Assignment: Scope Creep

In an example of scope creep from my own personal experience I would like to highlight a recent event planned at my former job. In my former job, at times we were asked by our supervisor’s  to plan sale events in our downtime or in periods when sales are running low. Alex, a co-worker of mine, came up with an idea for a sales event at one of our local universities during the school’s homecoming weekend right on campus. Alex was so excited about the event that we all bought into it and assigned him as lead on this project. So in turn Alex assigned specific duties to everyone with the hopes of this event becoming a huge success.

After each person was given their role and assigned their duties we set off to begin our planning. There was roughly two weeks to plan and implement the event. The duties assigned were someone in charge of inventory, someone in charge of acquiring the mobile equipment needed, another person in charge of food and refreshments, and Alex handled acquiring the location-getting permission from the school, and on campus advertisement. The day of the event came and everything was set perfectly according to the responsibilities we agreed upon in the beginning but little interest actually came to the event. A few college students participated but we didn’t see any alumni after all it was homecoming weekend.

Afterwards, everyone gathered to try to gain an understanding of what went wrong. One by one we went down our responsibility list and check off everything we did. Alex was last and he was able to check off everything on his to do list. Then all of a sudden one of my co workers stated to Alex “ Do you think things would have turned out differently if you advertised outside of campus and into the community ?” That became a valid question which made sense  especially considering the only time the alums would be on campus would be during events. Afterwards Alex apologized, because that was a factor that he did not consider.

I believe this situation taught all of us to take more time to carefully plan our events and try to take every consideration under advisement. More importantly, we learned to be more critical of each others duties when we planned events from that point on.

Estimating Cost and Allocating Resources

Estimating Costs and Allocating Resources

Helpful Resources

1.      Estimating Instructional Development (ID) Time

http://michaelgreer.biz/?p=279

This website features valuable tips concerning estimating time for instructional development projects such as: development time vs. training time, non-writing time vs. project time, and executing time spent. The most helpful thing to me about this resource how the author uses ratios to illustrate his points.

2.      Estimating Costs and Time in Instructional Design

http://www.nwlink.com/~donclark/hrd/costs.html

This resource was great in providing an assortment of estimates for different ID tasks. Also this resource gives a clearer understanding of ratios that are most likely to be suitable for each task as well as including links to other resources such as cost estimation spreadsheets, stock photographs, and digital recordings

Effective Communication

Effective Communication

Communication is a vital factor in any project and especially in today’s workplace. Without effective communication ideas cannot properly be expressed, deadlines could not be met, basically people would not be able to do their jobs efficiently. This week , three different forms of communication in the workplace were examined . These modalities proved to be very informative about how communication can be effective.

Email

Although this is probably most common, email doesn’t show the appropriate urgency of meeting a deadline or show how a person really feels about a particular part of a project or any other job responsibility. Messages through email can be sent very quickly and through great distances without having the other person(s) in attendance.

Voicemail

Voicemails can help show a sense of urgency and convey a real sense of emotion but the delivery can be a problem. Voicemails are dependent upon when the other person checks the message and cannot be sent to more than one person at one time.

Face to Face Interaction

This modality is probably the most traditional method of transferring information. Through face to face interaction ideas, emotions, and importance can easily be transmitted. In the past, this form of communication was totally dependent upon having that other person(s) in your immediate presence, but through modern technology we can now send video messages as easily as we would an email.

Each of these modalities have their own strengths and weaknesses and depending on the situation each could effectively be used in any project.

Project "Post-Mortem"

The Wireless Company is a organization comprised of roughly a dozen cellular communication stores. Each store within this organization provides customers with a wide variety of services from prepaid to contract services, cellular devices, device accessories, and wireless internet service.

A short time ago, I had the distinct privilege of presenting both the store level employees and organization leads with strategies of how to effectively sell wireless internet service. This project included me as both the project manager and instructional designer. Also there were two subject matter experts that were readily available for the project. What I believed lead to the success of this project were two things: first, I conducted surveys from random employees within the company on challenges of selling wireless internet and effective means of guiding the conversation to the customer to the subject of wireless internet service; second, I conducted extensive research on the selling process in general drawing upon responses giving by the subject matter experts.

What would have made this project more successful would have been more time to complete the project rather than a couple of weeks. In the end, I was not dissatisfied with the final product and neither was the organization.

Welcome

Greetings,
Welcome to my blog. This blog is in extensive use within my master's program at Walden University. For now this blog will be used in conjunction with the course - Project Management. I look forward to traveling down this journey of learning with you.

Thanks,
Norris

Reflection

As an instructional designer, the current and future perception of distance learning should always be taken into consideration. The instructional designer should focus on being a strong supporter of distance learning. Also as the technology changes in the instructional design field, the ID must be supportive and help to find ways to improve the process. Although distance learning is always improving, the ID must realize that he or she must change or improve as well.

            The future of distance learning seems to shine very brightly. Through growing acceptance of distance education by: increased online communication, practical experience, and growing comfort with online discourse (Siemens, 2009) this perception doesn’t seem too farfetched.  Although a seemingly vast majority of traditional students believe that face to face learning is better, the ever changing improvements of distance learning will certainly sway their opinions.

            The instructional designer’s role in the future of distance learning is not only improving societal perception of distance learning but also the continuous improvement of distance learning. Factors that will aid the ID in this quest will be: new communication technologies, contributions by experts around the world, and increased use of multimedia, games, and simulations (Siemens, 2009). The ID must be aware of the latest technologies in communication so that they can be used as learning tools. The contributions of experts around the world will allow for a mesh of different ideas that will allow continued improvement in distance learning. Also the increased use of multimedia, games and other stimuli will allow the ID to find new ways to keep their learners interested and motivated.

            Although current and future perceptions of distance learning cannot easily be determined in comparison with each other, the instructional designer must take proper considerations.  By being a strong supporter of distance learning and being committed to its ever changing technologies and processes the instructional design will do his or her part to ensure outside views of distance learning are changed.

References:

Laureate Education Inc. (2009). The Future of Distance Education [video]. George Siemens

                                       

Converting To Distance Learning

Converting To a Distance Learning Format

The Scenario

A training manager has been frustrated with the quality of communication among trainees in his face-to-face training sessions and wants to try something new. With his supervisor’s permission, the trainer plans to convert all current training modules to a blended learning format, which would provide trainees and trainers the opportunity to interact with each other and learn the material in both a face-to-face and online environment. In addition, he is considering putting all of his training materials on a server so that the trainees have access to resources and assignments at all times.

Considerations:

·         What are some of the pre-planning strategies the trainer needs to consider before converting his program?

·         What aspects of his original training program could be enhanced in the distance learning format?

·         How will his role, as trainer, change in a distance learning environment?

·         What steps should the trainer take to encourage the trainees to communicate online?

Solution

The training manager must learn the software that he or she is using for the online portion of their program because if there are any issues with the software or if the students have questions about the software the training manager should be the person to ask questions to or to address any issues that are found. Also the training manager understand that students learn differently when designing their program because he or she must create modules that will gain the attention of its learners whether that be for learners who respond more to audio stimuli or learners who respond to visual stimuli. Finally the training manager must monitor the students whether that is through discussion boards, or through formal / informal evaluations that could be anything from direct emails to the students to course evaluations.

By converting to a distance learning format, the training manager gives his or her learners the freedom to continue to function in their personal and professional lives on their on time. Also in an distance learning environment, discussion can take place without the informal apprehension that face to face interaction can present.

Within a distance learning environment, the trainer will assume more of a role as an facilitator. The role of facilitator in online discussion is to guide and observe. The facilitator must monitor the discussion board and be active in discussion.  If the facilitator is not actively participating in the discussion the students can lose interest in the material or the purpose for instruction could be lost (Laureate Education Inc, 2009).

The training manager must take several steps to encourage the trainees to communicate online:

1.      Be accountable and make sure the project did what it says it was going to do.

2.      Monitor the effectiveness of the course

3.      Reflect on the impact of the course, did you make a difference?

4.      Organize the content

5.      Take all consequences into consideration

References

Laureate Education Inc. (2009). Facilitating Online Learning [video]. Dr. George Piskurich

Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer). (n.d.) "Distance Education: The Next Generation" [Video]. Dr. Michael Simonson [Narrator]. 

Simonson, M., Smaldino, S., Albright, M., & Zvacek, S. (2012). Teaching and learning at a distance: Foundations of distance education (5th ed.) Boston, MA: Pearson

Open Source Course

Open Yale courses

URL:  http://oyc.yale.edu/african-american-studies

Overview:

The purpose of this course is to examine the African American experience in the United States from 1863 to the present. Prominent themes include the end of the Civil War and the beginning of Reconstruction; African Americans’ urbanization experiences; the development of the modern civil rights movement and its aftermath; and the thought and leadership of Booker T. Washington, Ida B. Wells-Barnett, W.E.B. Du Bois, Marcus Garvey, Martin Luther King Jr., and Malcolm X (Holloway, Jonathan. 2010).

Analysis

This course is broken down into twenty-five lecture sessions that were all pre recorded with course materials available for download as well. This course does appear to be carefully pre-planned and designed for a distance learning environment because of how well the course has been broken down online. Since the lectures are pre recorded the distance learner can access each lecture at any given time. Also the syllabus provided does carefully guide the distance learner through what is expected from the course along with recommended reading materials. The survey that is also presented on the coursesite asks questions that give the instructional designer the desired feedback he or she is seeking.

This course does seem to follow the recommendantions for online instruction listed in our text but I do not believe the course designer implemented course activities that maximized active learning. Although the course designer did follow the ADDIE model, there were no activities in place that would keep the learner actively interested in the materials presented. Although each session was carefully planned according to the syllabus, the actual session in play was just a recorded lecture that could easily lose the motivation of the learner presented to.

References

Holloway, Jonathan. (2010). African American History: from Emancipation to the Present. Retrieved October 7, 2012 from http://oyc.yale.edu/african-american-studies

Distance Learning Technologies

            This week in our distance learning class we explored distance learning technologies. In an example given this week of collaborative training environment I chose to select two distance learning technologies and explained how they would work in the example given. The example that I chose was:

Collaborative Training Environment

A new automated staff information system was recently purchased by a major corporation and needs to be implemented in six regional offices. Unfortunately, the staff is located throughout all the different offices and cannot meet at the same time or in the same location. As an instructional designer for the corporation, you have been charged with implementing a training workshop for these offices. As part of the training, you were advised how imperative it is that the staff members share information, in the form of screen captures and documents, and participate in ongoing collaboration.

            The two technologies that I have identified that would be best suited for this example are Discussion Technologies and Media Sharing Sites. Discussion technologies are participatory in nature and require that a number of individuals write and respond to each others posts. Learning management systems or LMSs, such as eCollege and Blackboard, integrate discussion technologies such as discussions forums, group collaboration areas, and virtual chat tools into the online learning environment (Laureate Education Inc, 2012).

            Media sharing sites are web sites that facilitate the sharing of content and artifacts such as text, pictures, videos, presentations, and audio files. The artifacts posted on media sharing sites can be viewed and commented on by a much wider audience than a video sent to a family member or a friend. Presentations created and shared through media sharing sites allow presenters to share the presentation with users across the globe. Users can in turn comment on the presentations and share their own ideas thereby providing feedback that may assist presenters in enhancing their content (Laureate Education Inc, 2012). A good example of this technology would be Photoshare (www.photoshare.org); this website allows people from all over the world share photos for free with its focus being on public health.

Resources:

Laureate Education Inc. (2012) (Producer). Theory and Distance Learning [video]. Retrieved September 23, 2012.

Defining Distance Learning

Distance learning has been a subject that I have not given much consideration to in the past. This mentality could possibly be because I considered distance learning as somewhat of a passing fad that would just fizzle out in time. But after actually participating in distance learning practices and truly gaining an appreciation of the concepts it encompasses I have changed my view. I can now say that as an adult learner how we learn or how we educate ourselves is an ever evolving process.

Dr Simonson (n.d.) suggests that distance education/learning can be defined as formal education in which the learning groups are separated by geography and sometimes by time. I somewhat agree but would ask that we take this definition a step further by saying that the learning groups that can be separated by geography, time, ethnicity, and economy. Geography and time are obvious in the definition because of the separation of time zones as well as countries. Ethnicity and economy could mean anything from bringing together a wealthy Chinese scientist in Beijing with a Cuban college freshman student in Miami, Fl through a virtual classroom. But how about I go even one step further and state that the learning groups are separated by geography, time, ethnicity, and economy but brought together by some technological means.

When I think of distance learning I automatically think of this term in relation to technology. This concept of distance learning is driven by technology. Technology is the most efficient means to bring people together across great distances through time zones regardless of that person’s ethnicity or economic state. I believe that as distance learning evolves further its relationship to technology will continue to be one that will become more apparent in time. Whether that technology involves space age technology such as holograms or an even more streamlined process for online classrooms the technology will continue to influence the concept of distance learning.

Prior to beginning this class, distance learning, I must say that my view of the subject is somewhat blurred. This means that I and am still not quite sure on how I want to define what this means to me. My hope is by the end of this class my definition will be more focused and my view of the topic will be clearer.

References: Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer). (n.d.) "Distance Education: The Next Generation" [Video]. Dr. Michael Simonson [Narrator].

Distance Learning Mind Map:

Relection

In this reflection I look back at the course, Learning Theories and Instruction, and realize how much this experience has furthered my knowledge of learning. Upon entering the course I originally thought of myself as a person who learns most effectively by repetition. After understanding the different learning theories and styles along with understanding what motivates learners as well as instructors I feel like my stance has changed. Learning styles and strategies was an enjoyable lesson for myself simply because of the during the learning resources of that week I realized that I was a learner or more than one style or strategy. Dr Ormrod (Learning Styles and Strategies, 2011) tells us that there are visual learners (learn by seeing) and verbal learners (learn by hearing), also with these learning styles there are strategies that involve elaboration (taking information and doing something with it mentally), and comprehension monitoring (assessing learning progress). Overall through the understanding of those learning styles and strategies has deepened my understanding of my personal learning process but understanding the learning theories had a larger effect on me as both a student and educator.

The learning theories that I studied in this course were similar in some ways but overall provide important insight into learning. Behaviorist Theory is a stimulus based learning process that uses reinforcement to transfer information. Cognitive Theory considers learning as a mental activity and uses information storage and retrieval to transfer information. Constructivist Theory relates the learning material to the student’s personal experiences information is transferred by creating meaning from objects, people, and interactions. Social Learning Theory deals with learning through social interaction with knowledgeable members of society. Connectivism states that learning is knowledge that exists in the world rather than in the head of an individual. To myself Connectivism is the most interesting of the learning theories to myself because of how complex the information transfer is processed, basically the brain operating like a computer (inputs, processing, coding for retrieval and output). Lastly, there was Adult Learning Theory which simply tells us that adults are involved in the planning and evaluation of their instruction while life and work experiences drive the individual’s performance.

The invaluable resources and learning experiences in this course will undoubtedly assist me in my professional career as an instructional designer. Through the learning theories I understand that no one person learns in the same way as the next person. In understanding learning styles I understand that no one person can be taught the same way as another person. But in our lessons in motivation I understand how to tie the learning styles and theories together. Dr. Ormrod (Motivation in Learning, 2011) suggests that motivation occurs when instructors: show enthusiasm, get students physically involved during activities, and always display positive body language.

Again the learning experiences and lessons learned in this course are something I will cherish and look back on fondly. The knowledge gained will be a asset not only professionally but personally as well.

References

 Conlan, J., Grabowski, S., & Smith, K. (2003). Adult learning. In M. Orey (Ed.), Emerging perspectives on learning, teaching, and technology. Retrieved from http://projects.coe.uga.edu/epltt/index.php?title=Adult_Learning

Ertmer, P. A., & Newby, T. J. (1993). Behaviorism, cognitivism, constructivism: Comparing critical features from an instructional design perspective. Performance Improvement Quarterly, 6(4), 50–71.

Kim, B. (2001). Social constructivism. In M. Orey (Ed.), Emerging perspectives on learning, teaching, and technology. Retrieved from http://projects.coe.uga.edu/epltt/index.php?title=Social_Constructivism

Ormrod, J. (2011). Motivation in Learning. [Video production]. Laureate Education, Inc.

Ormrod, J. (2011). Learning Styles and Strategies. [Video production]. Laureate Education, Inc.

Siemens, George Connectivism: Learning as Network-Creation], Learning Circuits, November 2005. Retrieved from: http://www.astd.org/LC/2005/1105_seimens.htm

Standridge, M. (2001). Behaviorism. In M. Orey (Ed.), Emerging perspectives on learning, teaching, and technology. Retrieved from http://projects.coe.uga.edu/epltt/index.php?title=Behaviorism

Mae Sincero, S. (Retrieved 2011, Dec 09). What is social learning theory. Retrieved from http://www.experiment-resources.com/social-learning-theory.html

Fitting the Pieces Together

As I look back seven weeks ago as I analyzed my learning style and most importantly how I learn my view of the subject has somewhat changed. As a adult learner, learning by repetition is still important to me but as I studied more and became more involved in the different learning styles and theories I find that establishing meaningful connections is important to my learning as well. After initially studying connectivism you would not hear me say that networking and building meaningful connections were important in my learning process but when I reflect and think about my learning experiences in this online environment (which is still new to me) I can truly say that the connections that I have made within this new network of individuals both instructors and fellow students alike has provided a wealth of knowledge that never knew was possible.

Along with Connectivism both Social Learning theory and Constructivist Theory provide special keys to my learning vehicle as well. Since Constructivism allows us to use our mind to filter information from the world to produce its own reality I realize that in certain situations my mind does the same thing. This is realized when I have produce my own assumptions of a particular subject. In the Social Learning Theory I find this is one of those unconscious learning experiences that we don’t realize that’s going on unless we conceptual what we learn later on. In regards to Social Learning, who doesn’t use facebook, or twitter, or blog in these times and those are examples of social learning to me.

Technology plays a large part in my learning. My Iphone allows me to search for information at any time of day as well as sending and receiving information through emails, video conferences (facetime application), and text messages. My Laptop allows me to further transmit and receive information through discussion boards, emails, and web conferences. Technology has become so important and for myself has become a integral of my everyday life.

My Learning Mind Map (Connectivism)

My learning Mind Map illustrates the various ways that I learn. Within this mind map the internet media and social network portions are fairly new. Through internet media I find that I have access to to more information such as articles or news from different regions of the country and even the world. Social media gives quite a different learning experience. Through social  media I have the opportunity to listen to the more personal thoughts and ideas of other individuals which can be very entertaining, informative, but sometimes thought provoking. To obtain this information my laptop and smartphone are excellent tools to help facilitate my learning. Since both of these devices are mobile I have access to wide array of information at all times of the day. In obtaining new knowledge I would go to a digital source such as gmail, yahoo,  youtube but also I enjoy the old fashioned way of obtaining information by just talking to people. Whether these people are: family, or friends, or even the customers that I encounter at work; the information that could be obtain is invaluable and lets face it sometimes the information passed from person to person cannot be found online. This personal learning network in my opinion follows in the idea of connectivism  because of the multiple impacting factors, the abundant information shared from various sources whether it comes from physical or virtual, and the primary use of technology (Siemens, 2011).

My Learning Mind Map

New Resources!

After some searching I have found two websites that contain valauble information for any instructional designer. These two websites focus on Information Processing Theory and Problem-Solving Skills.

Information Processing Theory
by Rahul Thadani
This website goes into detail concerning cognitive development and attempts to show us how information is recieved, processed, then retrieved in the human brain. Also the information processing model is explained along with the information processing theory.

Problem Solving Skills in Education and Life
By Craig Rusbult
This website contains a wide range of information in regards to: creative and critical thinking skills, multiple intelligences, thinking skills in education, problem solving in design and science, then teaching problem solving skills in education. I found the authors ideas of creative thinking (generating ideas) and critical thinking (evaluating ideas) most interesting. Why does the understanding of creative and critical thinking help the instructional designer?

Doorway to Professional Learning

Hello one and all,
I am pleased to welcome you to join me in a journey of learning theories and experiences in instructional design. This blog is the foundation of what promises to be wealth of knowledge not just for me but for everyone that is involved in the field of instructional design. It is my hope for my readers and I to learn from each other as we grow together professionals and individually. As Ferriter (2009) states “Blogs and wikis are changing who we are as learners, preparing us for a future driven by peer production and networked learning.” Ferriter (2009) also tells us that “ Educators are reflecting on instruction, challenging assumptions, questioning policies, offering advice, designing solutions, and learning together.” Within this blog I will review three resources that I have found to have interesting information in regards to instructional design.



M.K. Smith: Learning Theory
This article is a very informative resource. Smith talks about the understanding of learning attempts to break them down in five categories. Then those categories are broken down into processes which then takes us to our learning theories or orientations: behaviourist, cognitive, humanistic, social/situational.


Richard Culatta: Richards Rants
Mr. Culatta has a vast knowledge of instructional design having worked with K-12, higher education, corporate, and government training environments. Mr. Culatta regularly speaks on educational technology and learning innovations at international conferences including the Comparative and International Education Society (CIES), the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL), and the Innovations in eLearning Symposium. He has also published in journals including Computing in the Schools and Learning and Leading with Technology. His blog offers advice in microblogging and learning, collaborative writing, and instructional design principles.


Ali Gallagher: design2instruct
Ms. Gallagher is a graduate student at University of Utah studying in the Instruction Design and Educational Technology program. This blog give creative insight in effective instructional design. Since Ms. Gallagher is a student herself I can foresee a shared learning experience between us both.

Again I am pleased to begin this learning experience and beginning this blog experience. After all, communication is necessary for educators interested in renewing their thought process about teaching and learning.