tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53077547120425350272024-03-14T02:18:47.644-04:00The Traveling Technical TrainerA place where I can share my thoughts and expand my knowledge of Instructional Design (I.D.). I feel in order to become an effective instructional designer it is important to have a basic understanding of the various tools and resources that are available via the world wide web.
What could be a better way to become better acclimated with internet technology, and build a professional network of fellow instructional designers, trainers, and other education professionals than a BLOG?!Audreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07882059506145649979noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307754712042535027.post-33658423004278135112012-04-15T20:06:00.002-04:002012-04-15T22:56:22.073-04:00EIDT 6501 Training & Development: My Personal Development Plan (Week 7)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DK6tVA8rzZI/T4tgJwjagBI/AAAAAAAAAGM/EkiJMSHiUYo/s1600/images-6.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DK6tVA8rzZI/T4tgJwjagBI/AAAAAAAAAGM/EkiJMSHiUYo/s1600/images-6.jpeg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 11.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 11pt; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px;">Greetings All,</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11pt;">We’re nearing the end of yet another semester, one week left!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 11.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11pt;">This week we have a 2-part assignment...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11pt;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;"><b><u>Part 1</u></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11pt;">Write our own personal development plan specifically designed for us, and post it to our blog.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11pt;">Personal development is an area we all could benefit from, and not just when it’s work related. Personal development is an area that I have recently begun to delve into love the idea of improving myself in all areas of life. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11pt;">When creating any development plan you need to have a goal in mind-or a reason to develop. I’m okay </span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11pt;">at what I do (I don’t want to brag and/or seem arrogant </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 11pt;">J</span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11pt;">), I enjoy my job, and have no immediate aspirations to move quite yet; but I would like to get better</span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11pt;"> and begin to prepare myself for a new role in the future. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11pt;">Another key component in creating a development plan is to identify what you want to learn or how you want to improve. Here are the four areas in which I would like to learn/improve: continuing professional learning, and assessment.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VLLf5bQJSxE/T4tg4iqaRsI/AAAAAAAAAGU/QtP4wTAdfsM/s1600/PMP_Business_Card_Logo.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="91" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VLLf5bQJSxE/T4tg4iqaRsI/AAAAAAAAAGU/QtP4wTAdfsM/s200/PMP_Business_Card_Logo.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11pt;">Continuing Professional Learning (PM certification)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11pt;">One of the areas that I would like to continue to pursue is continuing my education. I have been on this path for a couple of years already in pursuing a Master’s degree in Instructional Design and Technology; but I don’t want my journey to end there. I am very much interested in pursuing my PM certification with my company providing tuition reimbursement to assist with the test fees. The company could also supply materials (i.e. the PM Study book), as well as a website for self-study. This certification would be of benefit to my company, as it would assist me in leading projects, and potentially transitioning to another position within the organization. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--sNWRv_EjKg/T4thY8IkoBI/AAAAAAAAAGc/sE32wCcwb3o/s1600/images-8.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--sNWRv_EjKg/T4thY8IkoBI/AAAAAAAAAGc/sE32wCcwb3o/s200/images-8.jpeg" width="131" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11pt;"><br />
</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11pt;"><br />
</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11pt;">Continuing Professional Learning (CS5, Captivate, Articulate & e-Learning)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11pt;">Another area that I would like to pursue is furthering my knowledge in is e-Learning. E-Learning has quickly become a primary training method and to remain competitive it is essential that a training team have an effective eLearning team. I feel it would be beneficial to both the company and myself, if I developed further in this area. The company could support my efforts with tuition reimbursement, reference books, <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KQGfe1VqHvg/T4tiFf5FweI/AAAAAAAAAGk/ETHnqTVPXvI/s1600/DISCmodelrdedsquare.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KQGfe1VqHvg/T4tiFf5FweI/AAAAAAAAAGk/ETHnqTVPXvI/s200/DISCmodelrdedsquare.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11pt;">Assessment<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11pt;">Assessment “involves collecting information and providing feedback to employees about their behavior, communication style, values, or skills” (Noe, 2010, p. 355). Assessment can be used to identify employees with potential to move to higher-level positions as well identifying team members’ strengths, weaknesses, “as well as the decision processes or communication styles that inhibit the teams’ productivity” (Noe, 2010, p. 355). This is a necessary development tool for any employee seeking to get along with current co-workers or possible manger candidates. I feel it is an essential skill to understand how others communicate and get along. The company could conduct a Myers-Briggs or DISC assessment, which would assist in identifying strengths, weaknesses, and communications styles. This would not only benefit the current team, but also those interested in developing further in this area. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11pt;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11pt;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">References<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">McCarthy, D. (2008, November 24). Great Leadership: How to Write a Great Individual Development Plan (IDP). <i>Great Leadership</i>. Retrieved April 15, 2012, from <a href="http://www.greatleadershipbydan.com/2008/11/how-to-write-great-individual.html">http://www.greatleadershipbydan.com/2008/11/how-to-write-great-individual.html</a><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11pt;"><br />
</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Noe, R. A. (2010). <i>Employee training and development</i> (5th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw Hill.</span></span></span></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none;"><br />
<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><u>Part 2</u></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11pt;">Develop a 5- to 7-slide PowerPoint presentation to your boss or to the head of human resources at your organization. Make a definitive case for a company-wide employee development plan. Be sure to make at least FIVE strong points about why employee development will be beneficial to the organization. Also include at least THREE types of employee development initiatives you are suggesting that the organization adopt. </span><!--EndFragment--> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11pt;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-P149xjlQXP8/T4uJ6pKrp5I/AAAAAAAAAGs/egRt7Amhk0s/s1600/Slide1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-P149xjlQXP8/T4uJ6pKrp5I/AAAAAAAAAGs/egRt7Amhk0s/s320/Slide1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5JibrWHZnz8/T4uJ7GfQv9I/AAAAAAAAAG0/YZrINCbCcrw/s1600/Slide2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5JibrWHZnz8/T4uJ7GfQv9I/AAAAAAAAAG0/YZrINCbCcrw/s320/Slide2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9KvljJOc7AY/T4uJ7s2-wrI/AAAAAAAAAG8/BPBOyXU8DH4/s1600/Slide3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9KvljJOc7AY/T4uJ7s2-wrI/AAAAAAAAAG8/BPBOyXU8DH4/s320/Slide3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XiYpdq0qsBI/T4uJ7zH3qZI/AAAAAAAAAHE/_KBEq2rnenA/s1600/Slide4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XiYpdq0qsBI/T4uJ7zH3qZI/AAAAAAAAAHE/_KBEq2rnenA/s320/Slide4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sR2oDCc61kI/T4uJ8VHMzBI/AAAAAAAAAHM/h2ukWyTfFz4/s1600/Slide5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sR2oDCc61kI/T4uJ8VHMzBI/AAAAAAAAAHM/h2ukWyTfFz4/s320/Slide5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-z88Bz6getKY/T4uJ8kHa3pI/AAAAAAAAAHU/7l8nCxPKK34/s1600/Slide6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-z88Bz6getKY/T4uJ8kHa3pI/AAAAAAAAAHU/7l8nCxPKK34/s320/Slide6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11pt;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div>Audreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07882059506145649979noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307754712042535027.post-29397714779161285782012-04-05T22:17:00.002-04:002012-04-05T22:20:16.400-04:00EIDT 6501 Training and Development: High Tech Training (Week 6)<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 11pt;">Greetings everyone,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 11pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">This week our assignment is to think </span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">about the various training technologies outlined in our required text and consider what impact these technologies are having and will continue to have in training and development environments. Then </span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">choose <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">four</b> technologies or technological advancements used in training, as described in the text. Next, conduct online research (in the Walden library or other reputable site) to find <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">one</b> additional article or resource that highlights the use of technology for teaching or training purposes. </span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Finally post a blog entry that explains the impact each of your<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> five</b> selected technologies has and will continue to have on how people learn and interact, and the implications of this for training.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 11pt;">The technologies/technological advancements that I selected are:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none;"></div><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 15px;">Computer-based training (CBT)</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 15px;">Online Learning</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 15px;">Virtual Worlds (Second Life)</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 15px;">Mobile Technology: Ipods & PDAs</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 15px;">Online Social Networks</span></li>
</ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9Eg2dritLeI/T35PLvRyV8I/AAAAAAAAAFk/3r1fClawn50/s1600/web-based-training.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9Eg2dritLeI/T35PLvRyV8I/AAAAAAAAAFk/3r1fClawn50/s200/web-based-training.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 11pt;">Computer-based training (CBT)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 11pt;">“An interactive training experience in which the computer provides the learning stimulus, the trainee must respond, and the computer analyzes the response and provides feedback to the trainee” (Noe, 2010, p. 303). CBT has had major impact on how people learn and interact, as it was a pioneering technology used in training delivery. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 11pt;">Online Learning</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Also referred to as e-learning, “ refers to instruction and delivery of training by computer online through the Internet or the Web” (Noe, 2010, p. 305). E-Learning has changed “where” training must be delivered, as the Internet and Web are available worldwide. </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Js-LpkTMOXM/T35P7B00KDI/AAAAAAAAAF0/z4wV5rtTt68/s1600/Second_Life_Logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="135" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Js-LpkTMOXM/T35P7B00KDI/AAAAAAAAAF0/z4wV5rtTt68/s200/Second_Life_Logo.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br />
</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 11pt;">Virtual Worlds</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 11pt;">Virtual worlds such as <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="http://secondlife.com/whatis/?lang=en-US" target="_blank">Second Life</a>, Forterra, </i>and<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> Virtual Heroes are </i>“computer-based, simulated online virtual world that includes a three-dimensional representation of the real world and a place to host learning programs or experiences” (Noe, 2010, p. 321). What is especially interesting about this technology is its effectiveness to link users all over the world in a simulation. The simulation can be something as simple as a meeting, or as complex as a demonstration/tour of a client site. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 15px;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Mobile Technology: Ipods & PDAs</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ge7PmGg6PWs/T35QHxbutXI/AAAAAAAAAF8/HKPOZo_OLkA/s1600/mobile-learning-233usrd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="186" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ge7PmGg6PWs/T35QHxbutXI/AAAAAAAAAF8/HKPOZo_OLkA/s200/mobile-learning-233usrd.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Another technology that has forever changed the realm of training, mobile technology allows learning to occur anywhere at anytime. This is very important in today’s current environment, as everyone is on the go! Mobile technologies are also a great alternative or follow up to in person traditional training. </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1unaf7qPYdI/T35QUt8wZFI/AAAAAAAAAGE/i4sd_w-Bx1Y/s1600/social-media-marketing2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1unaf7qPYdI/T35QUt8wZFI/AAAAAAAAAGE/i4sd_w-Bx1Y/s200/social-media-marketing2.jpg" width="125" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 11pt;">Online Social Networks<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Everyone is familiar with online social networks such as <a href="http://twitter.com/about" target="_blank">Twitter</a>, <a href="http://www.facebook.com/facebook" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, <a href="http://wordpress.org/" target="_blank">Wordpress</a>, etc-but few people utilize them for the invaluable learning tools they are. </span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">“</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">The evolving world of Internet communication blogs, podcasts, tags, file swapping offers students radically new ways to research, create, and learn” (Smith, n.d.).</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">“The Internet is primarily responsible for creating our revolution in learning. Internet technology has permitted the development of electronic networks that integrate voice, video, and data connections among learners, instructors, and experts” (Noe, 2010, p. 299). </span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;"><u><br />
</u></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 11pt;"><u>References</u><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 11pt;">Noe, R. A. (2010). <i>Employee training and development</i> (5th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw Hill.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Smith, F. (n.d.). How to Use Social-Networking Technology for Learning. www.Edutopia.com . Retrieved April 5, 2012, from <a href="http://www.edutopia.org/social-networking-how-to">http://www.edutopia.org/social-networking-how-to</a></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>Audreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07882059506145649979noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307754712042535027.post-26504148118668981892012-03-08T23:17:00.006-05:002012-03-08T23:28:56.597-05:00EIDT 6501 Training and Development: Planning For a Needs Assessment (Week 2)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m0bS_9VdPD4/T1mEGmVRKpI/AAAAAAAAAFI/S5cC_Wzr39k/s1600/img-needs-assessment.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m0bS_9VdPD4/T1mEGmVRKpI/AAAAAAAAAFI/S5cC_Wzr39k/s200/img-needs-assessment.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #fff2cc; font-family: Georgia;">Greetings Classmates!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #fff2cc; font-family: Georgia;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fff2cc;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">This week our assignment is to </span><span style="font-family: Georgia;">assume that you have been asked to perform a needs assessment for one of the following companies:</span><span style="font-family: Georgia;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Whole Foods, Southwest Airlines, Cisco Systems, Men’s Wearhouse, Intel, Steelcase, Nokia and spend some time exploring it online. Try to get a sense of the organization’s products and/or services, consumers, management philosophy, and strategic objectives. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #fff2cc; font-family: Georgia;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #fff2cc; font-family: Georgia;">Based on this, how might you approach the needs assessment? Specifically:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.5in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fff2cc;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">•<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia;">What stakeholders would you want to make sure to get buy-in from?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.5in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fff2cc;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">•<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia;">What questions would you ask (and to whom would you address them) during the organizational, person, and task analysis phases?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.5in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fff2cc;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">•<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia;">What documents or records might you ask to see?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.5in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="color: #fff2cc;">•<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fff2cc;">What techniques would you employ (see Table 3.2 on page 108 of the Noe text), and why?</span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wdsNMyh0Vck/T1mENa12AUI/AAAAAAAAAFQ/i8iyXNV8SPg/s1600/Southwest_Airlines.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="79" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wdsNMyh0Vck/T1mENa12AUI/AAAAAAAAAFQ/i8iyXNV8SPg/s200/Southwest_Airlines.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fff2cc;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">I selected <a href="http://www.southwest.com/">Southwest Airlines</a> for this assignment, an airline that I love to fly! The mission of Southwest is “</span><span style="font-family: Georgia;">dedication to the highest quality of Customer Service delivered with a sense of warmth, friendliness, individual pride, and Company Spirit” (Southwest.com). <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fff2cc;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fff2cc;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Another interesting fact, that says a lot about the organization is its mission and view of its employees. CEO Gary Kelly states, “our people are our single greatest strength and most enduring longterm competitive advantage”</span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11pt;"> (Southwest.com).</span><span style="font-family: Georgia;"> For this reason, the </span><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Chairman of the Board, President & Chief Executive Officer</span><span style="font-family: Georgia;">, Gary Kelly and the Southwest employees are major stakeholders in a needs assessment. Other stakeholders would depend on the hypothesized problem that needs to be solved and those directly involved. Additional stakeholders may include other Southwest officers as outlined in the <a href="http://swamedia.com/media_storage/Leadership_Org_2_12.pdf">Southwest Organization Chart</a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fff2cc;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #fff2cc; font-family: Georgia;">An organizational analysis “involves identifying whether training supports the company’s strategic direction; whether managers, peers, and employees support training activity; and what training resources are available” (Noe, 2010, p. 110). Based on Southwest’s mission to its customers and employees, important questions to ask during an organizational analysis are “how might the training content affect our employees’ relationship with our customers” as well as, “will employees perceive that training program as an opportunity? Reward? Punishment? Waste of time?” (Noe, 2010, p. 111)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fff2cc;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #fff2cc; font-family: Georgia;">“Task analysis results in a description of work activities, including tasks performed by the employee and the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to complete the tasks” (Noe, 2010, p. 123). A task analysis has 4 steps:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fff2cc; font-family: Georgia;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;"></div><ol><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fff2cc; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Select the job(s) to be analyzed</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fff2cc; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Develop a preliminary list of tasks performed</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fff2cc; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Validate/Confirm the preliminary list of tasks</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fff2cc; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Identify the knowledge, skills, or abilities necessary to successfully perform each task (Noe, 2010, p. 124-125). </span></li>
</ol><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fff2cc; font-family: Georgia;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fff2cc;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #fff2cc; font-family: Georgia;">The person analysis “helps to identify employees who need training, that is, whether employees’ current performance or expected performance indicates a need for training” (Noe, 2010, p. 113). The person analysis can also assist in gauging the targets readiness for training, which can be beneficial when designing the instruction and is a natural transition after the task analysis has been completed. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fff2cc;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #fff2cc; font-family: Georgia;">The techniques that I would employ rely heavily on the task and person analysis. Documentation is an excellent place to begin, as it’s a great source of information, its low cost, and does not use a lot of resources. Observation can be a great way to gather information on day-to-day activities and procedures while not interrupting or disturbing the work of others. Questionnaires are effective in collecting anonymous information from a large number of people, which can easily and quickly be analyzed. Finally, I would use interviews and focus groups as a needs assessment technique. Both allow free dialogue which can assist in delving further into problems, issues, and other employee concerns.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r39d0VHe3ug/T1mGwK-qBpI/AAAAAAAAAFY/kk7vHydK0FA/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-03-08+at+11.07.41+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r39d0VHe3ug/T1mGwK-qBpI/AAAAAAAAAFY/kk7vHydK0FA/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-03-08+at+11.07.41+PM.png" /></a></div><span style="color: #fff2cc; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #fff2cc; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: #fff2cc; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: #fff2cc; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #fff2cc; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">References<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fff2cc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px;">Noe, R. A. (2010). </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px;"><i>Employee training and development</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px;"> (5th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw Hill.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fff2cc;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #fff2cc; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="http://www.Southwest.com/">www.Southwest.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div>Audreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07882059506145649979noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307754712042535027.post-27309767101379896592012-03-02T01:58:00.004-05:002012-03-02T11:10:26.680-05:00EIDT 6501 Training and Development: The Truth About Training (Week 1)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KU_6OheKsTI/T1BDVJwSvGI/AAAAAAAAAD8/3KP6vVPm6o0/s1600/Training+homepage.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KU_6OheKsTI/T1BDVJwSvGI/AAAAAAAAAD8/3KP6vVPm6o0/s200/Training+homepage.png" width="178" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Good Evening Everyone,</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This week our topic was to:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Imagine you have just 2 minutes or so to give someone an "elevator speech" regarding the "truth" about training. This person does not believe that training is important, complicated, or even necessary. What might you say to this individual to convince him or her otherwise? What key insights could you impart that this person likely would not have known and would find surprising and/or interesting? Utilizing the insights you gained this week,<b> </b>draft a hypothetical "elevator speech" that, when spoken, lasts for approximately 90 seconds. </span></span> <br />
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;">Some would say training is a necessary evil, while others I'm sure would drop the term "necessary" altogether. Hopefully my brief argument is enough to make someone at least pause and think of the complexity of designing training and some of its benefits.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;">Below is a copy of the transcript (give or take a few lines) and you can listen to the audio clip via SoundCloud by clicking the link below</span></span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://soundcloud.com/altarver/6501-blog1" target="_blank">Elevator Speech</a></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 15px;">The role of training in companies has really changed over recent years. Traditionally</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">most people think of training as a boring and grueling event they are required to attend in order to learn things they don’t even need, in order to do their job. You know exactly what I’m talking about- when training is over and you think to yourself “what a waste of time” and you think of all the things you could have gotten accomplished in that time if you were at your desk. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 15px;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">What many people don’t realize is just how complicated it is to create training, specifically learner-centered and performance based training. People don’t know that effective training can assist businesses in meeting specific needs and challenges, and good training can even improve employee performance, confidence, and commitment to ones job and company. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 15px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 15px;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Did you know there’s a difference between training, instructing, and educating? A trainer has to consider the information that is to be conveyed, the best way to convey it, create a platform in which everyone will learn, understand, and gain knowledge- all while taking our learning styles and other factors into consideration? Talk about stressful and complicated and unappreciated!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 15px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 15px;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Training is an important part of business acumen as the survival of a business is dependent on the quality of employee talent. Businesses have to educate their personnel to ensure business goals are met and they experience continued growth and success.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 15px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 15px;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Though most people dislike training, employees want to actually do their job to the best of their abilities. In fact 33% stated they would like proper training for new duties and responsibilities and 45% of employees stated they wanted the opportunity to learn and develop their skills. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 15px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 15px;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Training benefits everyone when it’s done correctly. It’s a complex process and a lot more goes into it then people may think <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 15px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 15px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 15px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;"><u>References</u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;">Bradley, A. (2010). Shifting away from an employer’s market<i>. Training and Development</i>, <i>64</i>(7), 16–17<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;">Noe, R. A. (2010). <i>Employee training and development</i> (5th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw Hill.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;">Stolovitch, H. “The Truth About Training”. [Video]. Walden University</span></div>Audreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07882059506145649979noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307754712042535027.post-11656527004967715912012-02-28T09:40:00.001-05:002012-02-28T09:49:50.697-05:00EIDT 6501 Training and Development (Week 1)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TULFFO_JZGg/T0znIZmHUAI/AAAAAAAAAD0/MMzNaU_UBCs/s1600/welcome-wood1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="137" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TULFFO_JZGg/T0znIZmHUAI/AAAAAAAAAD0/MMzNaU_UBCs/s200/welcome-wood1.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Greetings to my Walden 6501 Classmates</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">First, thank you for subscribing to my blog, I'm looking forward to much dialogue with each of you!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">What a journey! We have finally reached the last and final class of our Instructional Design Masters' program. It's a bittersweet ending as I am elated to be finished with homework, but saddened my scholastic relationship with you all is ending. Luckily for us we will always be connected via the World Wide Web</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Okay, it's time for me to take care of a couple things here in the office, we have a post due in a couple days on <i>The Truth About Training</i> so stay tuned</span>Audreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07882059506145649979noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307754712042535027.post-78947813747893684392011-10-13T22:50:00.000-04:002011-10-13T22:50:59.707-04:00Project Management 6145 Week 6-Analyzing Scope Creep<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HW-khB4_t90/TpejKfFsPhI/AAAAAAAAADg/lWAUgBniDLM/s1600/24-+Avoiding+scope+creep.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="176" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HW-khB4_t90/TpejKfFsPhI/AAAAAAAAADg/lWAUgBniDLM/s320/24-+Avoiding+scope+creep.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style> <![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">This week our blog topic is the ever-scary topic of scope creep, here’s our blog assignment:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Describe a project, either personal or professional, that experienced issues related to scope creep. What specific scope creep issues occurred? How did you or other stakeholders deal with those issues at the time? Looking back on the experience now, had you been in the position of managing the project, what could you have done to better manage these issues and control the scope of the project?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">So let’s first start with the question, “what IS scope creep?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">According to our required text, scope creep is “the natural tendency of the client, as well as project team members, to try to improve the project’s output as the project progresses” (Portny, et al., 2008, p. 350). Another definition that truly hits the nail on the head so to speak is, “</span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">the tendency of a project to include more tasks or to implement more systems than originally specified, which often leads to higher than planned project costs and an extension of the initial implementation date” (What is scope creep, 2007). </span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">In my previous position we took part in a deployment of a case management system that was implemented enterprise-wide. This deployment was a high-profile effort and everyone on my team was expected to travel to support the deployment effort. In the end our team was responsible for training the application, supporting that application (providing field support, as well as support via phone/email), providing support documentation, designing/developing/implementing another training module to later replace the in-person training.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What is interesting is our contract did not originally include all of these provisions esp. with a staff of only 8 people (most of which were on the road). <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">These issues, and the many that arose as a result, were almost always dealt with in a defensive and reactive (vs. proactive) manner. It seemed we were always reacting to a new development, and/or a new client request that simply came out of nowhere. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">In the government contacting realm this is always precarious territory as a contractor never wants to tell the client “no”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This could possibly result in the client seeking a contract with another organization, and no company wants to lose business (i.e. revenue). <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Looking back, I feel a lack of documentation was one important area that could have been done better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Meaning, many of our processes were undocumented including change requests.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Without documentation it is difficult to see what is in existence, what is being requested, what has been changed, and the results of the requested change. From a project management stand point our organization left themselves very open for later problems to arise.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">In an article entitled, “10 Ways to Tackle The Scope Creep”, Miles Burke provides important ways to avoid scope creep:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pK91vWNdnSE/TpejeuCteAI/AAAAAAAAADo/RGl2ueMHqhg/s1600/Slide1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pK91vWNdnSE/TpejeuCteAI/AAAAAAAAADo/RGl2ueMHqhg/s320/Slide1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style> <![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">References<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;">Burke, M. (2010, November 26). 10 Ways to Tackle the Scope Creep » SitePoint. <i>SitePoint » Web Design, Web Development, Freelancing, Tech News and more</i>. Retrieved October 13, 2011, from <a href="http://www.sitepoint.com/10-ways-tackle-the-scope-creep/">http://www.sitepoint.com/10-ways-tackle-the-scope-creep/</a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Portny, S. E., Mantel, S. J., Meredith, J. R., Shafer, S. M., Sutton, M. M., & Kramer, B. E. (2008). <i>Project management: Planning, scheduling, and controlling projects</i>. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;">What is Scope Creep?. (2007, October 10). <i>FollowSteph.com </i>. Retrieved October 13, 2011, from http://www.followsteph.com/2007/10/10/what-is-scope-creep/</span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><!--EndFragment--><br />
<!--EndFragment-->Audreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07882059506145649979noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307754712042535027.post-24154047865773064242011-10-04T21:14:00.000-04:002011-10-04T21:14:43.597-04:00Project Management 6145 Week 5-Estimating Costs and Allocating Resources<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style> <![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Hello Everyone!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We have made it to week 5 already of our project management course!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can’t believe we’ve already made it this far and are almost finished.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It has definitely been interesting and I have gained a lot of great information.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This week we have freebie assignment:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">To prepare for this assignment, conduct a web search (listservs, message boards, blogs) and locate at least two resources that would be useful in estimating the costs, effort, and/or activity durations associated with ID projects. Explore the sites and consider how you might use them to help plan a project’s schedule, budget, or break down a project’s tasks.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style> <![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Here are the websites I found that hopefully will be of some assistance:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FgjPftPdrNM/TouuU8SGVJI/AAAAAAAAADU/m1yoe5FnrXE/s1600/lowCost.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="163" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FgjPftPdrNM/TouuU8SGVJI/AAAAAAAAADU/m1yoe5FnrXE/s200/lowCost.png" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">1. <a href="http://www.nwlink.com/~donclark/hrd/costs.html">Estimating Costs and Time in Instructional Design</a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px;">The title pretty much says it all!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This website has a plethora of information ranging from training cost guidelines, to estimating development hours, and development time for e-learning modules.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is a great place to look in determining how many hours it may actually take to develop the specified item.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px;">It also provides great low-cost resources designers can utilize to help keep costs down. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p><br />
</o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">2. <a href="http://www.designingforlearning.info/services/writing/time.htm">Development Time, Costs and Instructional Design of a Web Course</a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px;">Similar to the above resource, it provides cost breakdown for faculty developming distance learning (web courses)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-C-_YQeyyjrA/TouvFEoqxgI/AAAAAAAAADc/IyKCWB2Rr8k/s1600/better-time-management.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-C-_YQeyyjrA/TouvFEoqxgI/AAAAAAAAADc/IyKCWB2Rr8k/s200/better-time-management.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px;">3. <a href="http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2008/05/how-to-make-accurate-time-estimates/">How to Make Accurate Time Estimates</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px;">What I like most about this article is its honest perspective in determining how much time a given activity takes, using something called the “fudge ratio”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course this seems completely inapplicable but it can be applied in an instructional design team.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">It would require the project manager to be proactive and track how long basic processes of the ADDIE model actually take to be completed within the team and then use this as the basis for future estimates.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px;">By no means is this a fool-proof method, but it is a place to at least start…</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;"><br />
</span></span></div><!--EndFragment--><br />
<!--EndFragment-->Audreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07882059506145649979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307754712042535027.post-51092932532519323872011-09-20T22:34:00.000-04:002011-09-20T22:34:57.528-04:00Project Management 6145 Week 3-Communicating Effectively<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-U9o2FV7bIPE/TnlMKgTJsoI/AAAAAAAAADM/nYKJDxiPVxc/s1600/communicate.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="109" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-U9o2FV7bIPE/TnlMKgTJsoI/AAAAAAAAADM/nYKJDxiPVxc/s200/communicate.gif" width="200" /></a></div><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style> <![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Okay so I actually have it together this week and have my blog completed on time!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kudos to me for getting it together </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Georgia; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">So this week we have an interesting assignment regarding “</span><i><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">how</span></i><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"> you communicate with different stakeholders is of equal importance to <i>what</i> you communicate and can influence how your message is interpreted”. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 11.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">As you know I like to outline the assignment for you so you know what I’m talking about, here it is:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 11.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">To prepare for this assignment, view the multimedia program "The Art of Effective Communication." In this program, you will observe a piece of communication in three different modalities: as written text, as audio, and as video. Pause after receiving the communication in each modality, and reflect upon what you interpret the message to mean. Think about the content and tone of the message. Record your interpretation of the message after receiving it in each modality. Then reflect upon the experience by considering the following: <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none;"></div><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px;">How did your interpretation of the message change from one modality to the next?</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px;">What factors influenced how you perceived the message?</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px;">Which form of communication best conveyed the true meaning and intent of the message?</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px;">What are the implications of what you learned from this exercise for communicating effectively with members of a project team?</span></li>
</ul><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px;">Post your interpretation of the message as it was delivered in each of the different modalities, pointing out what, if anything, changed about your interpretation from one modality to the next. What did you learn that will help you communicate more effectively with others in the future?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">“Communication is not just words” (Stolovitch, n.d.), this is a very important anecdote to remember when communicating with others. Effective communication is influenced by:</span><!--EndFragment--> <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cLhlft_1yGg/TnlMuALMvDI/AAAAAAAAADQ/bX8kdFPjPNg/s1600/Screen+Shot+2011-09-20+at+10.31.54+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cLhlft_1yGg/TnlMuALMvDI/AAAAAAAAADQ/bX8kdFPjPNg/s1600/Screen+Shot+2011-09-20+at+10.31.54+PM.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style> <![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> </div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">All of these items can directly influence how your message is transmitted and ultimately received by your listeners.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How often have we heard “that’s what I said, but that’s not what I meant?” <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Overall I did not feel the message was misconstrued among the different modalities as the words, tones, and body language all synced up for the most part. However I definitely understand how in a different context this could be very, very different. The use of the capitalized acronym “ETA” in the email could be considered yelling, the tone in the voicemail could convey anger, annoyance, and frustration, or the crossed-arm body language of the face-to-face discussion should lead to a heated argument.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">References:</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Stolovitch, H (n.d.). Communicating with Stakeholders. [Video] Available: Laureate Education, Inc.</span></div><!--EndFragment--><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><!--EndFragment--> </div><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />
</span>Audreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07882059506145649979noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307754712042535027.post-74209532783312190772011-09-18T13:13:00.000-04:002011-09-18T13:13:22.181-04:00Project Management 6145 Week 2-Learning from a Project Post-Mortem<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style> <![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px;">Greetings All,</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Well I am definitely a person deeply rooted in pattern and routine…as a result of assuming my blog had our “typical” due date of Sunday I am totally late with this posting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Alas, it’s a lesson learned and one that I will not repeat next week…moving on </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Georgia; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">This week, as the blog title eludes too, is learning from a project post mortem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s nowhere near as dreadful as it sounds, it’s simply a “</span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">way to learn best practices and avoid mistakes on a future project [by] review[ing] the results and activities from a project that you have completed”. Outlined below is the assignment as provided by our professor:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 11.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">To prepare for this assignment, recall a project that you worked on in the past, either personal or professional, that was not successful or did not result in the desired outcomes. You may be creative and use an example from your personal life that may not relate to your job. Using the Project <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1H0mWIqSNIbUwMQm8ybdykI1zMm-rqu_-DfNfXamPArM/edit?hl=en_US">“Post Mortem” Review Questions found on pages 42–43</a> of <i>The</i> <i>Project Management Minimalist,</i> recall your experience with the project and jot down answers to as many of the questions as you can (you do not need to submit these responses). Then, reflect on the following:</span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none;"></div><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px;">What processes, project artifacts, or activities did you include in the project that contributed to its success?</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px;">What processes, project artifacts, or activities did you not include in the project that might have made the project more successful?</span></li>
</ul><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Hopefully everyone is familiar with this document, if not I have hyperlinked a copy using Google docs for your reference. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">The project that I commonly refer to is one with my previous employer, and I was the project lead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sadly and incidentally, it is a perfect example of almost everything NOT to do on a project. As I’ve mentioned in several class discussions, the project was the conversion of an in-person training course to an online format to be deployed overseas. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><u><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Contributions to Project Success:<o:p></o:p></span></u></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">The one activity that I feel I did a good job on (and I had control of) was my communication with my team.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As the lead, I stayed in constant communication with my manager regarding the status of the project, as well as my team regarding the status of their tasks. I utilized emails, in-person meetings, as well as conference calls to make sure we were all on the same page.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also effectively communicated with the client regarding our status on the project and our timeline for completion of specific tasks. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><u><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Room for Improvement:<o:p></o:p></span></u></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Aside from the client and their differing visions for the project, there were several things that we as a team could have done differently.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A key factor is in training and familiarizing the team with the ADDIE model. Due to the client, and our lack of formal training, the project was never rooted in grounded principles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For example learner analysis was not performed, objectives were not specified in the manner in which they should have been, there was little time given to truly analyze, design, develop, implement, or evaluate the project. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">An important factor that Dr. Stolovitch provided for successful id projects, is the let the instructional design process guide the work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I feel this factor was missing from the beginning that caused a already volatile project to be more stressful than need be. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">References<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Greer, M. (2010). <a href="http://sylvan.live.ecollege.com/ec/courses/72033/CRS-CW-5693702/educ_6145_readings/pm-minimalist-ver-3-laureate.pdf"><i><span style="color: blue;">The project management minimalist: Just enough PM to rock your projects!</span></i></a> (Laureate custom ed.). Baltimore: Laureate Education, Inc.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Portny, S. E., Mantel, S. J., Meredith, J. R., Shafer, S. M., Sutton, M. M., & Kramer, B. E. (2008). <i>Project management: Planning, scheduling, and controlling projects.</i> Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><!--EndFragment-->Audreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07882059506145649979noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307754712042535027.post-23623973196802383292011-09-12T21:38:00.002-04:002011-09-12T21:43:12.446-04:00Project Management<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_cTqHF9DQPo/Tm61D9nYsxI/AAAAAAAAADI/eMVkpJGvwlE/s1600/images.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="170" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_cTqHF9DQPo/Tm61D9nYsxI/AAAAAAAAADI/eMVkpJGvwlE/s200/images.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Hello everyone!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Welcome to my page and the continuation of my Walden University adventure in a M.S. in Instructional Design and Technology!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">After an entirely too short break I'm back in class and this portion of the semester will be spent on Project Management in Instructional Design. We're definitely getting to the serious, nitty-gritty, portion of the degree program now. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I'm definitely interested in learning as much as I can so that I can hopefully avoid many of the pitfalls I've seen in project management-I'm sure you know what I mean ;-)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Seriously though, as an instructional designer we are often expected to also be a project manager of our portion; but sometimes the overall project itself.</span><br />
<br />
I'm hoping that after this course is over I will be motivated to purse a PMP or CAPM certification...or maybe I'll be smart and weight until I'm closer to the completion of this program before I start another project.<br />
<br />
Again, thanks for following me and I hope that we learn a lot from one another this semesterAudreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07882059506145649979noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307754712042535027.post-17662685595848754882011-08-21T20:25:00.000-04:002011-08-21T20:25:08.990-04:00Distance Education Blog—Final Reflection <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style> <![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">“The number of students participating in college-level online courses has out-distanced all other forms of distance learning, in a remarkably short amount of time” (Gambescia, Paolucci, 2009). This trend and increased attendance in college-level online courses will gain momentum in the next 5-10 years and the next 10-20 years. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Distance education has many benefits that we have explored over the last eight weeks in this course. These benefits are why so may students and business have chosen distance-learning platforms to educate students and employees respectively. “There are many reasons for this [increase]: convenience, older and more technologically-savvy students who hold a job and have a family, and students looking for a particular curriculum they can't find locally (What is the Future of Distance Learning, 2011). Growing acceptance of distance education is fueled by several factors as explained in our course resources this week:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"> </div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]-->The Increase in online communication<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]-->Practical experience with new tools<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]-->Growing comfort with online discourse<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]-->Ability to communicate with diverse and global groups (Siemens, n.d.)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Distance education will be impacted by new communication technologies, contributions by experts around the world, and increased used of multimedia, games, and simulations (Siemens, n.d.). If distance learning can continue to grow in these impact areas, and continue to extend its many benefits it can become a key and primary method of educating students of all ages. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">An instructional designer can be a proponent for improving societal perceptions of distance learning by assisting in the analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation of appealing and effective training. In many cases the work of the instructional designer may not be noticed by the learner, as the learner is not involved in the entire ID process, they typically are only able to observe the work of the implementation and/or evaluation phases.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So in many cases it is the id’s role to ensure their role is done to the best of their ability and their portion is a seamless part of the final product.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I feel the way that I can be a positive force for continuous improvement in the field of distance education is first in understanding the field and all that it entails. The next way that I feel I can be a positive force is in educating my various clients/employers of the pros and cons of distance education, and assist them in creating training that best meets their needs. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">References<o:p></o:p></span></u></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Gambescia, S., & Paolucci, R. (2009). Academic fidelity and integrity <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>as attributes of university online degree program offerings. <i>Online Journal <o:p></o:p></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>of Distance Learning Administration, 12</i>(1). Retrieved from<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><a href="http://www.westga.edu/~distance/ojdla/spring121/gambescia121.html">http://www.westga.edu/~distance/ojdla/spring121/gambescia121.html</a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Siemens, G. (n.d.). Facilitating Learning. [Video] Available: Laureate Education, Inc. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">What is the Future of Distance Learning? (2011). <a href="http://www.waldenu.edu/">www.waldenu.edu</a>. <o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Retrieved August 21, 2011 from <a href="http://connected.waldenu.edu/curriculum-">http://connected.waldenu.edu/curriculum-</a>resources/technology-in-the-classroom/item/772-what-is-future-of-distance-learning</span></span><!--EndFragment--> <br />
<!--EndFragment-->Audreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07882059506145649979noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307754712042535027.post-38179373329919766232011-08-14T16:06:00.004-04:002011-08-14T17:15:29.225-04:00Distance Education Blog—Converting to a Distance Learning Format<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This week our application assignment was to consider the following scenario:</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">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.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"></div><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">With this scenario in mind, and taking into consideration your Learning Resources, reflect on the following:</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">What are some of the pre-planning strategies the trainer needs to consider before converting his program?</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">What aspects of his original training program could be enhanced in the distance learning format?</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">How will his role, as trainer, change in a distance learning environment?</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">What steps should the trainer take to encourage the trainees to communicate online?</span></li>
</ul><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So I created a Best Practices Guide and have a few of the important points/factor outlined below:</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1. There is no standard approach to a hybrid course-there is no magic formula or format, the instructor will have to create the course based on the needs of the course, the students, and instructor preference. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">2. It takes time to redesign a traditional face-to-face program into a blended format-the redesign may be very effective but the proper amount of time should be taken to fully design, develop, and implement this new course/platform. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In addition to the 2 key considerations above the trainer should utilize the following steps:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Fq28LWxXRpE/Tkgp6796QII/AAAAAAAAADE/ByCqBoAP3II/s1600/Screen+Shot+2011-08-14+at+3.57.56+PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" height="135" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Fq28LWxXRpE/Tkgp6796QII/AAAAAAAAADE/ByCqBoAP3II/s320/Screen+Shot+2011-08-14+at+3.57.56+PM.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0Bz7OAax5XOhvMTNhZWFjOTgtOGMwYS00N2JiLTg5MzctMDdmNmUxZWY5YmM5&hl=en_US">Click here</a> to read the entire document</span>Audreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07882059506145649979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307754712042535027.post-1285069554266661362011-07-31T20:12:00.000-04:002011-07-31T20:12:49.683-04:00Distance Education Post: The Impact of Open Course<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style> <![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">This week our application project is to select a course from a free Open Course site and answer the following 3 questions:</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none;"></div><ol><li>Does the course appear to be carefully pre-planned and designed for a distance-learning environment? How so?</li>
<li>Does the course follow the recommendations for online instruction as listed in your course textbook?</li>
<li>Did the course designer implement course activities that maximize active learning for the students?</li>
</ol><div> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style> <![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">As our Professor pointed out- <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Courier;">do not confuse the terms </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: 新細明體; mso-fareast-font-family: 新細明體;">“</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Courier;">Open Course (Open Courseware)</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: 新細明體; mso-fareast-font-family: 新細明體;">”</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Courier;"> and “Open Source (Open Source- ware)”, they are not one and the same. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Granted Wikipedia is not a scholarly resource, its definition works well here:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Courier;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><i>Open Courseware </i></span></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><i>(<b>OCW)</b></i> is a term applied to course materials in a virtual learning environment created by universities and shared freely with the world via the Internet (Wikipedia, n.d.). <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><i>Open-source software</i></span></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><i> (<b>OSS</b>)</i> is computer software that is available in source code form: the source code and certain other rights normally reserved for copyright holders are provided under a software license that permits users to study, change, improve and at times also to distribute the software (Wikipedia, n.d.).<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style> <![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">So I visited the Open Yale courses and selected an interesting psychology open course titled </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 18.0pt;">PSYC 123:<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> The Psychology, Biology and Politics of Food <a href="http://oyc.yale.edu/psychology/the-psychology-biology-and-politics-of-food">http://oyc.yale.edu/psychology/the-psychology-biology-and-politics-of-food</a>. </span></span>The content of this course is very interesting, and the information is presented in an interactive fun manner!</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style> <![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><b>Question 1: Does the course appear to be carefully pre-planned and designed for a distance-learning environment?</b><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Yes, this course appears to be carefully pre-planned; however I do not feel it was initially designed as a distance-learning course. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Upon entering the course you are brought to the About the Course and About the Professor, where it details the course structure as follows: “</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">This Yale College course, taught on campus twice per week for 75 minutes, was recorded for Open Yale Courses in Fall 2008”(Brownell, n.d.), this is the primary reason I feel this course was not originally designed to be a distance-learning course. Though the course content appears well designed, it was not created solely as a online learning course. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style> <![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><b>Question 2: </b></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><b>Does the course follow the recommendations for online instruction as listed in your course textbook?</b><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">No, this course does not appear to follow the recommendations for online instruction as listed in our course textbook.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Again, this could partly be due to the fact that the course was not originally designed for an online platform. Our course outlines the following categories for the unit-module topic model for delivered distance instruction:</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"></div><ul><li>Organizational Guidelines</li>
<li>Assessment Guidelines</li>
<li>Content Guidelines</li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;">I</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;">nstruction/Teaching Guidelines</span></span></li>
</ul><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style> <![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><u>Organizational Guidelines</u><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">When course are planned the designer might want to use the Unit, Module, and Topic approach or model (UMT approach) as follows:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A7m20qX7nYs/TjXtUT8wSPI/AAAAAAAAAC4/4gt4Wihjx28/s1600/Screen+Shot+2011-07-31+at+6.51.03+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="85" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A7m20qX7nYs/TjXtUT8wSPI/AAAAAAAAAC4/4gt4Wihjx28/s320/Screen+Shot+2011-07-31+at+6.51.03+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style> <![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Assuming this course is a typical 3 credit course it should contain 3 units, 12 modules, 48 topics, and 48 learning outcomes (Simonson, et al., 2009) however the course appears to simply be comprised of 23 class sessions with no mention of units or modules.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style> <![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><u>Assessment Guidelines</u><o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“Assessment is directly related to learning outcomes. Normally there is at least one learning outcome for each topic...[with] 1 major assignment per unit and 1 minor assignment per two to three modules” (Simonson, et al., 2009).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Though the course does not appear to have specific units and modules the course does contain several assessment components as described by the syllabus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The syllabus outlines the following components for grading:</span><!--EndFragment--> <o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2yvhUANH-uQ/TjXtupzhciI/AAAAAAAAAC8/W-vLHD0bJgk/s1600/Screen+Shot+2011-07-31+at+6.58.44+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2yvhUANH-uQ/TjXtupzhciI/AAAAAAAAAC8/W-vLHD0bJgk/s1600/Screen+Shot+2011-07-31+at+6.58.44+PM.png" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style> <![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><u>Content Guidelines</u><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">The course does a great job in outlining the required readings for each class session and providing streaming video of the professor and/or guest speaker giving lectures. All of the class sessions are available for download as well as two supplements. Students are required to purchase other text, as it is not provided. The Open course does not contain a method to conduct synchronous chats with content experts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All of the course content appears to be delivered in the same manner, the professor/speaker being recorded while lecturing to the class.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style> <![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><u>Instruction/Teaching Guidelines</u><o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-size: 12pt;">“The pace of instruction for learners is a critical concern to the distance educator” (Simonson, et al., 2009)</span><!--EndFragment--> <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_ccnT4VkHVc/TjXuv4N2MTI/AAAAAAAAADA/1l4Wij_SshY/s1600/Slide1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_ccnT4VkHVc/TjXuv4N2MTI/AAAAAAAAADA/1l4Wij_SshY/s320/Slide1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style> <![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">The course was not created as an online distance-learning program so many of these guidelines were not followed.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><b>Question 3: </b></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><b>Did the course designer implement course activities that maximize active learning for the students?</b><o:p></o:p></span></div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">There appear to be many exercises incorporated into each lecture that causes in class interaction, dialogue, and active learning. It is hard to know if a course designer was involved with this process though.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This Open Course was not designed with the purpose of being an online course so much of the text and activities are unavailable.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ </o:p></span></div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><u>References</u></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Brownell, K. (n.d.). </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">The Psychology, Biology and Politics of Food</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">. Yale.edu. Retrieved July 31, 2011, from <a href="http://oyc.yale.edu/psychology/the-psychology-biology-and-politics-of-food">http://oyc.yale.edu/psychology/the-psychology-biology-and-politics-of-food</a></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">OpenCourseWare. (n.d.). <i>Wikipedia</i>. Retrieved July 31, 2011, from </span><span style="color: #002556; mso-bidi-font-family: Courier;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OpenCourseWare">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OpenCourseWare</a></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Open-source software. (n.d.). <i>Wikipedia</i>. Retrieved July 31, 2011, from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open-source_software">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open-source_software</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Recommended Guidelines for structuring your online course. (2011, February 8). <i>Valencia Learning Technology. </i>Retrieved July 31, 2011, from http://vcclearningtech.wordpress.com/2011/02/08/recommended-guidelines-for-structuring-your-online-course/</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Simonson, M., Smaldino, S., Albright, M., Zvacek, S. Teaching and Learning at a<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #002556;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Distance: Foundations of Distance Education. (2009). Boston: Allyn & Bacon/Pearson</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br />
</span></div><!--EndFragment--><br />
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<!--EndFragment--></span></div><br />
<br />
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<!--EndFragment--></div><br />
<!--EndFragment-->Audreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07882059506145649979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307754712042535027.post-67675799871030272722011-07-17T16:02:00.001-04:002011-07-31T19:31:15.006-04:00Distance Education Blog—Selecting Distance Learning Technologies<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: white; font-size: 11pt;">This week our blog assignment was to choose one example on which to focus and, in a blog post, identify one to two distance-learning technologies you think provide the best solution for the given challenge. Support your decision with information and rationale from the Learning Resources. In addition, provide examples of the use of these technologies by searching the Internet for two external resources that showcase how these technologies have been successfully used in distance learning.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: white; font-size: 11pt;">I selected example 2, the <b>Interactive Tours-</b> A high school history teacher, located on the west coast of the United States, wants to showcase to her students new exhibits being held at two prominent New York City museums. The teacher wants her students to take a "tour" of the museums and be able to interact with the museum curators, as well as see the artwork on display. Afterward, the teacher would like to choose two pieces of artwork from each exhibit and have the students participate in a group critique of the individual work of art. As a novice of distance learning and distance learning technologies, the teacher turned to the school district’s instructional designer for assistance. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><u><span style="color: white; font-size: 11pt;">Question:<o:p></o:p></span></u></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: white; font-size: 11pt;">In the role of the instructional designer, what distance learning technologies would you suggest the teacher use to provide the best learning experience for her students? <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><u><span style="color: white; font-size: 11pt;">Answer:<o:p></o:p></span></u></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: white; font-size: 11pt;">Prior to answering the question lets detail below the objectives the teacher would like to complete:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"></div><ol><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;">Students to tour museum</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-size: 15px;">Students to see displayed artwork</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-size: 15px;">Students to interact with curator</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-size: 15px;">Students to participate in a group critique on two pieces of artwork</span></li>
</ol><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><u><span style="color: white; font-size: 11pt;">Objectives 1, 2 and 3:<o:p></o:p></span></u></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">As an instructional designer I would suggest the two-way audio/video communication of videoconferencing. “</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Videoconferencing programs provide meaningful, interactive learning experiences, connecting the visual arts with all areas of classroom curricula. Videoconferencing lessons are a great way to bring the Museum's collections and special exhibitions into your classroom—as a stand-alone lesson…(Philamuseum.org). In today’s day and age many museums have lessons anywhere from 40-60 minutes for grades K-12 for very little cost (compared to the cost of visiting the facility in person). In contacting the museum the teacher can inquire about pre-recorded lessons that may be helpful in preparing the student for the content presented during the videoconferencing. In addition the teacher can inquire to having a curator available for possible questions later. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: white; font-size: 11pt;">A great example of a museum that uses videoconferencing to facilitate distance learning is the <a href="http://www.philamuseum.org/education/32-128-195.html">Philadelphia Museum of Art</a>, one of my personal favorite museums! The museum offers several lessons that are linked to Pennsylvania standards as well as teacher programs. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><u><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Objective 4:</span></u><u><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">For this objective the teacher will need to advise if they are looking for a synchronous or asynchronous platform for the course discussion. In the case of a synchronous platform it would need to contain a “chat” function that can support a high amount of user traffic and interaction. I would advise the teacher to speak with the school administration in the use of Blackboard or Desire2Learn as a CMS, more than likely the school will already have an account set up which the teacher could use. In using a CMS the teacher can have an organized location of the materials and other course related item for this particular project that students could use and access as needed (i.e. promoting self directed learning). If an asynchronous platform is acceptable for the course discussion then the teacher could still use almost any available CMS as most of them have forum and blog capabilities. For example <a href="http://www.ectolearning.com/FlatPage.aspx?p=iinozqvdbi">EctoLearn</a></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> claims to be “the world’s first complete Web 2.0 solution for the wired classroom [as well as] the first true online networked personal learning environment” (Ectolearning.com) providing the power to network with classrooms across the hall, across town, or across the world and allowing users to create, collaborate, and learn, plus EctoLearn is a free Web 2.0 tool! With EctoLearn </span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">you have the ability to create blog posts in which students can respond, a Q&A section, Assignment section that includes completion dates, a discussion forum, as well as a content section in which you can add materials students should review</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">. </span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: white; font-size: 11pt;"><u>References:</u><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: white; font-size: 11pt;">Ecto. Retrieved July 17, 2011, from <a href="http://www.ectolearning.com/FlatPage.aspx?p=iinozqvdbi">http://www.ectolearning.com/FlatPage.aspx?p=iinozqvdbi</a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: white; font-size: 11pt;">Philadelphia Museum of Art - Education : Schools : Distance Learning. (n.d.). <i>Philadelphia Museum of Art</i>. Retrieved July 17, 2011, from <a href="http://www.philamuseum.org/education/32-128-195.html">http://www.philamuseum.org/education/32-128-195.html</a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Simonson, M. Smaldino, S., Albright, M., Zvacek, S. Teaching and learning at a distance: Foundations of distance education. (2009). Boston: Allyn & Bacon/Pearson.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>Audreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07882059506145649979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307754712042535027.post-30478573948309253362010-10-23T18:32:00.002-04:002010-10-24T20:17:54.038-04:00Week 7: Fitting the Pieces Together<div style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It is the end of Week 7 of my Educational Theory class, we are nearing the end of the class. This class has proven to be interesting as well as difficult in there are quite a few different theories on how we, human beings, learn and process information. </span></div><div style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This week's learning resources contained suggestions on how to integrate technology into learning based instruction-an important concept for an Instructional Designer to understand. With this week's resources in mind, as well as our analysis of the major learning theories, we were to revisit and reflect upon our initial Week 1 response of "how you learn best"... In that reflection we were to consider the three following questions:</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><ol><li>Now that you have a deeper understanding of the different learning theories and learning styles, how has your view on how you learn changed?</li>
<li>What have you learned about the various learning theories and learning styles over the past weeks that can further explain your own personal learning preferences?</li>
<li>What role does technology play in your learning (i.e., as a way to search for information, to record information, to create, etc.)</li>
</ol></span><br />
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Question #1:</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In my Week 1 Class Discussion I stated "In my assessment, I feel that I learn most productively through conventional and traditional teaching methods. I am an auditory and visual learner, with auditory learning being my preferred method. I am 80% auditory, 15% visual, and 5% kinesthetic. Typically I am able to listen to the relayed information, write the information down, and then simply remember it. On rare occasions is it necessary for me to “do” the action in order to understand the theory of how something works".</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I still feel that I learn most productively via conventional and traditional learning methods. I have discovered that I am fairly adaptive and am adjusting non traditional learning such as by utilizing web based applications and forums to increase my knowledge base. I have also discovered that being an auditory, visual, and kinesthetic learner is a "learning style and intelligence strength". When I initially entered this class I had little experience and knowledge in this field of study and had to research or read the blogs of my colleagues to understand what my Professor was "asking". Granted I still lack experience, I have gained knowledge in which I can build upon in the future academically as well as professionally. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I also will admit that learning is much more complicated than I realized as it is an individual process for everyone. Everyone learns differently, and what works for me, may not work for another person. This is something that I will need to learn to address as I begin to design learning applications as an Instructional Designer. The information that I have learned will greatly assist me in that...</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Upon further examination I realize that I utilize several of the learning theories that we have studied. I utilize adult learning theories, connectivism, constructivism, social learning, cognitivist theories, and finally behaviorist theories. Initially I felt that cognitivism was the way that I learned. We all adapt as needed on the information, context, and stimulus...</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Question #2:</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In my initial assessment during Week 1, I stated that the cognitive theory appeared to best apply for my preferred learning method. I realize now that one learning theory is not necessarily better than the other, but it may be better suited depending on the material, stimuli, and student. For example the behaviorist learning theory may be useful when students need to learn information that depends on rapid recall-such as basic math or learning historical dates. To instill analytical and problem solving skills the cognitive or constructivism theory may be better suited or applied. For a full time professional seeking to further their career by returning to school Connectivism and Adult Learning techniques are better suited. The key of course is knowing when to apply what theory and to what degree.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I am still confused from a neuroscience stand point exactly how my brain stores information. I have discovered however that social learning plays a strong role on how I form my opinions and therefore "learn"...</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Question #3:</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Technology plays a huge role in education in the 21st Century. With the discovery and development of the Internet and the World Wide Web we are able to learn and communicate from sources outside of our geographical radius-the world is more connected than ever! Research and learning can be done from anywhere there is a Internet connection. Students are no longer limited to the hours of their local library or their professor's office hours. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I enjoy using technology to increase my knowledge and understanding. I utilize RSS Feeds, various Search Engines, Personal Web (websites such as Diigo and LinkedIn, for example), and Blogs to increase my understanding of subject academically, personally, and professionally. Online Social Networking, for example, is an excellent way to communicate with people with like interests. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I was not aware that I was already involved and practicing the learning theory of Connectivism until this course. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">My only fear with this influx of data is how to validate the information that I am receiving. Without a SME or a professor as a guide it is easy to get on the wrong track and not develop an accurate understanding....</span></div>Audreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07882059506145649979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307754712042535027.post-4680481357430904692010-10-10T23:29:00.000-04:002010-10-10T23:29:30.665-04:00How My Connections Facilitate My LearningHello again,<br />
<div>As I mentioned earlier this week, I have returned to complete my assignment for this week. Part I was to post my mind map. Based on the mind maps of my classmates, not so sure I achieved the goal of this particular assignment. I guess I will see when my grade is posted...</div><div><br />
</div><div>Part II is to discuss the questions that I posted to you all earlier this week...many of these questions were addressed in/on my mind map that I posted this week.</div><div><br />
</div><div>1. How has your network changed the way you learn?</div><div>I have discussed this a few times within my discussion group(s), until this class I never considered a formal network as a way to learn. I have utilized social networks such as www.myspace.com, www.facebook.com, and www.twitter.com as a way to stay in touch with friends and network with others with similar interests to my own. With my educational theory class, I have realized that these sites, as well as the internet are full of information that I can use to advance my academic, and professional interests as well. </div><div><br />
</div><div>2. Which digital tools best facilitate learning for you?</div><div>I utilize many of the available applications on web 2.0 to facilitate my learning. A particular digital tool that I enjoy is the RSS Feed. Until this class, I was clueless to the little "orange icon with sound waves"and what it was used for. Our Professor included a link to a online video that explained RSS Feed, their function, and how they are used. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0klgLsSxGsU">RSS Feeds in Plain English</a> is a great website for beginners to get an idea on how RSS Feeds work. RSS Feeds are a great way to organize your favorite websites, blogs, professional as well as personal.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I also enjoy following various blogs of fellow instructional designers and others within the field of eLearning. Again our Professor included a link to an online video that explained Blogs, their function, and how they are used. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NN2I1pWXjXI">Blogs in Plain English</a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">is a wonderful resource for new bloggers to learn the function of blogs and how they can be used to connect with others.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">These are just two examples of digital tools that I use. In addition to these I utilize the internet's search engines, as well as my Macbook Pro by Apple!</span></div><div><br />
</div><div>3. How do you gain new knowledge when you have questions?</div><div>When I have questions I first seek the expertise of someone that I feel will have the information. In some cases this can be a personal acquaintance and in other situations it may be a professional associate. If I still seek additional information then I also will refer to the various websites, and blogs that I have available in my networks. Sometimes with having so much information available it is difficult to discern the proper answer as the wealth of information typically leads to more questions...</div><div><br />
</div><div>4. In what ways does your personal learning network support or refute the central tenets of connectivism?</div><div>My personal learning network supports the central tenets of connectivism. I think connectivism is an important concept especially in the 21st century. In this "digital era" it is easier than ever to connect with people all over the world from various professions and walks of life. <br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></div>Audreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07882059506145649979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307754712042535027.post-23061550948321093742010-10-06T00:43:00.000-04:002010-10-06T00:43:37.666-04:00Week 5: Connectivism-Mapping Your Learning Connections<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_nY3G0LY7Dps/TKv8IcVUy_I/AAAAAAAAACg/W_x8seMX0dM/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-10-06+at+12.32.46+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="169" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_nY3G0LY7Dps/TKv8IcVUy_I/AAAAAAAAACg/W_x8seMX0dM/s200/Screen+shot+2010-10-06+at+12.32.46+AM.png" width="200" /></a></div><div><br />
</div><div><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Hello everyone,</div><div><br />
</div><div>This week we started our study on the Connectivism Learning Theory as well as educating the "adult learner". </div><div><br />
</div><div>Part 1 of this week's assignment is to create a "mind map" that illustrates our network connections. This, network connections, being a centralized idea or theme of Connectivism. People learn via the various networks they construct, and these networks then directly influence their learning. I had no idea, up until this week, that the social networking that I love and enjoy is actually part of a learning theory! There is such a wealth of information available...</div><div><br />
</div><div>My current online course is definitely based on this theme, and has proved to be interesting, as well as challenging, as I am accustomed to traditional learning theories. I haven't been in a "classroom" environment in several years...so I am still a little "old school". </div><div><br />
</div><div>Now there are several applications and programs available for "mind mapping" AKA concept mapping. As this was my first attempt-I chose a program that is SUPER easy to use, a web-based, freeware application called <a href="http://mywebspiration.com/about">Webspiration</a>. Unfortunately, with this application I was unable to convert the map to a .jpeg file, but I have published the document instead. <a href="http://mywebspiration.com/publish.php?i=579091a324e0">My Connectivism</a> document can be accessed by selecting the link contained in this sentence.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Mind mapping is a great visual aid and tool and is something I will definitely use from this point on academically, personally, and professionally. </div><div><br />
</div><div>I will update my post later this week with reflections on how my connections facilitate my personal learning and knowledge base.</div><div><br />
</div><div>A few questions for you to ponder until then:</div><div><ul><li>How has your network changed the way you learn?</li>
<li>Which digital tools best facilitate learning for you?</li>
<li>How do you gain new knowledge when you have questions?</li>
<li>In what ways does your personal learning network support or refute the central tenets of connectivism?</li>
</ul></div><div>Feel free to post your comments and thoughts!</div><div> </div><div><br />
</div><div><div class="MsoHeader" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div></div><div><br />
</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div>Audreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07882059506145649979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307754712042535027.post-45223410842047735132010-09-19T22:53:00.000-04:002010-09-19T22:53:24.886-04:00Post # 2: Evaluating and Identifying Online Resources<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Part of this week’s assignment was to</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> locate two resources (web sites and/or online journals) on this week’s topics: the brain and learning, information processing theory, and problem-solving methods during the learning process. Write a blog entry that cites the websites and/or online journals, and comment on the value of these resources.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">I decided to utilize the school’s library for one article, and the World Wide Web for the second. In the school’s library there were several databases and journals to choose from, and the results of my search query displayed thousands of articles for this week’s topic. I finally decided on an article from the <u>European Journal of Education</u> called </span><i><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Brain Research, Learning and Emotions: Implications for Education Research, Policy and Practice</span></i><span style="font-size: 11pt;">. From the Internet, I decided on an article featured on <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966;">www.helium.com</span> titled </span><i><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966;">Information Processing Theory and its Effect on Children and Learning</span></span></i><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966;">.</span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">The article from the <u>European Journal of Education</u> discusses the field of educational neuroscience and explores the </span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">implications for education research, policy and practice. The specific core concepts that are discussed in the article are:</span></div><div><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;">Human development is shaped by a synergy of biology and experience</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;">Emotion is fundamental to learning</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;">There are developmental sensitivities for certain aspects of language learning</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;">The literate brain can be created through multiple developmental pathways</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;">Mathematics is created in the brain with biology and instruction </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;">(Hinton, Miyamoto, Della-Chiesa, 2008)</span></li>
</ul><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;">Based on the discussion of the article’s core concepts the author’s propose specific education policies should be implemented:</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><u>Focus on the learning environment</u><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Rather than focus on treating the individual policy should shift its attention to restructuring the environment. The “nature” of the individual is often already in place; however the “nurture” (environment) can also greatly affect the shaping of the brain’s structure and overall function. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><u>Make use of formative assessment</u><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Formative Assessment is a tool that can be used to assess the learning of an individual vs. the performance. Emphasis is placed on the comprehension and understanding of information and concepts. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><u>Take into account the importance of emotions</u><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Neuroscience has confirmed that emotions are fundamental to learning. Because emotion is fundamental to learning, it is valuable to support research that considers emotional dimensions of learning, such as research on math anxiety.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><u>Consider sensitive periods for language learning</u><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Foreign language should be studied at an earlier age. Neuroscience confirms The earlier foreign language instruction begins, the more efficiently and effectively the brain is able to learn its accent and grammar. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><u>Inform reading instruction with neuroscience findings</u><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Teacher training programs would ideally include information about literacy in the brain. It is particularly crucial that teachers are trained to recognize indicators of dyslexia because early dyslexia interventions are generally more successful than later interventions. Researchers can pinpoint neural causes of reading disorders.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><u>Inform mathematics instruction with neuroscience findings</u><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Since humans are born with a biological inclination to understand the world numerically, formal mathematics instruction might build on existing informal numerical understandings. Because number and space are tightly linked in the brain, instructional methods that link these are powerful teaching tools. It would be useful to provide teachers with programs to include information about mathematics and the brain. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;">(Hinton et al., 2008)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">I found this information especially interesting and useful when I compared it with the Internet article from </span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966;">www.Helium.com</span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> titled </span><i><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966;">Information Processing Theory and its Effect on Children and Learning</span></span></i><i><span style="font-size: 11pt;">. </span></i><span style="font-size: 11pt;">This particular article discusses the information process theory and how it specifically affects children and their learning. The discussion begins with the sensory register and the transfer of the information from WM (Working Memory) and LTM (Long Term Memory). As we learned previously this week, components such as </span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">attention, rehearsal, organization, and elaboration, all affect what, if and how, that information is actually transferred to the memory banks. </span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">As a person develops and grows in age, the way in which they process information also changes. “</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">As a child grows the way they process information and how the process work develops and changes as the child grows. In infancy babies show signs of learning as soon as they are born; they also show a "preference for moderately complex stimuli" at this age” (Ganley, 2002-2010)</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">. </span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Lastly the article takes into consideration the influence that one’s environment can have on learning ability and information processing. “</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Children are born into environments and the information they are first confronted with comes from direct stimulation from the environments they are in. The environment inevitably has an affect on what a child perceives and what information is remembered and thought about. Environments vary and the factors instilled in children in relation to knowledge vary as well” (Ganley, 2002-2010).</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">The two articles have similar theories and beliefs regarding information processing theory, and brain development and learning in children. The article as presented in the <u>European Journal of Education</u> takes the evidence of neuroscience a step further by presenting specific solutions educators can implement within their school systems to better facilitate the natural brain development and information processing of children. It is important to have an understanding of information processing theory and brain development and learning for all ages of students. An educator/instructor will be better prepared to create lesson plans to specifically meet the needs of their students as well as be able to recognize if a student is not developing at the rate in which they should.</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Both of these articles are a great resource for educators, instructors, teachers, in assisting them meet the educational needs of their students.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px;">References</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Hinton, C., Miyamoto, K., & Della-Chiesa, B. (2008). Brain Research, Learning and Emotions: Implications for Education Research, Policy and Practice. European Journal of Education, 43(1), 87-103. doi:10.1111/j.1465-3435.2007.00336.x.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Ganley, Sarah. (2002-2010). Information Processing Theory and its Effect on Children and Learning. Helium. Retrieved September 18, 2010, from </span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.helium.com/items/1678590-the-information-processing-theory-and-its-effect-on-children-and-learning?page=4"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966;">http://www.helium.com/items/1678590-the-information-processing-theory-and-its-effect-on-children-and-learning?page=4</span></a></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div></div></div>Audreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07882059506145649979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307754712042535027.post-63350639198240875622010-09-11T17:40:00.000-04:002010-09-11T17:40:50.137-04:00Post #1: The Doorway to Professional Learning CommunitiesToday is assignment #1 in my Learning Theories and Instruction class for my M.S. in Instructional Design and Technology Program.<br />
<br />
Part 1 of the assignment is to create a blog-easy enough to create, much more of a challenge to remember to actually update it on a regular basis.<br />
Part 2 is to search and explore various blogs and sites relevant to the field of instructional design and/or training. This is where things have become quite interesting! There is and endless amount of information available on the world wide web relating to instructional design, eLearning, and training. I have found countless blogs and sites that provide information for those that are beginning in the field-to those that are experienced and looking to further their knowledge-base.<br />
Part 3 is to write about what you find...so here goes<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The first site that I began with was </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://en.wordpress.com/tag/instructional-design/">Blogs about: Instructional Design</a>, which was provided by my professor. This site is a compilation of <a href="http://wordpress.com/">Wordpress</a> blogs that are about Instructional Design. The site comprises several blogs from various people, on subjects such as instructional design, eLearning, training, and self directed learning. A blog I enjoyed, bookmarked, and added to my RSS Feeder was <a href="http://stephaniededhar.wordpress.com/2010/08/16/good-e-learning-engaging-relevant-and-effective/">Good To Great In pursuit of excellence: my view on the world of learning and training</a>. This blog is fairly new and only has a few entries so far; but the entries that are there involve a discussion on "what is good eLearning". The author of the blog has a great voice and has a passion for the subject matter. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Since this blog didn't have many postings I decided to look at the blogs that the author followed and found more blogs and sites to read about.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The second site that I bookmarked and added to my RSS Feeder is <a href="http://www.articulate.com/rapid-elearning/">The Rapid eLearning Blog</a>. What first caught my attention with this blog was the look of the site as well as the layout of the information. Once I began to actually read the content, I realized this was a great resource as I advance in my Instructional Design program. This particular blog contains a lot of information on creating, designing, and building, eLearning courses. The site contains several discussions and tips on creating eLearning courses, as well as tips to become a better designer. Finally the blog also has a few FREEBIES including a free PowerPoint eLearning template. The host of the site, <a href="http://www.articulate.com/rapid-elearning/about-tom/">Tom Kuhlmann</a> has over 15 years of experience in the training industry. This is a great resource not only for a professional student; but also for anyone that wants to become an "eLearning Pro".</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The next site that I bookmarked and added to my RSS Feeder is <a href="http://tarunagoel.blogspot.com/">Designed for Learning!</a> This site is authored/hosted by an Independent Learning and Development Specialist named <a href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/13838323858110552415">Taruna Goel</a>. The article that caught my attention initially on this blog was the article "Top 10 Resources on Instructional Design: Basics and More". The author then provides a list of 10 resources, including hyperlinks to access each one. The list comprises of top 10 books for instructional design, essential reading lists, instructional design knowledge base, instructional design models, the top eLearning blogs of 2009, and that's only half of the information! As you click on each hyperlink it opens to the document/article which includes links to even more sources</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">These three sites/blogs were only the beginning for me. I have found quite a few sites that I have already added to My Blog list as well as my RSS Feeder. My hopes is that as I advance in my degree program I will be able to utilize these links even further in my professional development. </span>Audreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07882059506145649979noreply@blogger.com0