This blog will discuss how Instructional Designers utilize the ADDIE model for instruction. It will also emphasize how technology has an effect on learning. Distance Learning has influenced education as well as different organizations. Many components contribute to knowledge. This blog will explore them all.
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Addressing Issues and Risk to Avoid Scope Creep
Thursday, October 4, 2012
PM Software for Project Scheduling - Planning Made Easier!
Planning a major project can be a little tedious. Creating a task list consisting of timeframes, start/stop time, cost, duration, risk factors, milestones and resources require much planning hours. Project managers can rely on PM software to make the process less tedious. The web is full of different resources full of approaches to handling cost measures for project planning.
GanttProject is free online software that project managers and other learners can use to adequately develop a Project Schedule and Resource Allocation Plan. Once the software is learned and the actual events are loaded in the software then all of the components to the budget become accessible through charts, graphs, and spreadsheets with detailed information regarding project scheduling.
Another great software for project planning is ProjectPlan.com. I must say this is my favorite. This software has everything a learner needs to create resources, milestones, Gantt charts, risk factors, program expenses, work breakdown structure, added attachments, and many other components to creating an accurate budget and project plan for a major development. It is very user friendly and incorporates different aspect of the project plan so the PM can create different modules of information and combine all the material together to create an accurate project schedule. The best incentive to using this software is the dashboard capabilities. It allows you to monitor the status of your project by utilizing the graphs and resources you have allocated to do jobs. It is a great software to use to actually plan and monitor the progress of the development.
References
GanttProject Team. (2003-2012). Ganttproject free project scheduling and management. Retrieved from http://www.ganttproject.biz/
Portnell, M. (Producer) (2011). Introduction into ganttproject 2.5 [Web]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rHCSa5ad34&feature=youtu.be
Project Manager Online Ltd. (2010). Projectplan.com create and share your plans online. Retrieved from http://www.projectplan.com/
Projectplanvideos. (2011). Project planning [Web]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSLvC0CjnVk&feature=pyv&ad=11170653224&kw=%22project%20planning%22
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Communicating with Project Teams & Stakeholders
The Art of Effective Communication Through Email. |
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Communicating Through Face-to-Face Conversations. |
Thursday, September 13, 2012
E-Learning Training Module Project
Constructing a training module with a team of instructional designers could be a little challenging. I was part of a team that utilized the ADDIE module to implement an instructional plan and build an asynchronous training module. The team consisted of me the project manager, a designer, developer, and an evaluator who was responsible for the overall learner evaluation and feedback. The project was overwhelming at times but at the end all of the building blocks came together and the project was finalized and a success. What was so frustrating about the project? Everyone had his/her own task in the project, but work ethics became an issue.
References
Thursday, August 16, 2012
Distance Learning {Leading the Future}
Active participation in a classroom among learners is a form of learning. Using modern technology to demonstrate work keeps users competitive in the global workforce. In five to ten years, I see the industry continuously growing with online learners. Technology is always revolving and using technologies for resources in education will become more valuable to learners. Instructional Designers will be more prevalent in the years to come. I think there will not only be a demand for instructional designers in Academia but also in different businesses across the world. Traditional settings of education have to keep up with the demands of technology in education, but in my opinion, online learning has an advantage in new innovative measures to learning. What does this mean in theory? Distance Learning will become a leading force in education in ten to twenty years. Why do I say this? Technology is leading industries today in many facets of learning and maintaining daily businesses. The downside to technology evolving so fast is businesses not having the time invested to train more individuals in the field. “Regardless of these many obstacles and challenges, distance learning is, and will continue to be, an integral part of higher education. It provides much greater access to college credit and will substantially increase the number of degrees completed while minimizing the cost of those degrees” (Lutz III, 2012).
As more adult learners transcend to online learning with constant dialog and feedback of distance learning experiences most industries will have to emerge to the demand of learners. To prepare for a number of growing online learning institutions the industry must have qualified instructors to teach online learning. I was reading an article by Gambescia and Paolucci (2009) that listed one of the online attributes to providing a successful online learning experience is using highly qualified classroom faculty to also teach distance-learning classes. I am not sure if I agree with this theory. Some traditional teachers are not technology savvy and may not be able to confirm to the virtual world of learning. Even in academia, I was surprise to learn that some professors are still using traditional ways of teaching and/or not using modern technology for learning resources. Instructional designers bring experience and learning theories to the world of cyber learning. Skills are an essential part of the learning rubric to giving learners the necessary pedagogies to learning. As an instructional designer, I will help to foster the perception of hiring more instructional designers to educate students online. Having the skills to educate students globally not only aide to different strategies of learning but it also brings a skill of what is needed to course management systems to insure that learners are getting the necessary resources and software tutorials that they need in order to succeed as a distance learner. As an instructional designer, I feel very strongly about learners having the right e-learning experience. I will continue to speak highly of online learning to help change negative perceptions of distance learning.
The acceptance of distance learning includes the ability to communicate online, experience with new tools, and have the ability to communicate with a diverse and global group of learners (Siemens). Even though distance learning may have some challenges to novice technical learners and traditional learners, it is still going to be a thriving force in the future. What makes the distance learning experience achieve its highest point of learning? The instructors, learning management systems, multimedia designs and innovative technologies are all important measures to produce high levels of learning that an online community creates. As more adult learners return to education and as more business control financial restraints there will always be a need for online learning. I will continue to foster positive perceptions of distance learning in hopes of having the forum become the leading institution for learning.
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Saturday, July 28, 2012
The Influence of Open Culture-An Alternative Learning Forum
Art and visual thinking have always fascinated me. Therefore, I decided to view some classes on visual thinking using art forms as displays. I used Open Culture (Open Culture, 2006-2012) to find some courses on visual thinking. One of the free classes I found interesting was Practice of Art 8-Introduction to Visual Thinking (UC Berkeley, 2011). This open course uses art to analyze by just looking at different types of artwork. The instructor engages learners and shares their viewpoint on many different artifacts.
This course has 10 lectures, and I reviewed most of them. As we know art work does not contain much words but it allows learners to use visual senses to interpret art. The classes gave a lot of informative information regarding the subject. It also displayed many interesting graphics, which aided to the learning. The instructor clearly understood the learner characteristics and how to apply the information to the learners (Albright, Simonson, Smaldino & Zvacek, 2000-2012). I think the media selection was also beneficial for asynchronous learners. The instructor used YouTube to display the classes. I think this is an excellent platform for learners. It is global and virtually used by many people. “Too often, instructors do not place enough emphasis on designing and using quality visual material” (p. 159). For this course, I can tell the instructor planned a good medium for the class. The media is clear and provide alternative viewing methods. Learners can share the video and place the embed code in a web document or blog. The audio was mostly clear. I did hear some noise and static during the videos, but this was minor. Most of all I think this course designer did plan for distance learning by using Web 2.0, multimedia designs, audio, and video.
Internet based distance learning has to engage learners and provide a medium that is welcoming to adult learners. There are people who have not experienced the wonderful world of cyber learning. Open courses provide free online courses for learners to be acclimated with an innovative way of learning. How can learners know if a course was pre-planned for distance learning? How can learners know if they are benefiting from cyber learning by using new technologies and online materials? Online courses should promote active learning by appealing the audience. Audio, graphics, video, and lectures should promote learning by the audience. The instructional designer has to provide an avenue of learning that is conducive to the learning audience this includes, designing and developing a module that includes a course management system or a forum for viewing materials such as YouTube, or Wiki sites. Open Culture provides a forum to review free courses using modern technology. Learners can experience the virtual world of learning and all of the benefits it has to offer.
References
Thursday, July 12, 2012
Choosing Technologies for Asynchronous Training
An Asynchronous-learning environment has to be able to connect e-learners new information using multimedia designs and the web 2.0. For this training, the learning audience must be able to understand systematic procedures on how to operate the different types of machinery on the plant floor. The training must be available to all employees regardless of work availability. As an ending result, the employees should also be able to demonstrate work based on what they have learned from the training system, and view work from other employees. How can all of these measures be accomplished with distance learning?
Blogs can also be used for initial training, feedback and collaboration also. Instructional Designers can provide links in blogs to wikispaces to provide a venue for learners to demonstrate what they have learned and communicate with one another. Both media sharing tools can conjoin with each other to benefit learners.
Web 2.0 technologies are becoming an educational alternative to learners. Blogging, Wikis, Podcasting, Social Bookmarking, Social Networking, and Virtual Worlds are all incorporated into course management systems (Albright, Simonson, Smaldino & Zvacek, 200-2012, pp. 128-131). Depending on the training the ID is performing, can depend on what multimedia sources the trainer will utilize in the learning management system. Sometimes training can utilize the web 2.0 for instruction, collaboration, demonstrations, and feedback. The training class for a biodiesel manufacturing plant utilizes several training modules that can be incorporated into a wiki. This platform provides many facets of multimedia designs including links, videos, collaboration, and on-going feedback from the professor.
References
Saturday, June 30, 2012
A Mind Map of Distance Learning
Distance Learning (An Insight on My Views)
My Views on Distance Learning
Distance Learning is a term widely used in businesses and education. More students and adult learners are going to school online. Businesses are using distance learning for training purposes, meetings, collaboration and other business needs. I always viewed distance learning as a way to educate and train individuals using multiple forms of technology that transcends to different learning styles.
This definition coincides to my personal experience with online learning. Through cyber learning, I have access to new technologies and software packages used for learning. Not only is it important for learners to gain knowledge from new technologies, but the instructor also has to be technological savvy to teach online courses. Web 2.0, multimedia designs, video, audio, streaming video, chat rooms, and emails are very vital to e-learning. Using multiple forms of technology is well understood as a definite measure to online learning.
During this course I have learned that distance learning does not only involve multiple forms of technology, but it also incorporates certain quality in delivery styles, methodologies, learning models, assessments, and better instructional system designs (Foshay, Huett & Moller, 2008). This rubric to distance learning help to insure that learners are getting the best experience of online learning. It also insures the distance learning course or training is competitive with the global economy. I say this because technology is always evolving and if cyber learning is becoming widely used it needs to incorporate the newest innovative technology sources available. Now that I have taken this course and learned new measures to distance learning, I must say my definition has changed a little. Distance learning, in my opinion, is a method of learning which incorporates new innovative technology to reach learners globally while utilizing multiple system designs, web 2.0 and other technology resources to disseminate information. How can learners be assured that the technology used in distance learning is innovative?
With the knowledge of web 2.0, many cyber users are aware of some technology used in online learning or businesses. Professors and professionals in leadership positions are usually aware of technology resources. Some of them even get advanced training in technology to stay competitive in the workforce. "There is a strong need for instructional designers, specifically trained in distance education technologies and design, who are ready to tackle distance education challenges at all levels" (Coleman, Foshay, Huett, & Moller, 2008, p. 65). Having the right people lead instruction and cyber learning classes will insure that the proper online training atmosphere is heading in the right direction for the future.
Distance learning is here to stay. Because of many different lifestyles of the working population, more people are using e-learning tools to educate themselves. Is this new way of learning respected in different organizations? No, it is not. It is the instructional designers and trained professionals that are leading the way for newer technologies and cyber learning. By insuring that the proper trained instructors are leading this evolution of learning, I foresee minds changing regarding distance learning.
References
Coleman, C., Foshay, W. R., Huett, J., & Moller, L. (2008). The Evolution of Distance Education: Implications for Instructional Design on the Potential of the Web. Techtrends: Linking Research & Practice To Improve Learning, 52(5), 63-67. doi:10.1007/s11528-008-0199-9
Foshay, W. R., Huett, J., & Moller, L. (2008). The Evolution of Distance Education: Implications for Instructional Design on the Potential of the Web. Techtrends: Linking Research & Practice To Improve Learning, 52(3), 70-75. doi:10.1007/s11528-008-0158-5