Reflection on My First Instructional Design Project

I have completed Project A in my Instructional Design course and am fairly pleased with the overall design and participant results. My client, Jessica Batchko, was very easy to work with and offered some great suggestions during the experience of working through the ADDIE framework for instructional design. The ADDIE method was quite extensive, and the design document was dynamic in nature and improved during each step of the design process.

The format of the activities in the intervention worked very well. The previous training was delivered in a face-to-face format and was not taught at the depth in which the concepts needed to be covered. The instructor wasted valuable face-to-face time with low level activities in which participants could read and review outside of trainings; therefore, the online or “flipped” format allowed the face-to-face time to be utilized on more difficult tasks in which participants might need assistance.

Creating the materials for the online module took more time than I anticipated. But, I do think that the time spent on developing the materials will pay off in the long run because new staff to the district will be able to use the online resources over and over again. Although it took quite some time to develop the materials, using the websites and technology applications were engaging and enjoyable to experiment with. I always like investigating new Web 2.0 applications and creating activities with them that are both engaging and have an educational value. Like students, adults can become consumed in their own learning when they use technology to learn.  

What needed improvement in my design? For the most part, everything seemed to go smoothly upon implementation of the intervention activities. There were only two places in which participants indicated that if they would have had a little more detail or perhaps an online video demonstration that they could have completed a task quicker. I assumed that the participants would know the skills in which they struggled with. However, the module included a section for participants to post questions if they were struggling with an activity. None of them took advantage of this feature in the module.

How will this process effect my next instructional design project? First, I will want to work closely with my peer and client to ensure that the scope of the design document doesn’t cover too much material for the project. In addition, the activities in which the participants complete can have more weight in the intervention activities.

I am working with a peer during Project B and am finding that it will be beneficial, but it will not necessarily mean that the work will be easier. We have already discovered that there will be more planning time that we will have to coordinate with our busy schedules.

Visit the new teacher training module at: http://www.castleberryisd.net/departments/technology_services/new_teacher_module/