and time. Modifications were informed by Nielsen’s (1994) severity rating for usability problems. Qualitative analysis provided interesting future modifications. The presentation will conclude by showcasing specific design modifications and discussing lessons learned about the value of conducting usability studies as part of the instructional design process.

Presenter(s)
Kris Hara
Kris Hara, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, HI

Session Type
LTEC Session
Audience
All Audiences

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Working With Scholarly Sources: An information literacy unit learning assessment for first-year undergraduates at the University of Hawaii at Hilo and Hawaii Community College

Session Description
First-year college students are often tasked with library activities to develop information literacy skills as a requirement of their freshman English composition course. In the traditional environment of one-shot library classroom demonstrations and text-heavy online tutorials, these activities can be dry, unengaging and ineffective for students. This study aimed to improve learning outcomes and participant satisfaction with a new unit on scholarly communication topics that employed a blended learning environment using a flipped-classroom instructional strategy.

Eight student participants from two University of Hawaii campuses completed this study and were compensated for their time. Students were asked to view unit content via a self-paced, online learning management system before attending an optional face-to-face workshop session. Online content was organized into three modules using multimedia learning objects presented in a timeline format for easy navigation. A pretest, posttest, and exit survey were administered to assess learning and satisfaction. Most students showed improved posttest scores and expressed satisfaction with unit design and the use of multimedia content although none participated in the workshop session. A focus on use of multimedia objects within online tutorial design tied directly to active learning in the classroom is recommended to other academic libraries seeking to improve engagement and skills retention among their lower undergraduate students.

Presenter(s)
Brian Bays
Brian Bays, University of Hawaii at Manoa, HI
Brian Bays is a master’s student in the Learning Design and Technology Program at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. After earning a master’s degree in library science from Indiana University in 1999, he has worked for the past twenty years for academic and public libraries. He currently serves as Head of Collection Development at the Edwin H. Mookini Library, a joint-use facility serving the University of Hawaii at Hilo and Hawaii Community College. His interests have taken him from library acquisitions to library instruction where he works with undergraduate students to develop information literacy skills.
Session Type
LTEC Session
Audience
All Audiences

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Learning Tech Ethics for the 21st Century

Session Description
The 21st century is presenting educators and students with various technologies that offer opportunities for greater learner interaction and teaching impact. As exciting as these possibilities are, these learning technologies also bring up important ethical questions, such as student privacy, safety, security, digital citizenship, parental supervision, and tech addiction. This session will therefore address the vital need for secondary educators and school administrators (grades 6-12) to have easy and flexible access to an online professional development course, which can focus on addressing highly relevant ethical concerns encountered in the learning tech revolution of today.

Accordingly, this session will present a model for a learning tech ethics course that was developed for professional development on the TalentLMS platform. This presentation will ultimately seek to elucidate the ways in which this online course can provide secondary educators and administrators with pertinent ethical principles and ethical reasoning skills that aim to support cogent ethical decision-making when utilizing technology in classrooms and schools. Therefore, the course’s instructional goals, objectives, strategies, gamification elements, and assessments will be reviewed. In the end, this presentation will highlight the TalentLMS platform’s professional development capabilities, as well as highlight the ultimate goal of this asynchronous course, which is for participants to become confident and competent “learning tech ethicists” who will be able to immediately adapt and implement this course’s ethics lessons and understandings into their professional and personal practice.

Course URL: https://21stcenturytraining.talentlms.com/

Presenter(s)
Ginger Gruters
Ginger Gruters, University of Hawai’i at Mānoa, HI

Session Type
LTEC Session
Audience
All Audiences

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Program Planning through a Visual Novel-style Game

Session Description
Program planning is an effective way to define, outline, and manage an organization’s events and evaluate their outcomes (Diaz, Gusto, & Diehl, 2018). Within the Student Life Office at the University of Hawaiʻi – West Oʻahu, students use Program Planning to promote events and conduct meetings for resources, activities, and outcomes. As part of an organization’s training, students must take the Program Planning training before they run an event. However, due to their busy schedules, some students are unable to attend the in-person training sessions. To overcome the limitations of in-person training, an online training was developed to ensure more students are able to participate. The new training was designed to promote student learning through game-based methods in the style of a visual novel.

A usability study was conducted to evaluate the online instruction created for the Student Life Office. The purpose of this study was to evaluate if the training was easy to use, simple to navigate, and resulted in user satisfaction. In total, eight (n = 8) students participated in the study. Data from the usability study suggests that participants are eager for the Program Planning training to be initiated.

This presentation will discuss study methods, evaluation instruments, and results. While creating the training was a feat in itself, the researcher found that testing how students react to the training was equally important. The feedback and criticism collected through different rounds of usability testing, helped the researcher refine the prototype. While it was determined that this training can be used with future students, the researcher suggests a learning assessment be conducted prior to circulating the training.

Presenter(s)
Mellissa Lochman
Mellissa Lochman, University of Hawaii at Manoa, HI
Mellissa Lochman was born and raised on the island of Molokai, Hawaiʻi. After 8 years in the Air Force, she returned home to Hawaiʻi to continue her education. Upon receiving her B.A. in Creative Media from the University of Hawaiʻi – West Oʻahu (UHWO) and working as a student employee, she decided to continue a career in education. She is currently a third-year LTEC masterʻs student who provides graphic art to the UHWO Student Life department and teaches students introductory graphic art skills as an online lecturer.
Session Type
LTEC Session
Audience
All Audiences

A recording of this presentation is available.
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