Collaborative Training Environment

Challenge

Example 1: Collaborative Training Environment



            A new automated staff information system was recently purchased by a major corporation and needs to be implemented in six regional offices. Unfortunately, the staff is located throughout all the different offices and cannot meet at the same time or in the same location. As an instructional designer for the corporation, you have been charged with implementing a training workshop for these offices. As part of the training, you were advised how imperative it is that the staff members share information, in the form of screen captures and documents, and participate in ongoing collaboration.



Instructional Needs

After reviewing the challenge, I have identified the following needs:

1.)    The instructional designer needs to simultaneous connect the six regional offices.

2.)    The instructional designer needs to implement the training workshop to each office.

3.)    Employees need to be able to share information, in the form of screen captures and documents.

4.)    Employees need to be able to participate in ongoing collaboration.

Technology Tools

Course Management Systems

            A Course Management System (CMS) would be very beneficial to this company because of its abilities to connect learners from various parts of the world. Course Management Systems are used to assist instructors with their course delivery. Instructors can manage assessments, resources, discussion boards, assignments, and activities through a CMS. This company would benefit from an open-source course management system which is a free educational software that is maintained by users who implement, modify, and ultimately support their system to meet local, specific needs (Simonson, Smaldino, Albright, & Zvacek, 2012). The offices could use group project spaces to share information in the form of screen captures and documents, which can be easily uploaded. Employees can also use the discussion board or personal blogs to maintain ongoing collaboration. Content presentation for trainings can be in the form of audio, video, graphics, and Power Point presentations. “Certainly, a CMS is an essential tool of the distance educator. More generally, the CMS may be one of the most important technological tools now available to education and training (Simonson, Smaldino, Albright & Zvacek, 2012).”

         Adobe Connect is a web conferencing platform that can be used for web meetings, eLearning, and webinars. It can be used on multiple devices, from the traditional computer to a tablet, and possibly your phone. Adobe Connect enables you to screen share and collaborate in a far more effective way. Each meeting can be recorded and can be easily access at a later date in a content library for widespread access. According to Simonson, Smaldino, Albright & Zvacek (2012), channels of communication that connect the teacher and the distant learner, should be appropriate for the learner and the instruction. The six regional offices would have no problem having synchronous communication using Adobe Connect. This would make the meetings much easier for the trainer and for the learners. If learners are unable to attend meetings there will always be a recorded version for the absent learner to refer to. Adobe Connect can be used for the sharing of documents, screen shots, and collaboration as well which were vital needs of the trainer.

Case Studies

         TheXerox Company that is known as the document technology leader started using Adobe Connect and had much success. Whereas the years prior, they spent lots of money on out-of-office training for travel experiences. Since switching to Adobe Connect they have achieved 100% ROI (Return On Investments) in just one quarter. According to Halle (2012) they were also able to enable customer support staff to interact with customers remotely, which accelerated problem resolution.

         TheUniversity of Wisconsin System, which consists of 11 different universities, have all attempted to use CMSs. The universities were able to choose between CMSs and amongst the ones chosen were LearningSpace, WebCT, Web Course in a Box, Blackboard, and Prometheus (Morgan, 2003). According to Morgan (2003), the faculty of the various Wisconsin Universities mentioned that they used a CMS to enable online discussion or increase communication with students, provide students with additional course materials, and addressed more complex pedagogical issues such as different learning styles among students. The benefits of CMSs that the universities recognized would benefit this company in the same ways.

References
Halle, J. (2012). Xerox case study highlight. Retrieved from http://www.getconnect.com/resources/conferencing- solutions/xerox-case-study-highlight/

Morgan, G. (2003). Faculty use of course management systems. Educause Center for Applied       Research, 2, Retrieved from http://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/ers0302/rs/ers0302w.pdf

Simonson, M., Smaldino, S., Albright, M., & Zvacek, S. (2012). Teaching and learning at a          distance: Foundations of distance education. (5th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.

The Future of Distance Learning Mind Map

Before starting this course, I only thought about distance learning as online learning. Cell phones and Internet have been around since I was a child and are the only new advances of technology that I can think of. The usual mail, telephone, television have just been something that was always there. This is the reason why I have only thought of online learning as the only form of distance learning.

I feel the definition of distance learning is always changing because of the needs of learners that continue to change. As I look back on my life as a student and as a teacher, I have realized how much has changed in education. As a student, I do not recall the gap between students so large and the content in my courses weren’t as demanding. As a teacher, I have noticed the gap between students on the same grade level grow larger and larger. I have also noticed that with Common CORE Standards, the students are supposed to know much more content at a younger age.

If you look back in time the communication to bridge the distance gap has changed from generation to generation. According to Dr. Simonson, in 1833, the best way to bridge the gap was by mail correspondence. In 1906, the Calvert School of Baltimore was the first primary school to offer correspondence courses by mail. During 1922, distance learning was offered via radio broadcast. Pennsylvania State College and the State of Iowa were the first to use radio to broadcast courses. Based upon this information it seems that the best form of communication in that era is what has trended the new way of delivering instruction.

My new definition of distance learning is formal education in which the students are separated by distance, and achieve their academics through a form of technology/communication.

I think that distance learning can change by a person’s profession however, I think that for the majority the newest technology affects he entire world for the most part. However, professionals whose lives are changed constantly by growing technology are most affected by it. For instance, a graphic designer would have to be in the know constantly about new technology, whereas, a teacher would only know about the new technology that affects their job.

My vision for the future of distance learning is that it becomes a form of education that everyone can use and not feel intimidated by. Well-designed programs could also bridge intellectual, cultural, and social differences between students (Simonson, Smaldino, Albright & Zvacek, 2009). My hope is that as it evolves the variations of deliverance changes also. I have noticed in my own experience with online learning that there is a lot of reading and writing required. My thought is, not everyone is a good reader, or a good writer for that matter and could possibly be struggling with that aspect of online learning, no matter what their major is. I would like to see online learning become more diversified in allowing students to express what they have learned in their students. Rice (2006) suggested that the effectiveness of distance education has more to do with who is teaching, who is learning, and how that learning is accomplished and less to do with the medium.

References

Huett, J., Moller, L., Foshay, W., & Coleman, C. (2008). The evolution of distance education: Implications for instructional design on the potential of the web (Part 3:K12). Tech Trends, 52(5), 63-67

Simonson, M., Smaldino, S., Albright, M., & Zvacek, S. (2009).      Teaching and learning at a distance: Foundations of distance education. (4th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson.

Video Program: “Distance Education: The Next Generation”

Introduction

Hello!

My name is Ebony Gaubault, and I am currently a second grade teacher in Smyrna, GA. I am currently enrolled at Walden University as an Instructional Design and Technology graduate student. I am really excited about becoming an instructional designer and the many job opportunities that I will be enabled to fulfill.  I have a 4 year old daughter who continues to surprise me with her technological abilities. I have a passion for teaching, and I love when students have their "aha" moment. Teaching has always been a passion of mine and will continue to be, so I don't think you can ever have too many skills on your tool belt. I hope you enjoy my blog as we learn new and insightful information together!

                                                                                                   - Ebony Gaubault

Reflection

One of the most surprising things that I realized this semester was that all this time I thought that believed in the behaviorist theory above all. After completing the learning theory matrix I realized that my own learning experience matched that of connectivism and constructivism.  I had also realized that the first time I learned these theories, I really didn’t learn them. Now I know, constructivism views learning as a process in which the learner actively constructs or builds new ideas or concepts based upon current and past knowledge or experience, and connectivism views learning as a process of connecting specialized nodes or information sources. Finding out this information has changed my entire outlook on the way I teach as well. I have now found multiple ways to reach my students, ways that I have not used before.

I now have the keys ways that I need to enhance the way I learn, and when I find information hard to ingest that I will tweak it into a different format that I know I can understand. Learning will become much easier now that I know my personal combination of learning patterns. I am always trying to connect what I am learning to my everyday life and now I know why. I believe that my retention level will increase as a result of realizing this. There have been many times that I learn information temporarily so that I am able to pass a test, and then right after the test I completely forget the information. It is like I always had the keys to success, but never realized it.

I have learned that learning theories give different views on how learners construct meaning during the learning process. Learning style is the type of method that a student uses to learn. Educational technology gives students a variety of ways to learn, and are not secluded to one style of teaching. Motivation is highly important in a classroom or online setting, and is the key to the success of a student. If the right amount of motivation is given, the learning environment will completely change in a positive way.

The most important things that I will take with me from this course were the learning strategies that we discussed. Learning strategies have nothing to do with each individuals learning style, so they can use they to digest any information. Knowing that you can teach someone an effective way to learn will improve their skill of learning and my ability to deliver information adequately. Along with teaching students proper learning strategies, the combination of motivation will improve the confidence beyond belief. If most students had the right tools to be successful, the world as a whole would be a better place.

New Thoughts on Learning Theories

I have completely changed my view on learning theories and have realized that you can learn adequately through multiple. However, I believe that the social learning theory, connectivism, and constructivist theory suit me best now. I learn best when I connect new knowledge to old knowledge and through discussions. I learned in depth what each theory has to offer, that I did not know previously. Completing the learning theory matrix has really helped me differentiate the learning theories and styles.  I have also learned different ways to integrate technology into my classroom. I have also realized that I do not believe in the behaviorist theory like I had before.

Earlier on in this semester I stated, “Dr. Ormrod also stated that when you get information in two different ways it becomes much more memorable. I have always learned best when I am given a visual and verbal message to go along with what I am learning, and that is probably the reason why I retain the majority of what I learn. When I am learning something in class, I have to take down notes as well as write a diagram or picture to go along with their words.” This confirms my new learning theory choices of connectivism and constructivism. Constructivism views learning as a process in which the learner actively constructs or builds new ideas or concepts based upon current and past knowledge or experience. Connectivism views learning as a process of connecting specialized nodes or information sources.

I am always trying to connect what I am learning to my everyday life. This helps me maintain a connection to the new material and my retention level becomes higher. Technology is most important in my learning process because I use it to research information, write my assignments, blog, and to discuss various educational ideas. I also use technology as a reference for any research that I may have to do which makes collaboration must easier to do.

Researching the multiple learning theories has made me realize my own and has assisted me in understanding why others think certain ways or learn in other ways. It has also given me a guide as to how to instruct learners of other learning styles.

References

Connectivism. (2011, August 2). Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Connectivism

Connectivism

Connectivism Concept Map

My learning environment was hard to construct because I never think about the different ways that I learn new things. I suppose I looked first toward my education and the courses that I have taken throughout my educational career, not realizing the many other ways I have learned. I have learned various information through media sources such as You Tube, my television, the internet, other classmate's blogs, and one of my favorite blogs sites E-Learning Heros. The internet has been a vital source in my learning especially when having to research new information or terms that I am not familiar with. Although we cannot believe everything that we read on the internet, there are still many reliable sources out there.

Another way I have learned would be through human interactions. I have learned through relationships, and conversations with relatives, colleagues, colleagues, professors, past mentors, acquaintances, academic coaches, and through journeys that I have taken in my life. The most effective of all of them would have to be the conversations with professors and colleagues because they have similar views to mine. However, I truly value those opinions from relatives and acquaintances who may have separates views from mine.

Lastly, my personal experiences have sculpted the way that I learn and what I have learned. I have learned through many educational workshops, college courses that I have taken, and through my being a mentor teacher. Being a mentor teacher has taught me how to view situations in another light versus the one way that I am used to thinking. I have become more sympathetic to struggles or concepts that are not easily understood by others.

Making a concept map to represent my learning environment was a good way to visualize the many influences that structure the way that I think and learn.

Selective Attention in Vision

Selective Attention in Vision

One thing that can really affect the way a person learns would be their attention span.

Attention is the main topic of this study. It is not difficult to introduce this topic, because everyone knows what attention is. It is the taking possession by the mind, in clear and vivid form, of one out of what seem several simultaneously possible objects or trains of thought Focalization, concentration, of consciousness are of its essence. It implies withdrawal from some things in order to deal effectively with others,… (James, 1890/1950, pp. 403– 4)

Some of us can sit down and watch a movie or multiple movies while others are ready to get up and move around after an hour. I think that in order to truly judge how well someone is processing information, you must first have their full attention to make sure that they understand what we will be talking about.

In this study that I read about the information that was study was that that was observably being input and then also they focused on the outputs that had to be observable. This article infers my belief is true in which we have to be able to see what someone is learning and monitoring what is being put into their minds in order to figure the true processing of information. In addition to that we all still have an uphill battle with mere attention spans in order to ingest new information and regurgitate it.

References:

Van der Heijden, A. (1991). Selective attention in vision.