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