Reflection
Instructional strategies and assessments are the foundation of designing a meaningful learning experience. I selected the topic of improving the performance evaluation process because I feel it is one of the often discounted relationship tools between a leader and their subordinates. I have experienced evaluations that were merely a slip of paper handed to me by the department leader who said "You're doing a good job. Here's your raise." then finding out that my peers received the same raise as I did. My goal was to use education change the way leaders view performance evaluations.
As we embarked on the course, we reviewed our terminal and enabling objectives to ensure alignment. If the objectives were not in sync with the instructional goal, the entire education would be skewed and ineffective. We then delved into the alignment chart at a high level to identify ways we would be able to assess if the learning objectives and goals were met. Typically, I thought of assessments as a test, term paper or project. However, assessments can take many forms and levels of structure. Asking participants to show by number of fingers (1--5) their understanding of a term is a form of assessment! We tend to make things way too complex at times.
Once we determined our assessment plans for each objective, we developed activities, or the stops along the journey to the final instructional goal. These assignments caused me to bring structure to the education plan, where in the past I did the planning in my head without documenting or a structured process. I can now see the inherent value in using an alignment chart as a way to ensure the pieces of the puzzle all fit together neatly.
The material on universal design for learning (UDL) was extremely valuable. We've all experienced death by PowerPoint. UDL principles state that we need to make learning accessible and useful for a diverse group of learners so that our learners are not frustrated and are engaged in learning through the best means for THEM, not for the presenter/instructor. In my case, I would not have known about StoryboardThat and thought of using a cartoon slide show to explain a straightforward concept. UDL goes beyond ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) in that it takes into consideration not just accessibility, but learner preference.
From here, I am ready to learn more about technology in building a computer-based learning module, and in designing using the tools we have discussed in this course. My ultimate goal is to build a consulting service where I can use my 20+ years as an educator, my knowledge of instructional design, and my passion for learning. I think that would be the perfect "retirement" career!
As we embarked on the course, we reviewed our terminal and enabling objectives to ensure alignment. If the objectives were not in sync with the instructional goal, the entire education would be skewed and ineffective. We then delved into the alignment chart at a high level to identify ways we would be able to assess if the learning objectives and goals were met. Typically, I thought of assessments as a test, term paper or project. However, assessments can take many forms and levels of structure. Asking participants to show by number of fingers (1--5) their understanding of a term is a form of assessment! We tend to make things way too complex at times.
Once we determined our assessment plans for each objective, we developed activities, or the stops along the journey to the final instructional goal. These assignments caused me to bring structure to the education plan, where in the past I did the planning in my head without documenting or a structured process. I can now see the inherent value in using an alignment chart as a way to ensure the pieces of the puzzle all fit together neatly.
The material on universal design for learning (UDL) was extremely valuable. We've all experienced death by PowerPoint. UDL principles state that we need to make learning accessible and useful for a diverse group of learners so that our learners are not frustrated and are engaged in learning through the best means for THEM, not for the presenter/instructor. In my case, I would not have known about StoryboardThat and thought of using a cartoon slide show to explain a straightforward concept. UDL goes beyond ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) in that it takes into consideration not just accessibility, but learner preference.
From here, I am ready to learn more about technology in building a computer-based learning module, and in designing using the tools we have discussed in this course. My ultimate goal is to build a consulting service where I can use my 20+ years as an educator, my knowledge of instructional design, and my passion for learning. I think that would be the perfect "retirement" career!