Design Document

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Digital Layout IAdobe InDesign Training

• Design Document
• Susan Genden
• Wayne State University

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What is Adobe InDesign?

• InDesign is a page layout program
• Using it, we make professional files for high
  quality documents that can be sent to a
  commercial printer or distributed as pdf files

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A sample of good design
InDesign allows you to combine text and graphics
and provides a wide selection of tools and
formats
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What is the current situation?

• A community college class meets for sixteen
  weeks, twice weekly for three hours per class
• Students learn how to use the software, basics of
  typography and page layout through demos, hands
  on exercises, some page layout critiques, quizzes
  and projects.
• Learners range from new high school graduates to
  seniors, a few have disabilities, all matriculate
  in the graphics dept.

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Introduction to the problem

• The lead graphic design professor rejected new
  InDesign training materials for various reasons.
• The training materials used were from extant
  exercises from a different layout program,
  QuarkXpress, and from an old version of InDesign.
  
• The different instructors had no uniform
  curriculum
• Part way through the course, I was told that all
  instructors were to use the same midterm exam and
  final project.

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Needs assessment

• Since some exercises used by the instructors were
  provided from an earlier version of the software
  training, the instructions were not always
  correct
• These exercises were complex and hard to follow.
• Because of few pre-existing materials, each
  instructor created and tested course materials
  during the course. This resulted in duplicate
  curriculum development.
• Students came in at different competency levels
  and worked at different rates.

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Needs assessment cont.

• When asked to perform independently, many
  students could not transfer these skills to new
  work without assistance
• Better organization would benefit the students in
  ensuring good coverage of the necessary subject
  areas
• One of the instructors prepared the exams after
  training had begun without knowing what other
  instructors were teaching. This meant that all
  students might not have learned the materials

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Solution Course redesign for Digital Layout I
Adobe InDesign

• More organized framework, clearer directions
• Exercises prepared in advance for the proper
  software version used
• Creative exercises to apply knowledge at regular
  intervals, not just follow exercises
• More critiques to give them design feedback
• Start with the basics to include students with no
  background

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Training Design - prerequisites

• The students must be able to
• follow visual demonstrations, to read printed
  directions
• Students will have a basic understanding of
  computer and operating system use
• They will know how to use the network and jump
  drives for retrieving lessons and backing up
• Students should have CD-Rs or jump drives to
  back-up work.

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Training Design

• Potential obstacles
• A great deal of material to cover for a good
  understanding
• Some students with special needs may need to work
  without time limits. These students should
  contact the instructor to make special
  arrangements.
• Many students have jobs and must be able to
  arrange enough lab time to finish the work.
• The application may freeze. Students must learn
  to back up files frequently.

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Objectives

• The student will be able to
• Describe and use the point system of measurement
• Classify typefaces
• Understand and use basic typographic principles
  in page layouts
• Navigate through an electronic document in
  InDesign.
• Create a simple layout in InDesign CS using
  frames and by importing text and images
• Combine text and graphics in page layout
• Change application defaults that affect documents
  created in this computer application

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More Objectives

• Use the InDesign tools needed to create and
  modify text in the electronic document
• Understand and be able to place and modify
  graphic images in the document
• Use master pages to design and format page layout
• Define and apply colors in the page layout
• Create and manage layers
• Output to various imaging devices as appropriate
  for web and printed InDesign documents and PDF
  files.  

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Materials

• The instructor will need
• A chair and a computer with a USB port and with
  Adobe InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, and
  Acrobat installed to give demonstrations and to
  modify associated graphics
• Network access to post data files
• Connection to overhead projector
• Overhead projector and screen
• Whiteboard an dry-erase markers
• Access to photocopier
• Color laser printer and printer paper
• Visual Quickstart Guide to InDesign CS
  reference book
• Jump drive to bring in any files created
  elsewhere and post on the network
• Instructor guide

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Design

• The course was divided into nine modules given
  over 16 weeks.
• The modules integrated more time for creative
  work and transfer of exercise skills to
  independent work
• The curriculum included more critiques of work to
  help develop design skills
• All objectives were considered in the development
  phase so students would be prepared for the
  midterm and final projects

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Development

• I will be the main person to develop the student
  and instructor guides. Two other instructors will
  assist and will help incorporate older materials
  that meet the objectives
• The software used to develop the guides will be
  Adobe InDesign, Adobe Photoshop, and Adobe
  Illustrator. The graphics will be imported into
  InDesign. Print production of the final digital
  files will be completed by school print
  department.

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Development

• Instructor (5) and student guides (60) will be
  developed and printed for the implementation
• Guides must include CDs with exercises
• Print examples in color and hand out separately
  from the student guides. These will show correct
  color use. They may be printed from finished pdf
  files of the completed exercises on the
  instructor CDs
• Instructor guides must be written to accommodate
  either a PC or Macintosh

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Implementation

• The instructor will
• Introduce topics
• Review objectives
• Demonstrate lessons on the computer
• Assist students individually as they go through
  the student guides and complete exercises.
• The instructor will make sure that students have
  data files to complete the work and printed color
  samples
• Allow time for questions and answers,
  interactions, conduct critiques
• Students with particular disabilities will be
  given extra time to complete projects and to take
  quizzes or exams

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Formative Evaluation

• Materials should be tested on a small sample of
  students who do not know the program
• Pilot testing and feedback should indicate likely
  success.
• All three instructors should try out the
  materials for missing or confusing directions and
  steps

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Summative Evaluation

• All students will take surveys on software skills
  on the first day of class
• A final evaluation by students (level 1)at the
  end will show their assessments
• At least one quiz (short answers, multiple
  choice, and/or matching) and possibly more will
  be given during the course to assess skill
  mastery (Level 2)
• MidTerms and Final Projects show mastery

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Summative Evaluations

• Portfolios will show transfer of learning
• Instructors (level 2) evaluate the course
• Follow up (level 3) evaluations with supervisors
  in internship placements or job placements.
• Did they transfer the learning to new job?
• Do their new skills help the company (level 4)?