Savvy Start

Project Summary: The project focuses on creating a module designed to aid law students in mastering the art of writing cover letters tailored for the legal field. This module is part of a broader series intended to equip law students with essential skills for the recruitment and hiring process. The specific objectives of this module are to guide learners in:

1. Identifying the key knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) desired by employers through job description analysis.
2. Matching their personal experiences and qualifications to these KSAs.
3. Composing a cover letter that effectively showcases their suitability for the job.

Use of Feedback

• Reducing Cognitive Load: Feedback highlighted the need to minimize text and enhance visual and auditory content to make the module more engaging and less cognitively demanding. This approach will help students better absorb and retain information.
• Storyboarding Challenges: The peer review underscored difficulties in conveying ideas through a static storyboard. It suggested that an interactive prototype might be more effective in illustrating the module’s design and functionality.
• Accessibility: Emphasis was placed on integrating accessibility features comprehensively, ensuring the module is inclusive and usable by all students.
• Content Optimization: The review advised evaluating the module’s content to eliminate unnecessary steps and focus on the essential elements that drive the desired learning outcomes.
• Assessment Opportunities: It was recommended to incorporate more testing and assessment points throughout the module to reinforce learning and measure understanding effectively.

Lessons Learned

• Importance of Prototyping: The exercise revealed the value of creating a prototype or detailed storyboard early in the development process. This helps in identifying potential challenges and technical limitations that could impact the project’s feasibility and quality.
• Technological Constraints: Understanding the capabilities and limitations of available technology is crucial. This knowledge directly influences the design and development process, ensuring that concepts are not only innovative but also practical and implementable.
• Goal Definition: Clear, specific goals for each module are essential. They help in maintaining focus, avoiding unnecessary complexity, and reducing cognitive load for learners, ultimately leading to more effective and efficient learning experiences.
• Realistic Planning: What appears straightforward in the planning phase can become complex during implementation. Recognizing this early helps in setting realistic expectations and creating a more manageable and coherent instructional design.

By incorporating these insights, the project can be refined to better meet the needs of law students, providing them with a robust and effective tool for their professional development.

Storyboard Iterations