Week 13

This will be a short post as it was a short discussion but it was very valuable in identifying some of my own weaknesses and provided some reinforcement. From what I could read it appeared the most people have some sort of proximity or layout issues that they already know about or they just seem to deny. My issues lies in the use of centering and grouping, I have worked on many design projects in the past and sure enough every time I start out with grouping all design elements in the middle center aligned. As Williams said this is the safe place and I stay in the safe place as much as I can when I do entail designs. It became clear to me that most of us in the design community seem to start in the safe place if we did not we would not be able to gain a comfort level that is needed to finish the job.

I will say that I do not find the content that is available in Williams’ book to bring that A-Ha that was requested in the discussion. It does allow an interesting perspective and it is a great resource to keep on the bookshelf that allows the designer to step away and have a look. When you return to your work it can give you the perspective that you need to move on to the next phase in your design process.

Week 5

I loved the conversation that was delved in week 5 it allowed us to make connections to the current corporate landscape. Many corporations are shifting toward a self paced learning environment where the learner can by shovel fed content that they can devour when they have the time or availability. There was some discussion around social elements in a self paced environment. A question was posed that had to do with social value and internal dialogue and is it present in a self paced environment. I responded to this with an example of the current discussion board that were in , to some degree the discussion environment can be considered self paced and it is full of both internal dialogue and social interaction.

I want to go a bit further when you read a text book or a short story or poem. Now reading a book or doing research does not necessary allow for an environment of social reciprocation. What it does allow for is the learner is able to take that information and internalize playing with the ideas back and forth playing the devils advocate in there own mind. The social element comes from the change that happens to the person, this change although not apparent to some extent truly effects how that learner thinks and interacts from here on out.

Week 6

This was an interesting week for disccusiong I do not know if I was to fond of the format though as it appears I got in trouble for responding to soon. I would have to say that is was great to see what others had learned or what struck them as important from the chapters that we read. I would like to point out the quote that I found most interesting.
"Do-type activites are the path between information and knowledge, between explanations and skills. THey put brains into action, expoloring, discovering, practicing, refining and perfecting knowledge and skills. Learners should spend at least half of their time in meaningful do activites." page 165 summary.
I placed this quote in the disccusion because I feel I have a tainted few in some speak from my experince in a corporate enviroment. I would have to say it is not that I do not agree with the theroy and coming from experince I would love to have my learners have the agreement from managers to allow time for 50 percent do-type. I worked very hard last year to intergrate 2 weeks of practical application into our new hire class where the learner is in the class but functioning in their job role. I was able to see the change that it had and how well the learner was able to gain the skills nescary to do their job. This has been a proven technigue for us and the department that allowed us to do this has applauded the resultrs. Here lies the problem although the department that allowed for this time loves what it does they have decided they want to take it away. Our new hire staff a first to recieve a call and it seems that it is trending that it is more important to have butts in seats as opposed to having a solid foundation. It has been a relentless battle to keep these practical application settings going because the thought is they can take more calls right out of class. This thought is true but unlike other call centers these reps service a back log and it is that portion that ends up gettign negelected. I'm glad that I was able to post this comment and I thank everyone for the feedback. Sorry for any errors above typing in a coffee house with a spotty wireless connection.

Week 11

Week 11 was great sounding board for me it gave me and the others in my group and opportunity. That opportunity was exposed simply by letting us present and work things out we were able to get feedback from others and to get reinforcement from the chapters we read in week 9. There was discussion between many of us that focused toward new high compliance and the “one path for all syndrome”. The student who posted it said that the training was focused on 12 standards this is where my valuable contribution came into play. I had mention that here answer is probably in the 12 standards. I feel this is valuable not only to the student but myself many of us work for corporation that have these self proclaimed values and standards. It is up to us to adopt those standards into our design and navigation to help support the learner and plant these concepts into employees early in there life cycle.

Test Contribute

Testing Contribute Conection

WEEK 4

Response for week 4. To me it was about not only getting to know you, but being able to relate to some of the reading. The interactions that the PAEI was able to generate between peers like Chad and Jodi creating a safe place to sound ideas off of each other added to a realization. That realization helped all people in the group make connections to the way they viewed there philosophies and teaching styles. The point to drive home is that we used the PAEI to make connections to the way that we learn. In conversation Joni and I spoke of past experiences lacking the elearngin element or at least no mention of it. In the following excerpt from week 4’s discussion I share my future view of what I hope elearning can become.
“But who is to say that some chat or discussion or breeze recording from this class or the many that we have in the future don't trigger the same emotions. I think we have many psychological triggers that this course may cause to fire. Whether it brings up a past experience that we can relate to or a common misconception, someone can take something the wrong way and that moment is never forgotten.”
For me I have primarily learned everything that I know through demonstration or my own motivation to learn. All of the emotional ties that I make with past experience come from these types of learning experiences. I have yet to have a true emotional tie to an elearning type experience on a moral level. I can tell you that my comment above is more of a future outlook. I would love to see the day that I can help create a course hits the psychological triggers that I spoke about.

Yee Ha

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