Aviation Weather Report Course Design
I. Introduction
In college, I discovered my passion for aviation photography through a drone journalism course. This interest propelled me to pursue the FAA Part 107 certification to become a licensed drone pilot. Despite intensive studying, my first exam attempt was a miss. I quickly identified the gap: mastering the content wasn't enough without a solid grasp of the multiple-choice exam format. On my second try, I adjusted my strategy, focusing on both the concepts and the question format, leading to 93/100 on my exam!
Inspired by my journey and with my instructional design background, I developed this course. It balances deep understanding of concepts with a keen focus on exam-style questions, preparing learners not only to understand the concepts but to confidently tackle and pass the FAA Part 107 exam.
My cat fell asleep on my prep book
III. Problem & Solution
The Problem
Preparing for the FAA Part 107 exam is more challenging than it might initially appear, and the heart of the issue lies in the preparatory resources on offer. The FAA's official study guide is a daunting, text-laden 80 pages with no video or auditory accompaniments. This makes it significantly tough for Visual and Auditory learners who thrive with more interactive and diversified content. Plain text can easily become overwhelming, and without varied learning modalities, the content is less likely to stick. But the challenges don’t end there. While the internet is rife with online preparatory courses, they present their own set of issues. Many of these courses come with substantial fees. And even after investing, learners find that these platforms often fall short. They might cover the FAA content, but they lack comprehensive practice questions which are crucial for actual exam readiness. Simply put, just understanding the content is half the battle – being able to apply that understanding in an exam setting is equally critical. Without both components, learners find themselves inadequately prepared, leading to frustration and, often, unsuccessful exam attempts.
The Learning Solution
Understanding the challenges learners face, my "Weather Report, Forecast and Charts" sample course offers a multifaceted solution. First, understanding that learning isn't one-dimensional: People process information differently. That's why this course is replete with varied content: text for readers, visuals for those who learn by seeing, audio explanations for listeners, and video demonstrations for comprehensive understanding. It's a course tailored to accommodate every type of learner. But beyond the format, I dive deep into the crucial areas, ensuring that every aspect of weather report understanding needed for the FAA Part 107 exam is covered. And while understanding is pivotal, exam practice is equally significant. I've implemented interactive pop quizzes throughout the course modules. These questions allow learner to check their understanding right after; thererfore, reinforcement the memory of the material. At the end of the course, learners can take a simulated exam-like assessment, reinforcing their knowledge and boosting their confidence. In essence, this course not only addresses varied learning needs but provides a clear roadmap to exam success.
IV. Design & Development
01
Research
My design and development process began with a comprehensive research phase. I delved into the official study guide and test prep guide, ensuring a thorough understanding of the material. To augment this, I watched various YouTube videos on the subject to gain different perspectives and to finalize the content that needed inclusion.
02
Storyboard
With a solid grasp of the content, I transitioned into the design phase. Using Google Slides, I crafted a detailed storyboard that not only provided a structured outline of the course but also included informative images. This storyboard served as a roadmap, highlighting the content's sequence, presentation style, and assessment methods, ensuring a coherent and effective learning journey for users.
03
Style Guide
Before diving into the development of the Rise course, I established a style guide. This ensured uniformity between Articulate Rise 360 and Canva, particularly concerning colors, fonts, and button designs.
04
The entire development of the learning experience in Articulate Rise 360 was straightforward and efficient, especially since I had completed a Google Slide storyboard, voice over narration, and style guide.
V. Features
01
Accessibility
Accessibility stands at the forefront of this course, ensuring every learner, regardless of their preferred learning mode, can engage and benefit. To cater to auditory learners and those who prefer supplemental audio guidance, voice-over narrations accompany each slide, providing comprehensive information in an auditory format. This feature enables learners to absorb content by merely listening, enriching their understanding. To further enhance clarity and navigation, I incorporated guiding phrases throughout. Whether it's an audio clip, video segment, interactive button, or pop-up quiz, each element is introduced with clear instructions, ensuring learners never feel lost or overwhelmed. Lastly, a conscious choice was made in terms of the course's visual design for those relying primarily on reading. A calming light blue serves as the background color, chosen for its ease on the eyes. This pairs harmoniously with a sharp black font, ensuring contrast and readability. To emphasize crucial information, key terms are boldly highlighted, directing learners' attention to essential concepts. Collectively, these deliberate design choices make the course not just informative, but also user-friendly and inclusive.
02
Assessment & Feedback
Assessment and feedback form a pivotal part of the learning journey in this course, offering learners multifaceted ways to gauge their understanding and progress. Three distinct assessment types have been seamlessly integrated, each serving a unique purpose.
Firstly, the pop-up quiz mechanism acts as an immediate touchpoint, allowing learners to instantly verify their grasp of freshly presented material. This real-time feedback is invaluable in reinforcing concepts and identifying areas requiring further attention.
The second layer of assessment delves deeper, with multiple choice questions crafted to mirror the exam format. But these aren't just your standard multiple choice questions. Each option is accompanied by a detailed explanation, transforming every question into a mini learning moment. By referring to these elucidations, learners can bridge gaps in their understanding, cross-referencing with the course material when needed.
Lastly, the course culminates with a review of the learning objectives. This acts as a reflective pause, prompting learners to self-evaluate their mastery over the course content. This wrap-up activity ensures that learners leave the course with a clear picture of their achievements and areas needing further revision.
Together, these assessments offer a well-rounded feedback mechanism, ensuring comprehensive learner understanding and readiness.
VI. Reflection
Reflecting upon the design process of this demo course, I recognize areas ripe for further development and refinement. While the core content has been established, finalizing the course and estimating its total completion time remains an imperative next step. This will ensure that learners can allocate appropriate time and resources to their studies. Moreover, given the importance of exam-readiness for the FAA Part 107 exam, I acknowledge the need to bolster the course with additional exam-like questions towards the conclusion. By adding these questions, learners will be given further opportunity to test their knowledge in a format closely resembling the actual exam, enhancing their preparedness and confidence. As this course evolves from its demo status, these enhancements will be integral to creating an even more effective and comprehensive learning experience.