So, we focus on developing confidence in oral presentation, and documentation and products that are both pleasing and professional. That's not all. We select the most promising of the current development tools and learn how to use them. To find this out, students propose and undertake the design and development of informational or instructional products. Since we are not the first ones creating wheels here, we learn from the successes of others by reviewing and discussing outstanding interactive work.
Students already know quantitative and qualitative research methods when they enroll.
That's good, but that's not half of it. Students also contribute to the research of their colleagues, in weekly discussions of project challenges and solutions. Because we want to relate our thoughts and findings to those of others in the field, we select landmark readings and spend time chewing on them as a group. So, I offer a 3-week intensive summer workshop for any graduate student, Intro to Digital Media Creation. Same tools, same techniques, but no project and no time to review the work of others.