How to Create Index Cards in Word 2007

Posted on June 19, 2014 by Cathy Cousear

When planning and organizing trainings, index cards can be used in many ways. I have used index cards for ice breaker activities, case studies, self evaluations as well as organizing presentation ideas, creating storyboard ideas and researching various training topics. Microsoft Word 2007 allows you to type directly on an index card without having to use a pencil or pen.

In Word 2007, open a blank word document.

Click on page layout
Click page set it which well automatically set the page to letter 8.5×11′

Scroll down to custom size
Click custom size
Change the width from the default 8.5 to 5″ and the default height from 11″ to 3″.
Once complete, click okay.

You can now begin typing onto your index card

If you would like to make additional cards, continue to press enter for the number of cards you would like to make.
Don’t forget to save your index cards
You now have your own index card template typed and ready to go!!

Bloom’s Revised Taxonomy Job Aid App

Posted on June 11, 2014 by Cathy Cousear

Bloom’s Revised Taxonomy Job Aid (free download on Google Play) by Orion Beadling, is a hierarchical model for classifying learning instructional activities and provides educators, instructional designers, and human performance technologist with a job aid

The app highlights each level and includes the verbs, suggested material, activity and a citation.

For example, at the remembering level, the app includes several verbs which can be used for a lesson plan or an instructional design. The arrows on the top part of the app will advance you to the next level. You also have the option of moving from each section by either tapping on the topic such as material or you can use the right and left arrows.

Overall, it is an easy app to use and provides you with all the necessary information you need to develop a learning objective or lesson plan.

Using the Correct Action Verb for Learning Objectives

Posted on June 5, 2014 by Cathy Cousear

In 1956, Benjamin Bloom and other educators met for a second time (the first time was in 1948) at the Convention of the American Psychological Association, where Bloom spearheaded a group to discuss classifying educational goals and objectives. This framework became know as the Taxonomy of Three Domains.

Focusing on the cognitive domain, Bloom developed a multilevel model as a means of classifying thinking based on six levels of cognition. Robert Mager, an educational psychologist would later develop and use learning objectives as a means to describe what the learner is expected to achieve. According to Mager, the learning objectives should include a measurable verb.

All too often, I have either come across or attended a training where the learning objective in the course used verbs that are difficult to measure. Such as: