I read the Step by Step Multimedia article and found it was very informative and useful as it discussed that any multimedia project should follow a series of steps to be most successful. By following the logical progression of steps, the designer can create a more effective final product that will meet the needs of the targeted audience and possibly even others who might not be the initial audience but would find the product useful and/or interesting. This article encouraged the concept of flow maps as a way to organize ideas and thoughts so that a clear focus and train of thought can be maintained, as well as a consistent flow with the appearance of the product.

The seven basic steps mentioned in this article are:

Analyze Learners

Select Topic

Write Objectives

Define Project Type

Design Text, Cards, & Buttons

Design Hyperlink Navigation

Evaluate Projects

There is even a rubric suggested in this article to help the creator and the evaluator determine if this product is as effective as possible.

I’ve been teaching at Nicolet Middle School for over a year now and I’ve seen all extremes of teachers, from those who barely use their computer for attendance and grades because the district mandates this, to those who run most if not all of their lessons with multiple forms of technology. One of the biggest problems I’ve seen is that all the teachers are going to be expected to use any and all new technology that will be given to them to use. Our district needs to invest in training for all teachers, even those with prior technology skills should undergo the same training so that all teachers are on some level of equal footing. For all new teachers, they should also be required to attend the same training so they can begin the school year with the same basic understanding as the other teachers.
Even though some teachers will stay with the basic level, other will begin to “experiment” with the new technology and discover what other things are available. They can share this knowledge with their colloquies and help make the learning experience for all the students more comprehensive.

Here is my final, “From Typewriters to Word Processors”

From Typewriters to Word Processors

And my references:

A Brief History of Typewriters. The Classic Typewriter Page. http://staff.xu.edu/~polt/typewriters/tw-history.html

American Index 2 Typewriter No. 2. The Classic Typewriter Page. http://staff.xu.edu/~polt/typewriters/american.html

Antique Office Typewriters. Early Office Museum. http://www.officemuseum.com/typewriters_office_models.htm

Business College Photos. Early Office Museum. http://www.earlyofficemuseum.com/photo_gallery_business%20classes.htm

Bellis, Mary. Word Star – The First Word Processor. http://inventors.about.com/od/wstartinventions/a/WordStar.htm

Calagraph. The Classic Typewriter Page. http://staff.xu.edu/~polt/typewriters/caligraph.html

History. Tactus Touch Typing Keyboard. http://www.tactuskeyboard.com/history.htm#top

History of IBM Typewriter. http://www.etypewriters.com/history.htm

History of Typewriters. Big Site of Amazing Facts. 12 September 2007. http://www.bigsiteofamazingfacts.com/history-of-typewriters

History of Word Processors. http://www.cs.umd.edu/class/spring2002/cmsc434-0101/MUIseum/applications/wordhistory.html

Rehr, Darryl. The First Typewriter. http://home.earthlink.net/~dcrehr/firsttw.html

Smith Premier 2. The Classic Typewriter Page. http://staff.xu.edu/~polt/typewriters/SmithPremier.html

The Typewriter: an informal history. IBM. http://www-03.ibm.com/ibm/history/exhibits/modelb/modelb_informal.html

Who’s Minding the Store. Dir. Frank Tashlin. 1963. Video Cassette. Paramount Home Video. 2000.

Williams. The Classic Typewriter Page. http://staff.xu.edu/~polt/typewriters/williams.html

ZDNet Definition for: QWERTY Keyboard. ZDNet. 2008. http://dictionary.zdnet.com/definition/QWERTY+keyboard.html