Final+Reflection

=Final Reflection=

As a new Instructional Designer, I feel that this class has benefitted me greatly in many ways. I have acquired new knowledge with regard to the ADDIE Model of ID, and I have learned to enhance the steps I was taking already when creating elearning courses. As George Piskurich mentioned in his text, I was one of those professionals that needed to "jump right in" to satisfy a learning need at an organization. I am an inexperienced Instructional Designer with a plethora of rapid e-learning design software available to use. Not only is it accessible, it is so easy to use, which also makes it easy to skip the many important steps in ID when attempting to satisfy a learning need. I especially learned a lot about the analysis stage of ID. I've realized that even though I may not feel like I have a lot of time to analyze before developing a learning program, it is a crucial part of the process. If skipped, it will only take more time, money and energy to go back and redesign a more effective program.

At times, I did find some of the content in the class to be more geared toward K-12 educators. The book was extremely helpful since it gave several different options for designing a program based on an organizational setting, rather than a school environment.

A few of the items that were to be included in my ID Project seemed to end up finding their way into many of the different stages of the ADDIE Model. I also felt like some of the items I was to include did not pertain to my particular project. Because I have developed an asynchronous elearning course, some of the more traditional items (such as Lesson Plans) were not needed. In a way, asynchronous learning allows for that part of the design process to be left out, even though the same concepts of a lesson plan are present in the raw development materials of an online course.

I am a big advocate for asynchonous elearning. As discussed in class previously, and as I continue to develop these online courses, I am quickly realizing the best ways to utilize this type of program. I think for compliancy purposes and programs with the goal of simply disseminating information, asychronous elearning works best. Learners are aware they need to learn new knowledge and do not want to sit through a 1-3 day training course in order to do so. They also do not want to spend money for travel and lodging if it it can be accomplished virtually and at their own pace. For a learning need that is more skills-based or hands-on, I feel instructor-led or blended learning programs work most effectively. That way, there is more interation between student and instructor.