Week 6 Reflection

A theme, I can articulate from the chapter readings--how different our learning delivery systems are these days. What do I mean by this? In week 2, I talked about the online information overload, the access we have to information can be and in many instances is overwhelming, the availability with technology to create more interactive, interesting courses is at our disposal. Although learning to filter and make sense of what is useful has been a challenge. I was talking with my son last night who is a college student. He asked me what I was doing. I said I’m writing a paper about how my recent class readings relate or can conjure a theme. I said, it’s like this, you’re use to a model of learning--teaching, hear a lecture, then get tested. As instructional designers in my opinion comes down this simple fact, to create a richer, more depthful educational experience. Which also comes to referencing The Cone of Learning by Edgar Dale article, to really learn we need to demonstrate, apply, practice, analyze, design, to create is very important in the learning process. Some of the technologies we are learning about in this class plays into the direction our society is moving already, which in turn can help to teach our young people as well as our adult learners.

The articulation of instructional designer roles in business and in education does have its similarities. To create an educational experience, create learning objectives, lesson plans, that at the core has not changed or the pedagogy of learning. The role of the teachers to teach and educate is concrete, it in the delivery system where we can be creative, or continue to be more creative in how we deliver learning modules.

I found the overview, or organization chart from the University of Southern Queensland, Australia on page 225 very interesting. The fact that there is a unit team, everyone has their role in creating good online learning materials. It seems a good approach, providing feedback, which is key to learning and improvement.

I did like the format of this chapter, learning about the education promotional system in this country compared to Australia. I have to say my perception of tenure track, in the P-12 system there are teachers that once in the system only do the minimum. My children have had fantastic teachers and less than stellar. At least there is some stability for teachers--well there was stability in being a teacher, where now it seems no one is safe from the economic downturn.

Chapter 27

Lets begin with what skill set I believe I need improvement or better yet development: my lack of classroom experience is a drawback. I have taught at the community college level, although that said, I think that knowing more about teaching theory and pedagogy, learning more about teaching strategies, the development of course content. I continue to work on this. My experience at the community college level, I was hired to teach a class, it was my responsibility to come up with all materials. There were no guidelines to follow, for example how does this class fall in place with the program. What is the larger picture.

My strength, I feel as if I’m interviewing for a job! I have an ability or I find it intuitive to work with course content materials and determine what works with online learning. I have great working relationships with instructors, and I have a good sense at figuring what they want in their course. I am an excellent project manager. I am able to juggle lots of projects at one time. I also work well with people, sometimes with difficult personalities; I am a good problem solver. I am also client minded, or customer focused. That said I am very good at problem solving with students as well as with instructors. With my design background I have a very strong ability to visualize where development is going and this art background also gives me a great sense of how to organize spaces; pages, organizational structures.

I had a great time exploring the Google site. I have just begun looking at the marketing tools available. My website is a work in progress: http://sites.google.com/site/techtools1/ which markets my graphic design freelance business. I was also exploring the iweb sites available, which is part of the iLife package on my MAC. It also includes iTunes (this is free), iPhoto, iMovie, and GarageBand. All programs work in conjunction with each other. Some of these products I have use more than others, and will continue to work with. That said, it does cost to host the site, and really doesn’t offer design flexibilities.

I also liked working with Camtasia, which I’ve not had much exposure too. I have used Jing, which is MAC compatible. Jing is very simple to use so far. I do look forward to the full Camtasia editing feature for future projects.