Course Reflections
Prior to starting the program, my career had taken me into training by ‘accident’ I might say because of the nature of the project I was managing but it didn’t take long for me to realize that this is what I was meant to do. I liked the challenge of helping people reach their goals through the use of different methods and technology available and so as I embarked into the Instructional Design journey this is how it unfolded and what I learned along the way.
One of the first courses I took was EDIT 704 Instr Tech Fndtns/Theory. This course really laid a good foundation for me, in it we examined all the different learning theories and the different ways by which people learn. It was very interesting for me to examine the best way I myself learn and by extension how others do as well. I certainly discovered some new things about myself and ultimately my clients. We looked at learning and development, how people’s learning styles differ with age, and we looked at people’s preferences. As we examined the different learning methods, I was able to see that I had used more than one of these methods during my life span, this realization changed my approach about teaching and certainly made me see how to apply what I learned to the ID practice as well as how to improve one’s knowledge and skills. The last assignment for this course was a synthesis of everything we learned.
Next I took EDIT 572 Dig Aud/Vd Dsgn/Apps:Camatasia which I enjoyed tremendously. One of the major reasons I enjoy this field is because of the blend between technology and learning. I enjoyed learning a new way to create learning material for my potential clients. In order to create my final project, I used an example from my working world to create a training video for factory employees. This course gave me a useful tool to use as a means to communicate my training in a visual form and to develop learning assessments.
After that I moved on to EDIT 590 – Educational Research in Technology. This was one of the more difficult courses for me because as much as I enjoy writing, I used to struggle with research and so I thought I would find the course very difficult but it turned out to be one of the most rewarding courses because it took an issue that I found challenging and showed me ways to make it easier and attainable. I no longer struggle with research, I have learned the appropriate ways to find the information I need and where to find it, how to apply theory & research, and data collection & analysis.
I went on to take EDIT 705 Instructional Design. Up to this point I had worked alone but in this class we started to implement the principles of design and I was introduced to group/team work. I had to learn to share the reigns with others and learn how to work productively with others in order to produce good results especially that I had been in a managerial position before so even during work that needed team efforts, I was still working with people that under-ranked me. This in itself was a great learning experience for me because in the field of training where typically people work collaboratively, I needed to know the struggles and challenges they go through while still achieving the desired results. Balancing all that online made it even more difficult but at the end we did a wonderful project. At the end I came out of the course with the ability to identify and respond to design needs as well as plan and develop intervention for the target audience.
EDIT 771 Overview of Digital Media was a short but sweat course. It was interesting to look at the different technology tools available to use for instruction using the systematic design process. Working on the project for this course was fun, I happened to be working with a group that had interesting ideas and we went through the project very cohesively producing this final presentation. The interesting element about this course was that it had us find an existing problem for senior citizens, conduct research and interviews, and offer a solution using modern technology. I found the end result very interesting and I actually think that the solution we came up with is something that might very well be useful for senior citizens, it is satisfying to produce useful projects.
As I went further into my educational journey the courses started to become even more intriguing because we started to implement what we had learned so far, to real world problems. The implementation process is quite captivating because it made me realize the capabilities of what I have been learning and what can be accomplished with this knowledge and skill. In EDIT 730 Advanced Instructional Design I treasured creating a learning environment. This allowed me to create assessments, recommend solutions select and modify learning material. I used my former job where I had previously created a training program to re-create a more enhanced learning environment which allowed me to truly see how much I have learned and how to put it to use.
The same was true for EDIT 732 Analy/Des Tech Bsed Lrn Enviro in terms of experience; however, here we had the choice between a few clients that presented their problems to the class and we needed to choose among them a project which we found interesting. My team and I worked with the Marines to find a mobile solution for their learning modules. The process gave me a reality check on how issues come up in real life that affect outcomes sometimes steering designers off their tracks. I was also able to see first hand how different people involved in a project could have different perspectives of the same thing and of course as designers we need to find a solution that appeals to everyone. Working on this project allowed me apply business skills as well as Instructional designer skills. We also had the chance to experience collaboration and to learn how to manage partnerships.
This elearning course, EDIT 575 e-learning Design Application, couldn't have been taken at a more perfect time. This course gave me some fine tuning skills especially when it comes to PowerPoint presentations; so although I have been using PPT for much of my career, the presenter tool was new to me and it will definitely make putting together presentations much more efficient.
This technology course EDSE 517 Computer Application Special Population was one of the most informative and interesting classes I have taken. It has given me new insights into the lives of people with different disabilities and has empowered me with the tools to make instruction easier and more attainable for them.