College of Education and Human Development - George Mason University

Instructional Design Students Show Off Real-World Apps to Employers

June 19, 2014

The next time you download an app on your smartphone or tablet, you may have a George Mason University student to thank for making your life easier.

Lauren Cozzens, for example, was part of a group of George Mason graduate students who worked on a new app that encourages visitors to the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History to explore the new Q?rius exhibit by going on quests using their mobile device.

Jill MacDiarmid, Filla Sofia Baliwag, Laura Gerike, Rina Patel, & Edwinna Green.

Cozzens and the other students were in a course called "Design and Implementation of Technology-Based Learning Environments" taught by Brenda Bannan, an associate professor in the College of Education and Human Development. To meet the class requirements, Bannan says the students “selected a real-world problem, immersed themselves in [it] and investigated it using user experience and instructional systems design and research methods.”

As part of their final project, the students then presented their innovations to some of the region’s most influential employers. Representatives from Booz Allen Hamilton, Deloitte, Carney Labs, ADL Co-Lab and the Public Broadcasting System (PBS) came to George Mason University to see the students' presentations and potentially implement the learning technology designs.

Kristin Nagy, Joshua Askew, & Mariya Sumaroka.

This exposure is one of the real-world benefits that students receive when enrolled in Mason's Instructional Design and Technology program. “Several of our alumni and students currently work or have worked in these organizations,” says Bannan, “so it’s always gratifying to see their design experiences and careers progress to provide opportunities for themselves and their fellow students and graduates. Their success is our success.”

Cozzens, of Great Falls, Va., believes the Q?rius Quest app will inspire youth to pursue science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) careers; expand understanding of children’s connections with the natural world and encourage responsibility for stewardship, conservation and protection of natural and cultural diversity; and persuade young people to connect with experts, peers and families about natural history topics.

Nazia Aslam & Sung Lee.

"We all came to the table with different skills and interests and that made it possible for us to create a pretty incredible product,” says Cozzens, who will complete her master’s degree this December. “One team member is a skilled video editor, one is a programmer, one is a project manager, etc."

Students also demonstrated:

  • An Old Town Fairfax Walking Tour App would augment the current visit to five historic sites.
  • An UX4ID App would provide instructional designers with a user-friendly application to serve as a potential control center for their work.
  • An ACQUAINT App would help new international students prepare for life at Mason.
  • The 2Teach App would help teachers informally share mathematical lesson plans, activities and other ideas through social media.
  • The FISH (Find Information and Search Healthcare) App would help Mason’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute members help older adults looking for healthcare resources online.
  • A PBS Mobile Learning Program website prototype would promote early learning and school readiness.
  • The iBoat Learning App would promote safe boating via realistic, scenario-driven challenges.

Melinda Babione, Gary Bushrod, Audrey Mascarenhas, Katherine Maye, & Matthew Rufe.

“The students wrestle with analyzing the complexity of real-world learning and leave the program with the skills to investigate and design for how people live, work, learn and play to contribute to more effective learning solutions in their workplace and their lives,” says Bannan.

Professor Nada Dabbagh, director of the Division of Learning Technologies, agrees. "Upon entering the program, students in [Instructional Design and Technology] bring a wealth of professional experience across a variety of settings and organizations including government, corporate, nonprofit, higher education and K-12," says Dabbagh. "The majority of our students work full time, which gives them the opportunity to immediately apply what they are learning in their professional context."

Richard Seagrist.

"The program at Mason is the perfect balance between theory and practice,” says graduate student Michael Myers, who is from Chapel Hill, N.C., and graduated from Mason with an MEd in May. "So much of the learning process is project based, allowing us to work in groups on products that can be applied and used in the real world. I’ve had multiple opportunities to work with real clients on school projects.”

He adds: "I’m also graduating with a diverse electronic portfolio. In this two-year program, I have created websites, training course, mobile applications and instructional videos, mixing the art of creativity with the science of theory-guided design."

For Dabbagh, it’s most gratifying when the students’ work also has career impact. “We receive emails from prospective employers such as, ‘I wanted to let you know that one of your graduates will be joining our firm; we spoke with several of your graduates, all highly qualified, and feel we’ve found a perfect match!’”

 

Adapted from a Mason News article written by Sudha Kamath. Photos by Jari Fofana.

 


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George Mason University's College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) includes two schools: the Graduate School of Education, one of the most comprehensive education schools in Virginia, and the School of Recreation, Health, and Tourism. CEHD offers a full range of courses, certificates, and degree programs on campus, online, and on site to more than 4,000 students each year. CEHD is fully accredited by NCATE and all licensure programs are approved by the Virginia Department of Education.

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