MICROLEARNING PROJECT

Microlearning project: Wix

Wix is a website builder available online which provides an easy way to build a site without the user needing to know any coding knowledge. You can either select a free template to adapt within the drag and drop builder or use the Website Editor to build everything from scratch yourself. There is also the option to add more functionality to your site using Wix Code if you have the skills to do so. With over templates which are available in Wix you can create websites or many other end products such as social media posts, leaflets, posters and logos.

Like many others I used Wix for creating this portfolio for the MicroMasters. Having previously had a Wordpress account which I did not find intuitive at all I was on the lookout for something easier to use. When we were given the list of recommended tools in this module I took a look at each and decided that Wix was the best for my needs and was relieved to find it so easy to use. As a graphic designer I also felt that the styling of the templates within Wordpress felt quite outdated and that Wix provided much more contemporary and well designed options. As this was very important to me I was easily swayed to change providers.

Applying learning theories

The main theory that I feel supported me in learning how to use this tool is andragogy. My development related to the four principles as follows:

1. I was involved in the planning of my learning through the opportunity to investigate a range of options and use the one I was most comfortable with and suited my needs. I was able to evaluate what worked and what didn't then go with the best option.

2. My experience with previous tools (which I class as a mistake) guided my development in terms of knowing what I wanted out of the next tool I chose and the specific features to look out for, therefore providing the basis of exploration for this phase of my project.

3. The learning was problem-centred: I had a tool I was using that didn't meet my requirements or skill level and therefore needed to find something that was. It also had to fulfil the criteria for the portfolio I needed to produce for this course.

4. This problem had immediate relevance both to completing this course and to my daily job as an instructional designer.

In addition, the five assumptions also apply - I was motivated to learn through the benefit of learning these skills in my career, I have the ability to direct my own learning and choose the right tool, I can see the value of learning this tool and adding it to my range of development skills and creating a portfolio of my work, I have a practical reason to learn and I was able to draw on past experience with a range of tools and my experiences to evaluate whether this would be a successful tool.

On reflection, andragogy applies not just to learning this tool but to my approach to pursuing the MicroMasters course as a whole, as the purpose of enrolling was to advance my skills for my career, the direction of which had changed recently from being focused on graphic design to being instructional design. The course provides quite a lot of scope for experimentation, extending your learning and relied on applying the knowledge of theories to your own experiences throughout.

I can also apply constructivism to this learning experience of using Wix. It was a task-based exercise, where meaning was created by myself and its application to my specific needs. There was a large amount of discovery through the trial and error of sampling different providers and the actual build itself. There was a collaborative nature to the learning as we shared our experiences on the forum and the results of our experimentation. There is also an element of peer review and assessment, with all learners encouraged to comment on each other's progress with the portfolios each week.

My prior knowledge and experience with website and blog building contributed to this exercise and as stated above, guided my decision as I had a specific idea of what I wanted to get out of my new building tool.

We can see the application of the ZPD through learning from each other on the forums, particularly through learning from others who have better experience with the tools and can provide guidance as to the most appropriate for our skill level. The task also stretched my learning as I have very limited experience in website development or my understanding of terminology related to websites. However, Wix uses straight forward language and has a guiding process throughout the build, therefore making the learning process very easy.