Navigating an IRIS Module

Transcript: Navigating an IRIS Module

In this video, we’ll be learning about the navigation features of the IRIS STAR Legacy Modules, which are based on the adult learning theory research of John Bransford and his colleagues.

Currently, we’re on the IRIS website home page. One way to access a module is to use the IRIS Resource Locator, or IRL. To get there, click on the Resources tab at the top and select IRIS Resource Locator. Using the IRL, you can search for modules in different ways. For example, you can search by topic or you can filter the resource type to show only modules. For each module entry, you will see the title, summary, and estimated completion time.

To access a module, click on the title. This will take you to the module’s landing page, where you’ll again see the module summary and estimated completion time beside the STAR Legacy cycle graphic. Our landing pages require you to choose a pathway—Module Only or Module with PD Certificate—prior to reviewing any content. If you select Module Only, you will work through the module on the open access website that we are currently viewing. With this option, you will not earn a certificate once you have completed the module. For select modules such as this one, we offer certificates of completion. If available, you’ll be able to select the Module with PD Certificate pathway. If you choose this path, you will be directed to set up an account or log in to your existing account. For more information on this path, please visit our “Earning a PD Certificate for Educators” website navigation video.

For the purpose of this video, we are going to select Module Only. This brings you to the Challenge, the first component of the STAR Legacy cycle. Looking at the left navigation bar, you’ll notice the five main module sections that correspond with the STAR Legacy cycle: Challenge, Initial Thoughts, Perspectives & Resources, Wrap Up, and Assessment.

We’ve incorporated some Universal Design for Learning, or UDL, features into the navigation system by giving you multiple ways to navigate through a module. You can explore modules by clicking on the navigation links along the left-hand side or by clicking on the Back and Next buttons at the bottom of the page.

Again, we are on the Challenge page, which includes a video that depicts a typical classroom or school-based scenario followed by a set of questions. Our Challenge videos feature closed-captioning, playback speed, and full-screen options. You can also access the Challenge transcript using the Transcript link. Notice that as you navigate through the module, you can track your progress by looking at the color-coded indicators within the left navigation bar, which you can see change as we move to the Initial Thoughts section.

The Initial Thoughts page reintroduces the questions posed at the end of the Challenge video. Learners can use these questions to reflect on what they already know, or think they know, about the situation.

When you enter the Perspectives & Resources section—which provides the core content of the module—you’ll notice that the landing page contains the learning objectives for the module and the professional standards that the content addresses. Notice that the Initial Thoughts questions appear in the left navigation bar along with the Perspectives & Resources pages that address each question. Now, I’m going to click on the Next button at the bottom of the page to proceed to Page 1.

IRIS Modules contain useful instructional features, such as information that is chunked into bite-size pieces and conveyed through tables and bullets, research highlights, and expert and practitioner interviews. Note that just like the Challenge video, all audio interviews—and video clips—have playback speed options. Because the module content is carefully scaffolded, the pages are meant to be worked through chronologically. Therefore, we do not recommend skipping around.

Now, contradicting what I just said, I am going to use the page-by-page navigation option within the left navigation bar to skip to another page to show you some other module features that users love, such as our videos of teachers implementing strategies with fidelity and our interactive activities with feedback.

After you have finished the Perspectives & Resources section, you can continue to the Wrap Up page. This page summarizes the information from the Perspectives & Resources section and asks learners to reflect on their responses to the Initial Thoughts questions and to consider whether their responses would change now that they’ve completed the module.

Lastly, we have the Assessment page where learners must demonstrate knowledge or skill acquisition. But learners can always return to the Perspectives & Resources section to solidify their understanding of module concepts. If you scroll to the bottom of the Assessment page, you’ll notice that if the module is part of a series, its corresponding module is linked at the bottom of this page. You will also see a congratulatory message that you have completed the module. Next to this, you have the option to provide feedback. We review this feedback weekly to make adjustments to the site and our modules as needed. Note that the feedback survey can be accessed at any point throughout the module using this link at the bottom of the left navigation bar.

Before you go, I want to point out a few more helpful features. You have the option to view all pages in full-screen mode by clicking on the double arrow icon in the top right corner, and if you scroll to the bottom of the page, you’ll notice that you can print each page by clicking on the print icon. You can also save them as PDF documents by clicking here. Because we are constantly tweaking and updating content, we suggest visiting the website for the most current information, rather than referring to older print versions. Additionally, in the bottom right corner of the web page is an accessibility tool, which allows you to adjust accessibility settings. Moving to the top right corner of the website, you will see a Google translation tool, which allows you to translate website content, including modules, into approximately 100 different languages.

This ends our module navigation tour. Thank you for watching this video. We hope you find these resources helpful in your current and future work.