Week #8 Reflection IDT in Business and Industry

This week when I read about Instructional Design in Business and Industry I was astonished that 40% of training expenditure went to external consultants. I can understand that having an outsider approach to problem solving and training but this is a one time fix, Wouldn’t it be better to have more focused internal approach that know the organizations culture and methods. IDT could be more specific to that company if it is designed and implemented by someone or a group within the organization. It must surely if an outside designer is being use, take time and resources away from the organization so as to provide the information to the external designer.  It would be more cost effective if an internal designer could develop programs based on prior knowledge. It would be quicker and more coast effective. Within the classroom we are always pushing the accessing of prior knowledge, as students are often their own experts. Outside consultants do not have as much a vested interest in the organizations success as their own capital gain.

On the subject of instructional design in industry and business I can see that internal instruction that can train employees and solve the majority of situations is important and cost effective. However, there is a place for external IDT that can be focused on a problem or specific skill that needs to be enhanced. The different perspective on a problem may be very cost effective in correcting the problem with the right well designed instructional technology.

Finally the new concepts of cross-cultural training is wonderful but the only thing that designers would have to be sure that they know their audience. Cultural programs need to cater to local cultures. I worry that if the cultural designed programs are too broad they would lose their effectiveness. I agree that the idea of problem solving with instruction that is “better, cheaper, and faster” and if it can be applied throughout organizations it’s a win win situation. However, it has to be grounded on research and often the culture of the organization. It is no good developing new things if there is not a vision to improve from the top down. So often I have seen box sets of software, or programs that have never been applied because teachers, principals and admin did not buy into the changes.

Applying any of these concepts in a school can be relevant.  Targeted designed instruction can be used to close achievement gaps and assess specific skills taught. The idea of cross cultural training and problem solving is a important subject in schools. The culture of the schools hierarchy, and the student social racial and economic status can be involved with well design training for staff and instructional materials and systems to bring about discussion about diversity and cultural diffusion.

Week #8 Mapping

Sample of lesson on Mapping.
The idea of customizing maps is wonderful especially from a Social Studies point of view. I can produce maps that plot the early explorers and their routes and years as they came from Europe. One of my pet projects when my class and I discuss mapping and longitude and latitude is to do a lesson and a lab outside on Geocaching. We discuss relative location such as West Michigan and exact location such as our school or classroom. I then have students in groups go on a GPS walk after giving them exact GPS locations. Now with this map I can have them play with GPS at home to find geocaches in the neighborhood. They can even find the geocaches without a GPS if they zoom in on satelite view and print the picture. They probably would be within 50 feet accuracy. The use of maps are endless. In fact Ken Jennings the Jeopardy champion wrote in his autobiography that he learnt everything by studying maps. I can see that I will be using this new skill a great deal in the future. I also love the street view that google presents I could have kids go to places all over and feel like they are standing in front of landmarks.

We will be using latitude and longitude to find exact locations. Use the map to try and find Geocaches. Hand held GPS works best. However, cell phones with GPS also work. For more information about this fun activity visit www.geocaching.com If you click on the pin you can open up information about its location by clicking on get directions. Also the cache name and who placed it are details about the geocache.
Geocaches Near the School

View Griffin School Geocaches in a larger map


How to Geocache:

Week 7 Reflection on HPI and Podcasts

Week 7 Reflection on HPI and Podcasts

Chapter 14 Reflection

I think any time we can use Human Performance Improvement concepts and systems it is good. To increase success in schools by having all stakeholders sign up for the vision is a win win situation.  To ascertain where the gaps in student performance are, and then design appropriate intervention strategies to fill the gaps and maintain the goals is essential in the 21^st century School.

The use of HPI in the school system could be applied to all levels of educational facets. Not just the students but also the administration, principals and teachers. As training is more performance improvement focused at the top levels it will move down the line to the student level. The human alignment with a district wide vision would be a great way to foster growth in a district. AYP and “effective” teacher designations that the state requires to be placed on teachers should be linked to valued accomplishments and factors that lessen the gap in learning outcomes. Instead of money thrown into the classroom maybe more should be thrown into Professional as HPI practices increase the human capital yields, which then gives a higher return in teaching skills.

When thinking about student HPI within the technology field we need to design assessments that diagnose the achievement gaps so we can then focus on lessening those gaps. We then should have cost effective programs and lessons that focus on smaller gaps in the curriculum rather than the big picture. Foe example if a class of 4^th grade students all take a math assessment and it shows two or three may be understanding most concepts but do not get three digit division. Then the teacher could intervene with targeted math programs to close the gap. Prior to that the teacher may have had a professional development day about reading data and design of programs for intervention. The RTI and Delta math programs are examples I can think of at present. The vision for the school is to increase math scores and the teacher in a HPI based system will be able to identify and give priority intervention to those students. This would be student focused and less money and time would need to be wasted on whole class instruction as most of the students have got the concepts

Podcasts.

The first of the two podcasts I have found this week that is educational is Time To Move. This is a fun podcast that gets kids up and moving while teaching about various curriculum interests. Brain Gym is the latest thing in classroom education and this fits in well. It is definitely for the elementary level. I played it for my kids in fourth grade and they had a blast. I think it would be great to use small segments after making a transition just to get the brain flowing.

The other podcast is relevant to our class is Teach With Tech.There are several episodes that discuss Teach with Tech" from the Indiana University School of Education Instructional Consulting Office designed to provide higher education faculty, K-12 teachers, useful information about integrating technology into their teaching If you get a chance listen to the Smelly Monkeys episode #9 it’s hilarious. This is about a family who do their own podcast  and how they have found their roles and what fun they have doing the show. It is very informative and explains how to get going with podcasts,and I can see my students really getting into this activity.

Read more: http://www.ipodder.org/p/Teach-with-Tech#ixzz2LZg4O6wY

  http://www.ipodder.org/p/Teach-with-Tech

I have loved podcasts for a long time. I listen to many NPR podcasts such as “This American Life” and “Car Talk” I can see that podcasts can be used in the educational setting readings of literature could be recorded on a podcast so students can follow along improving fluency. Students can get information from podcasts and the podcast lends it self to students that are not strong readers having access to information. We have actually had entire reading series put onto podcast so the students can read them online at school and home. Within the school system a pod cast could be used as a weekly newsletter that parents could access through the school website or a teachers blog. Weekly podcasts could be used to reinforce instruction, especially short podcasts that the kids could access while in computer lab on a regular basis and get information on subjects they are learning in class.

Week 6 Reflection Psychological Foundations of Instructional Design

If I were teaching how to calculate and compare the unit costs of various sizes or brand of the same product I would use different techniques and technology for each theory of learning.

As a persistent change in performance is what is required for learning to be accomplished, and that learning comes from learners experiencing interaction with the world I would design my lessons accordingly.

Cognitive Information Theory is multi stage it is sensory, short term and long-term memory based and requires designs to be direct attention, visually stimulating, and provide meaningful connections to prior knowledge and information learned. An example of this in relation to unit cost might be a series of cereal box information pictures that display the size and pricing of popular kids cereals. The students then would have to scan visually the boxes for product price and quantity and record the information on a chart. They could then use prior knowledge of graphs to produce a bar graph on an excel based program. They can then answer a short multiply choice quiz about the graphs and the different costs vs. quantity with correct responses that would come up with both picture and textual answers for them to make corrective feedback choices. This would provide the feedback portion of the cognitive processing theory. Finally they could recommend by a completing a poll which cereal is best and worse value for money.

Schema Theory and Cognitive Load reminds me of my computer, as I never have enough RAM. Kids need to use schema to interpret events and solve problems by categories and placing the information in an ordered pattern.  This is to be done without too much cognitive load on the short-term memory while making easier access to prior knowledge stored in the form of schema in the long-term memory. When applying this theory to the units cost I could read the information to the students and they could use graphic charts that the students could click and drag numbers (costs) or products into the appropriate boxes on a partially filled out formula chart. They could then punch a key at the end to do the calculations for them and finish up by dragging the results into category charts for each of the products. This would free up cognitive short-term memory reducing the load. This would also avoid the learners splitting their attention between two visual sources as one would an oral presentation. This allows them to could focus on data entry and the final categorization or schema.

Situated Learning Theory or work in progress situated learning involves the students learning from participation of community. As they learn they make connections to accrued knowledge that is meaningful in its actions. With this in mind I would develop lessons that involve simulations and role-playing where there is interaction between the individuals and the community. The creation of a blog that students can explain to others how to compare the unit costs of various products. Maybe even a web quest that involves other students taking a role and presenting their results on the blog or something as simple as a power point.  The students could focus on each part of the problem of how to unit cost products pooling their information to benefit the classroom learning community.

Week Six Embedding Media

This week we are embedding media into the blog. I struggled at first but now love how easy it is to make visuals in my blog. This is the second blog today as I mistakenly wiped out my first and it was so kool, Oh well! I must say the second time around it was much easier and will definitely be using this tools.



Five Mile Hill Grand Haven

We have had a lot of snow this week and have had five snow days so far this year. The kids at school love this but they also are getting cabin fever.

In Ed Tech we are going into the brain of learners and reflecting on Psychology of Learning for Instruction. So in that vane I thought it would be kind of fun to review Blooms Taxonomy.

SEINFELD AND BLOOM'S TAXONOMY

And finally, I am planning a trip for the family to Orange Beach in Gulf Shores, Alabama. I have posted a map so if your in the area and want to stop by and say Hi! or know of any great places to visit. or just hang out please let me know.

 Orange Beach, Gulf Shores, AL

View Larger Map

Just found an extra and  seeing as the Grammies where just on thought it was timely.

GRAMMY NIGHT

Overdrive News Feature
Get More: Music News

Week 5 reflection on reading

Richard's Flickr Pics

Application Question 1a

I feel the three factors that determine the success or failure of increased instructional practices employed by the teachers are: teacher’s resistance, poor instructional quality software and lack of quality training for the teachers and students.

It appears money was no object in this situation. Everyone teachers and children got a computer and free internet access at home and school. But I wonder how many teachers and students were comfortable with the technology. Did some of the teachers feel that the expectations of the administration were that they were to be online and available 24/7?  When did the school day really end? Maybe less technology minded teachers only used the computers while at school and didn’t take them home. As instruction is traditionally done in schools teachers may not by in to developing home based lessons. Then it raises the question as to what the students were going to do with the computer at home. What were their expectations? In 1984 Papert claimed that one computer per child would be a common state of affairs and would radically change the education system. However, by the mid 90’s teachers reported little or no use of computers for instructional purposes. If the initial buy in is there but is not sustained the computers will become game consoles for kids and yolks around the necks of teachers.

Instruction software back in the nineties was also far from innovative. If the software and lesson textbooks study guides were written and designed for that time were the ones that were loaded on this schools computers then it was destined to fail.  If teachers were going to teach the same way and use the same materials then there is no innovation. They are just transporting text to computer screen. New software that changes how teachers teach and students learn were what was needed. The software was not interactive and did not present information and instruction in a meaningful, diverse form.
Finally, the experiment failed as despite all the money thrown into this project buying hardware and loading computers up with everything they would ever need it appears none was spent on training, The older forms of instructional hardware such as TV’s videos and radio were relatively easy to use; just turn them on and tune into the channel. The laptops provided opened up huge possibilities in instructional delivery but if the teachers do not know how to use them or are not aware of the latest and greatest software then the hardware becomes useless. If they don’t train the teachers how to sue and make the learning process fun then the students will also not be engaged.

Application Question 1b

Before they even started this experiment they probably should have done a technology ability assessment. Ask if the technology was going to be used and how. This would have been a basis to provide training or justify hiring a technology specialist. Before school started for the year a technology plan should have been developed and training provided. Curriculum leaders should have met with technology instructors, instructional designers and planned updating the instructional delivery and lessons so they would be more interesting and relevant to students and teachers. They need to purchase new software to maximize the potential of their available technology and internet linking. Parents would also need to be educated in the technology so they buy in and are able to assist the students and check that students are using the technology correctly.

Week 5 Photo Assignment

Welcome to week 5 this is one of my favorites I love photography I hope to do a Ed photography  class next please follow the link to Richard's Flickr Pics and enjoy looking at my photos.

Week 4 reflection

When I first got into the Delicious site (great name by the way) I was really asking our question what is this replacing or improving on that I already had? At first it was not that clear but as I played with the site and looked at some of the recommended links and sites on a subject I started to like the concept. I don't think its an earth shattering process. However, I really like the transportability of  moving my bookmarks from one device to another without having to download them each time. This is especially true when using a computer that is not mine. I love that I can go to the one site or even my blog link and get all my bookmarks. Being able to peruse other peoples links I think is fun as sometimes it can tell you a lot about them especially when you find that you may have a lot in common. I noticed our instructor likes recipes from Israel. I lived there for three years and enjoy making foods from that region so I was able to scour his bookmarks for new recipes. Thank You. I can see that groups formed through the wiki could post to Delicious to share interesting information that members may find.
In the classroom I can see Delicious tied to a wiki or a blog for students doing a research paper I could have them use the bookmarks I want so I know they are using appropriate sources. I like that you can share your bookmarks easily with others and my students instead of spending unproductive hours looking for information I can get the facts right out to them. There is definitely a use for social bookmark sites although their use might not be as obvious at first. To be honest I had never heard of them before and have been frustrated for years as I couldn't take my favorites with me.

The reading reflection for this week was interesting I loved how the definitions of Instructional Technology have evolved as technology advances. How early instructional media was very much sit down and watch. There is little or no interaction as the technology at the time was not interactive. The media was used to replace the lecture and blackboard. When AECT moved into systemic approach in 1977 with their definition I liked how the words integrated process involving people, analyzing problems and all aspects of human learning were included. They were moving forward to the facilitating of  learning that would improve performance that were to the basis for the 2008 definition of educational technology. They were staring to use educational theory words in the their definition. We start to see that now educational technology is bringing in design and improvements to not just hardware but to programs and systems that can intervene and enhance human performance. The definitions surprised me some very long as they were that way to clarify the field of educational technology for people outside of the field. I agree that when people are asked what is educational technology they often answer computers, smart boards, videos etc. They forget the multitude of programs and sources such as wikis, blogs and bookmarks that can be great instructional tools to enhance student and educators performance.