Communicating with Project Teams & Stakeholders

The Art of Effective Communication Through Email.

Effective communication is beneficial to planning an instructional design project.  How can project managers effectively communicate with team member?  Face-to-Face, online communication and voicemail are the common ways of communication.  As I listened to the multimedia program “The Art of Effective Communication” (Laureate-media.com), I can clearly perceive how effective one way of communication may be more acceptable than others.

As an asynchronous learner, I use multimedia sources and email for much of my communication.  As I was reading the email information, the message was well displayed and I comprehended the reasoning for the email.  The participant needed some reports in order to complete her deadline of producing work.  Was the email effective in relaying the message?  I would say yes because the email was direct and to the point. The only negative aspect to email is that people may not respond.  I truly believe “if you find you have to write a very long email to do justice to the subject, you may be better off having a face to face talk. Long emails tend to breed long replies” (People Communicating, 2009-2010).  Even when I communicate to my cohort, project team or coworkers, I will send direct and to the point emails.  Most of the time the emails turn into instant messaging because the conversations are so straightforward.  In this way, I can identify with this method.  With voice-mails, there is a similar comparison because voice-mail messages tend to be direct also.

The Art of Effective Communication through Voice Mail.

The voice mail recording in the program did have a lasting effect on how I recalled the message.  I was able to hear the tone and really get a feel of the importance of the needed document.  The way a person communicates can be a determining factor in a project.  Stakeholders and internal clients need to be a part of any type of instructional design project, making a good impression by voicemail to communicate issues is a rubric for success.  Voicemail communications appear to be highly useful especially in the techno world of web2.0 and the busy lifestyles of the working force individuals.  I must say after I head the same message in voicemail, I did get an urgency to contact the client right away or just respond back if not by voicemail then by email.  The visual modalities of message had the same effect on me.

Communicating Through Face-to-Face
Conversations.

I found this experiment to be very interesting.  As I listened to the presenter state how important, the data in the report was to her project,   I actually saw and heard the sincerity in her face, voice and presence as she sympathized with the workload of the receiver.  This was the same message displayed three different ways, but I really seem to get a different outlook on the message from the face-to-face presentation.  In any type of face-to-face business meeting whether it is in a conference room or an asynchronous environment where everyone is video conferencing, the project team must present themselves in a professional manner and/or in a manner that is conducive to their stakeholders.  “Through communication people exchange and share information with one another, and influence one another’s attitudes, behaviors, and understandings” (Kramer, Mantel, Meredith, Shafer, Sutton, & Portny, 2008, p. 357).  For this reason, alone I felt like the face-to-face communication has the greatest impact on stakeholders.

Any time clients, internal and external customers, and stakeholders are involved in a project there are going to be multiple forms of communication.  Is one communication more effective that others?  Probably not, but communication has to depend on the clientele, the environment and the stakeholders.  It is more likely that multiple types of communication will be prevalent in business.  Communicating by email allows project members to be direct with ongoing progress and issues.  Voicemails enables the client to listen to the presentations of any concerns or updates with project needs.  Most of all face-to-face allows a visual that sets a precedence over the atmosphere of the team.  All of these effective ways of communicating are beneficial to any project.  I utilize all forms of commutations when I am working on a project with a team.  I have learned from watching the multimedia program that face-to-face had a lasting impression because it actually gave the team members, stakeholders, internal and external clients the ability to watch a team member voice her concerns and request documents needed for a project or work assignment.  The appearance and tonality of her speech would make a positive impression on a team member as well as a stakeholder.  

References

Kramer, B. E., Mantel, S. J., Meredith, J. R., Shafer, S. M., Sutton, M. M., & Portny, S. E. (2008).Project management planning, scheduling, and controlling projects. (pp. 356-370). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Laureate-media.com. (Producer) (n.d.). The art of effective communication [Web]. Retrieved from http://mym.cdn.laureate-media.com/2dett4d/Walden/EDUC/6145/03/mm/aoc/index.html

People Communicating. (2009-2010). Effective email communication. Retrieved from http://www.people-communicating.com/effective-email-communication.html 

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.

I was very satisfied with the deliveries at the end of the project.  The team pulled together and resolved any gaps that were missing.  As a team, we accomplished the goal of implementing an instructional plan and developing an asynchronous learning environment full of multimedia designs and engaged task for the adult learners.  As a project leader, I think the most frustrating part of the project was making sure the team members’ roles were executed and deliveries were finished in a timely manner.  Some of the members waited to the day of deadlines to turn in work into the wiki for review.  Some work was never completely finished which caused other members to assume different roles.  “It’s so important to really identify all of the people who need to be involved” (Achong) in the project.  All roles were clearly defined and timelines were clearly stated.  The estimations of the finishing product were set based on the materials, work efforts and programming needs of the project.  Six weeks was enough time to build a training module and project plan.  If the team’s roles were a little different, I think a lot of the procrastination that was involved would have been minimized.  Some of the users’ roles should have been reversed.  Now that I think about it, some team members were better at designing the project and using software applications  whereas others may have been better in monitoring feedback from the users and analyzing the learning audience needs.

As a project leader, I could have analyzed my team better to make sure everyone was comfortable in his or her roles.  As the project progressed once I saw a signs of frustration with some of the team members, I should have reacted quickly to the needs of the team.  Even though members communicated on which part of the project they felt comfortable with, once the work was in production and timelines had to be met, some members felt overwhelmed and did not realize how much involved they became in the project.  Not all of the prior planning and implementing measures seemed relevant.  “Designing instructional programs requires good organization in order to be successful” (Murphy, 1994, p. 9).  Even though the overall project was a success and provided much information for learners, if I had to do it all over again I would make sure the team is well equipped in their roles and responsibilities.

References

Achong, T. (n.d.). Practitioner voices: Overcoming 'scope creep [Web]. Retrieved from https://class.waldenu.edu/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_tab_group_id=_2_1&url=/webapps/blackboard/execute/launcher?type=Course&id=_1373694_1&url=

Murphy, C. (1994). Utilizing project management techniques in the design of instructional materials. Performance & Instruction, 33(3), 9-11. Retrieved fromhttps://class.waldenu.edu/bbcswebdav/institution/USW1/201320_02/MS_INDT/EDUC_6145/Week 2/Resources/Week 2 Resources/embedded/Murphy_W2_6145.pdf

Distance Learning {Leading the Future}

As I reflect on distance learning in today’s society, I foresee more adult learners returning to school to further their education.  Is distance learning becoming an innovative standard measure to learning?  Yes, I think it is.  Conventional ways of learning will always be accepted because of the longevity of universities and traditional schools.  Have organizations attitudes become more acceptable to online education?  Based on an asynchronous questionnaire I did by a diverse group of learners, I would say yes they have.  Pedagogies of education have changed over the years and require more active participation from learners.  Online learning not only gives learners the ability to use top notch technology for their everyday learning, but it also give learners a chance to model, reflect and debate their work using multimedia designs, wikis, blogs, software packages and the internet.

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.

  

References

Gambescia, S. F., & Paolucci, R. (2009). Academic fidelity and integrity as attributes of university online degree program offerings. Online Journal of Distance Learning Administration, 12(1), Retrieved from http://www.westga.edu/~distance/ojdla/spring121/gambescia121.html

Lutz III, J. A. (2012). Distance learning and the future of higher education. Richmond Times-Dispatch, Retrieved from http://www2.timesdispatch.com/news/oped/2012/aug/12/tdopin02-lutz-distance-learning-and-the-future-of--ar-2123475/

Siemens, G. (Performer) (n.d.). The future of distance education [Web]. Retrieved from https://class.waldenu.edu/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_tab_group_id=_2_1&url=/webapps/blackboard/execute/launcher?type=Course&id=_1341074_1&url=

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