Course Guides: Production Scaffolds

Bernie Dodge developed idea for production scaffolds help learners create products. These helpers include

• prompts and starters
• samples and models
• templates
• guidelines
• tutorials
• how-tos
• planning tools

Demonstrations and How Tos

Many students need help in producing final products or demonstrating skills.

Explore examples of production scaffolds:

• Preparing the Acrylamide Gel - a how-to at Virtual Lab Book
• Digital Lab Techniques Manual from MIT Open Couseware
• Inspiration Tool Bar
• SCUBA - how tos in video form at MIT Open Couseware
• Lecture Notes - instructions on PDF for Weight Training at MIT Open Couseware
• Lecture Notes - pictorial essays on PDF for Tennis at MIT Open Couseware

Screen Shots

If you're writing instructions for using online resources or software, consider incorporating screen shots. Here are the directions for making a graphic that can be pasted into a word processing document.

Macintosh Screen Capture. If you have Mac OSX, it's easy to use the built-in key commands for grabbing a screen.

• Press Command (Apple)-Shift-4. The cursor turns into a cross.
  
• Select the area of the screen you wish to capture. The screen is captured and saved as a PDF file called Picture 1 on your hard drive.
  
• If you hold down the Control key in addition to the Command (Apple)-Shift-4 and select an area of the screen, the image is stored on the clipboard.

If you have Mac OSX, you can also use the Grab Utility. This allows you to capture windows that are open.

• Open Grab (located in Applications/Utility).
  
• Choose Capture > Timed Screen.
  
• When the Timed Screen Grab dialog opens, click Start Timer.
  
• Click the menu you want to capture and keep the mouse button pressed until the Timer Screen Grab dialog closes and the picture appears.
  
• Use the Grab preferences for option options such as showing the pointer.

Windows Screen Capture. The PRINT SCREEN key allows you to capture the Desktop or individual windows. You'll have to look for this key on your keyboard, it's placement varies with the type of keyboard.

To capture the entire screen:

• Press the PRINT SCREEN key. The image will be placed on the clipboard.
  
• Open an application such as Microsoft Word, pull down the Edit menu and choose Paste. Or, press Ctrl-V to paste.

To capture the current window on your screen:

• Press the ALT + PRINT SCREEN key. The current window will be placed on the clipboard.

Read Wrapping at Information Age Inquiry for more ideas.

Explore templates for creating Interdisciplinary Newsletters and Adapt Virtual Field Trips (scroll down page).

To learn more about production scaffolds, use the following external links:

• Production Scaffolds from San Diego Schools
• Production Scaffolds from San Diego State University

Reminders!
Production scaffolds help learners create products.

Apply It!
Create step-by-step instructions for using a tools in your course such as the forums, wikis, blogs, or presentation software.

Use screen shots of the software or online tool to facilitate visual learning.

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