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Specification Quality Checklist

Run the Specification Quality Checklist Fullscreen
Edit Specification Quality Checklist Using the p5.js Editor

About This MicroSim

This interactive checklist helps instructional designers and developers evaluate the completeness and quality of their MicroSim specifications before submitting them for AI-assisted generation. A well-structured specification leads to better first-draft simulations and fewer revision cycles.

How to Use

  1. Expand categories by clicking on the colored headers
  2. Check items by clicking the checkboxes as you verify each element in your specification
  3. Track progress using the progress bar at the top showing percentage complete
  4. Reset using the Reset All button to start a new evaluation

The Four Categories

Educational Foundation

Before writing any technical details, ensure your specification clearly communicates the pedagogical purpose:

  • Learning objective clearly stated: What will students learn or be able to do?
  • Bloom's taxonomy level identified: Is this Remember, Understand, Apply, Analyze, Evaluate, or Create?
  • Target audience specified: Grade level, prior knowledge, accessibility needs
  • Prerequisites noted: What must learners already know?

Visual Design

Provide enough detail for consistent visual implementation:

  • All visual elements described: Shapes, graphs, diagrams, animations
  • Colors specified (or defaults accepted): Color schemes, accessibility considerations
  • Layout structure defined: Arrangement of elements, responsive behavior
  • Responsive behavior noted: How should the sim adapt to different screen sizes?

Interactivity

Define all user interactions clearly:

  • All controls listed: Sliders, buttons, text inputs, drag-and-drop
  • Control ranges and defaults specified: Min/max values, initial states
  • User actions and responses described: What happens when users interact?
  • Edge case behavior defined: Error states, boundary conditions

Technical Details

Specify implementation requirements:

  • Library type identified: p5.js, vis-network, Chart.js, etc.
  • Data structure described: JSON format, arrays, objects
  • File naming convention followed: Consistent with project standards
  • Integration method specified: How will this embed in the course?

Embedding This MicroSim

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<iframe src="https://dmccreary.github.io/automating-instructional-design/sims/spec-quality-checklist/main.html" height="502px" width="100%" scrolling="no"></iframe>

Lesson Plan

Learning Objectives

By the end of this activity, students will be able to:

  1. Identify the four key categories of a complete MicroSim specification
  2. Evaluate existing specifications for completeness
  3. Create specifications that meet quality standards
  4. Understand the relationship between specification quality and generation success

Suggested Activities

  1. Self-Assessment (5 min): Use the checklist to evaluate a specification you have written
  2. Peer Review (10 min): Exchange specifications with a partner and use the checklist to provide feedback
  3. Gap Analysis (10 min): Identify which category is most often incomplete in your specifications
  4. Improvement Practice (15 min): Revise a weak specification to achieve 100% checklist completion

Assessment

  • Compare first-generation results between specifications with 100% vs 50% checklist completion
  • Track number of revision cycles needed for specifications at different quality levels

References

  • Mayer, R.E. (2009). Multimedia Learning (2nd ed.). Cambridge University Press.
  • Clark, R.C. & Mayer, R.E. (2016). E-Learning and the Science of Instruction (4th ed.). Wiley.