Session 10

Session 10 Wrapping Up

1. Identify five key concepts or themes related to eLearning Design and Development and explain what you know about each.

Maybe the clever acronym or that it simplifies the educational design process, but for me the ADDIE model stood out as containing five key concepts that are imperative to eLearning Design and Development.  ADDIE is an acronym for analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation. In the ADDIE model, each of these steps produces a result that leads into the next step.

Analysis - This is where it is determine what subject matter is going to be addressed, who the audience will be, what are the qualifications of the instructor, and in what form the instruction will be presented. Here it is also established the necessary timeline needed to complete the project.

Design – This is where the project’s instructional, visual and technical design is discussed and planned. Strategies addressing the domains of learning (cognitive, affective, and psychomotor) are determined. If the presentation requires, storyboards are creating and media for student and instructor interface is determined. The results of this step is a sample or prototype of the project with examples of the graphic design required.

Development – This phase is where IT professionals produce and gather the resources created in the design phase. Programmer create or assimilate the required technologies to produce the outcomes required in the prototype. The development state, while still easily accessible by the programmer, the project is tested, reviewed, revised, and reviewed.  A beta test, where end users may be given access to the product to use and return feedback. Only until all items of concern art address can the project move on to the next step.  

Implementation – This is the stage when we take action and introduce the project to our users. Facilitators and learners are introduced through formalized training. Curriculum, learning outcomes, method of delivery, and testing procedures are included in the instructor’s training. Once registered for class, learner are training includes hardware and software. The project manager confirms that texts, software, and apparatus are available and can be accessed by all required. Insurance that the Web site or learning application is functional.

Evaluation – the ADDIE model requires the developer to evaluate the project within each stage. We were able to correct and revise the project as needed. Once the project is implemented user feedback becomes a continuing evaluation of the project.  

2. Speculate on the future of eLearning and what your role in that future might be.

One would think that eLearning will grow in direct proportion as the technologies available grows.   However, compared to other industries this has not been the case so far. If we compare the use of technology in the other industries, such as entertainment, higher education adaptation to the use of technology is underdeveloped.  The advancement of eLearning has been arrested by the resistance of the educational institutions to find what technologies could to for them.  

In the past educators focused on the technology and not enough on examining the shortages, restrictions, and frustrations with the prevailing instructive practices common in higher education. Colleges and universities asked what technology can do for us, rather than what are the educational needs of our students (Garrison, 2011, p. 124).   

As eLearning has gained in popularity, more institutions are jumping on the craze to add online classes to their catalog. For the most part these courses are the same course taught in the classroom with the utilization of email and websites for communication. More and more educational professionals, such as William Horton, are advocating designing eLearning course and projects from the ground up. This requires more digitally fluent educational administrators. Designers must insist on fundamental instructional design and acceptance of technologies such as social media, mobile, and games as valid eLearning forms. It also requires redefining leaning as adding to people’s capabilities rather than ramming information into their heads (Horton, 2012, p. 585).  

With this type evolution eLearning may replace the four-wall classroom altogether. Just as the automobile replaced the horse and buggy, there may be a time in the future where the on ground college campus will be a thing of the past.

I see my role as an educational administrator to assist colleges in moving from the flash and wide-eyed enthusiasm of eLearning technology to the more meaningful and satisfying education experience. I also see myself evolving as eLearning evolves.

3. Revise the eLearning development template/instructional design process you developed earlier for yourself. Be sure to:

a) List all of the roles of people who will be involved in the typical development.

In the development of an instructional project committee is usually form. It may be formed for one project or may be working on several projects at the same time. The typical committee would need the following members.

• School administer – Supplies learning institutions goals and learning outcome. Supplies the requirements for student documentation, tracking, reporting. Supplies information for ADA requirements. Sets final deadline and budgeted cost requirements.
• Subject matter expert - Supplies educational content based on learning outcomes
• Instructor (could also be subject matter expert) – Supplies skills and knowledge needed for instructor and students. Supplies lesson plan requirements and student evaluation for each learning objective. Performs testing of project once developed.
• Information technology expert – Supplies, availability, and costs of various media and digital environment. Directs development of instructional project in chosen media.
• Media programmer – Develops instructional project within chosen media.  

b) Identify your role.

My role as the industrial designer is to communicate with each member either individually or as a group. In insure that the timeline of the project is being met. I insure that the administration, documentation, tracking, reporting and delivery of the course operates properly within the learning management system (LMS). I insure that all text, supplies, and resource materials are available.

c) Explain the type of courses or other eLearning development the template is for (higher education course, corporate training etc.)

My initial goal was to complete a template that would manage the steps in designing an online business course. I found that this template could be used for various types of courses for higher education, corporate training and vocational education.

d) Provide a clear label for all included elements.

Labels are included in the template below.

e) Provide a clear description of each included element.

Description of elements are included in the template below

f) Provide a narrative explaining how the template would be used.
This template is used by an instructional project committee to develop a timeline to meet various elements of the eLearning project. Depending on this timeline a schedule of periodic meeting are established, either online or face to face, to discuss various deadline dates and progress. The template is updated and distributed to the committee members.   
 

eLearning Instructional Design Template 

 

References

Garrison, D. R. (2011). E-learning in the 21st century: a framework for research and practice - 2nd ed. New York: Routledge.

Horton, W. (2012). E-leaning by design, 2nd ed. San Francisco: Pfeiffer.