REFLECTION

As I reflect on the Distance Learning course information that I’ve learned in the past eight weeks, I know that I have gained an immense amount of knowledge in a very short time. I wish the course was longer so I could have time to design a complete distance learning course. There were so many components that enhanced this positive experience which included the discussions, the applications and the course project. I have a better appreciation for distance learning instructors because there is a lot of preparation and work that goes into developing a successful project and learning experience.

What do you think the perceptions of distance learning will be in the future (5-10 years; 10-20 years)?

I think the overall perceptions about distance learning in the future will be positive because more people would have experienced at least one distance learning class in the next 5-10 years. Dr. Siemens said as people get more comfortable using distance learning there will be an increase for these types of classes. He also stated “The ability to communicate with diverse and global groups” is a positive aspect of distance learning. I think so as well but some classes that require certain hands on procedures will continue to be taught in classroom environments.

Most think distance learning will be the only way of learning in the future but I don’t think so. There will still be a need for classrooms and technology will be another tool used to convey the information. The blended classes are another avenue that could be used for learners to familiarize themselves with the different technologies that are available. Some technologies are currently being used in our personal life, for instance, providing communication between family members, friends and colleagues like using social media, Skype and Google hangout just to name a few. These technologies will also provide the comfort level that learners need before enrolling into distance learning classes in the future.

How can you as an instructional designer be a proponent for improving societal perceptions in distance learning?

I can continue to improve my professional development by expanding my knowledge to other businesses outside of the government. I can share and implement some of the technology skills that I’ve learned in course development with colleagues and others to give them an idea of the benefits of this type of learning. Maybe some will become interested in taking classes to determine if this is a learning environment they can become accustomed to.

I have been working in the government sector a long time which has provided a comfort level for me. I have also experienced working in a community college but not in a teaching capacity. Even then I noticed the difference in teaching methods with adult learners in the armed forces vise other educational institutions. The armed forces has a standardized way of presenting information and it takes years for changes to be implemented, but college environments seems to allow some leeway in using technology to convey course information and to keep the students engaged. I have to step out of my comfort zone and take on new challenges and show colleagues some positive aspects of distance learning.

How will you be a positive force for continuous improvement in the field of distance education?

I will continue to be creative and develop new ways to use technology in distance learning and blended course development. In the future there will be an increase use of multimedia, games and simulations (Laureate Education) which I would enjoy implementing in future courses. Assigned a mentor and shadowing more experienced distance learning instructors would be a fantastic way to become more efficient as an instructional designer. Follow the preparation process through to teaching a distance education class would be ideal. I will continue to acquire more experience using a Content Management Systems so I can design an effective and engaging distance learning course where both the learner and I can acquire knowledge and skills from.  I would enjoy being in a position where I can share all of my education and continuously reinvent my skills so I can be an excellent instructional designer. Associations for instructional designers/ teachers are a great platform to be affiliated with as well.

References

Laureate Education (Producer). (n.d.). The future of distance education [Dr. George Siemens]. Retrieved from https://class.waldenu.edu

http://blog.idonethis.com/self-reflection/

Classroom to Distance Learning Conversion

Classroom Learning to Distance Learning Conversion

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

Converting to a distance learning format from a classroom environment seems to be easy but it is a very hard task to accomplish. Some think you can just take the course information and put it online and the course will be as effective as it was in a classroom environment, but that is not the case. Keep in mind that courses previously taught in traditional classrooms may need to be retooled. The focus of the instruction shifts to visual presentations, engaged learners, and careful timing of presentations of information (Simonson, M., Smaldino, S., & Zvacek, S., 2015).  A lot of planning at the beginning of this conversion has to go into play before any changes are made. The method that will be used to make this conversion successful will be Planning + ADDIE.

Just like other kinds of teaching, teaching at a distance, requires planning and organizing. However teaching at a distance, whether synchronous or asynchronous, requires that greater emphasis be placed on the initial planning phase (p. 127).  Since this course will be changed to a blended environment, the course objectives will be broken down into sections to determine which information will be taught in the classroom and which information will be taught online. This will not be easy because the thought process is to illustrate visual presentation and encourage interaction. I have also developed a checklist that can be used to make this job a little easier.

References

http://www.instructionaldesign.org/models/addie.html

Simonson, M., Smaldino, S., & Zvacek, S. (2015). Teaching and learning at a distance: Foundations of distance education (6th ed.) Charlotte, NC: Information Age Publishing.

http://www.think-sc.com/capabilities/course-design-and-development

I reviewed the Introduction to Graphic Design course which was taught by the students of Canva Design School. Canva is a design service that takes the friction out of designing. All you have to do is choose one of 11 available templates or start from a custom-sized blank canvas. You then use the Layouts and Background tabs to get a rough idea of what you want to design. These tabs are chock-full of options to choose from, whether you want a complete template or just a nice background to build on. (Lancet, Y. & Zuckerman, E., 2014)

This open learning course was very easy to login in. Once logged in you gained access immediately and you were ready to create a design. On the home page there was an introduction to the course and the objective of the course was stated. The directions on navigating through the course information were also documented on the same page. They utilized an open forum with discussions and chats where all could see and review work, activities or projects that others had performed. The discussion worked as a chat room as well so communication was also easy to accomplish. The learners are able to share ideas, collaborate and get positive feedback from others on the activities that were completed.

On the video and activities tab the information was broken into workable modules. Learners could set up a profile and complete basic skills sessions which included tutorial videos on how to perform steps to successfully completing the requirements. At the end of learning the information the applications were named the beginner’s challenge. The beginner’s challenge was to perform the graphic design process that was previously learned.

What I did like about the video clips was there was an icon that you could activate to indicate whether the learner had viewed the video which informed the learner where they had left off. If you had viewed the video, a green checkmark would be seen on the video as soon as it was activated. The videos were sequenced as stated in the introduction and the videos and activities kept the learners engaged. The learners also enjoyed the feedback from others after sharing their projects.

The content of the course needs to reflect where this content relates to the rest of the curriculum. It is essential to examine the nature of the content, as well as the sequence of the information. Generally speaking, the scope of the content for a course needs to be sufficient to ensure the learning experience will lead to the desired outcomes (Dick et al., 2011). Supporting information or knowledge is important to the scope of the content analysis. Follow up and applications of the content should be considered (Simonson, M., Smaldino, S., & Zvacek, S., 2015)

In closing, I think the students did a great job in designing this course. The videos were very professional and the activities and projects were planned and well thought out. There was a need for this type of training and it showed in the number of learners who previously had taken the course. So yes, it was planned very well. Great job Canva Design Class!

References

https://www.openlearning.com/canva/courses/IntroToGraphicDesign

Dick, W., Carey, L., & Carey, J.O. (2011) The systematic design of instruction. (8^th ed.) New York, NY: Longman.

Lancet, Y. & Zuckerman, E. (2014) http://www.pcworld.com/article/2079100/canva-review-free-tool-brings-much-needed-simplicity-to-design-process.html