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Reflection Paper Abbie Weispfenning University of Wisconsin - Stout Instructional Design Certificate Program Trends & Issues in Instructional Design February 26, 2016

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Reflection Paper After completing the “Trends and Issues in Instructional Design” course, I was able to expand my knowledge of the Instructional Design field. I gained a deeper understanding of the many instructional design models and learning theories that are used in the ID field. The portfolio project required for the course was able to provide me with real experience working with an instructional design model to create a training program that will be implemented at my current company. Throughout this paper I will discuss my reflections on the portfolio project as well as my thoughts on the field of instructional design. Portfolio Project Reflection The topic I chose for my portfolio project was “Exploring Leadership”. I was able to use the Morrison, Ross & Kemp (MRK) Model to help guide me in the creation of this training program. Using this ID model helped me to think about all the different factors that have an effect on the success of the training program. ID Model When using the MRK Model, there were many decisions I had to make such as:  What the aim of the training was going to be  Who the target audience would be  What delivery method to use  What learning theories would apply to the audience  What motivational theories should be utilized  How to cater to a diverse audience  What type of task analysis should be conducted  What the instructional goal was going to be  What the learning objectives were (terminal and enabling) Through this process, I have learned that instructional design is both an art and a science. It is important to be able to use creativity when designing instruction but is equally important that the designer uses a systematic process to design the instruction to ensure the training is needed and

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will be effective. If the training is needed, then it is important to follow an ID model and treat it as a systemic process to produce the best results. Motivation & Learning Theories/Models When designing the “Exploring Leadership” training, I learned through this course that it is important to reference motivational theories and learning theories that will be applicable to the audience to produce an effective training. There are several theories/models I chose to integrate into my training such as: K.P. Cross’s Characteristics of Adults as Learners (CAL) model, Jerome Bruner’s Constructivist Theory, Albert Bandura’s Social Learning Theory, and John Keller’s ARCS model of motivational design. I chose these particular theories and models because I felt they would be most applicable to my adult audience that would be attending the training. These theories have taught me that adults learn best when they can relate the new material to their past experiences and also when they are able to observe and model others behaviors (Constructivist & Social Learning, 2015). When I think about how I learn, I can relate to all of these learning theories and I know I retain information better when these theories are implemented in the learning. Task Analysis & Learner Characteristics When working through the MRK model, I completed a task analysis and listed out all the characteristics of the learners who would be participating in my training. These two tasks had a large impact on the project as a whole. After completing the task analysis this greatly helped to create a framework to refer to as a guide for the instruction. Determining the learner characteristics helped to determine the learning theories that would be applicable to the participants. Both of these tasks affect how the training will be delivered, structured, and retained.

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Instructional Design Field Reflection This course gave me a great introduction to the instructional design field. I was able to gain a lot knowledge about the instructional design process and the skills and abilities that will be needed to be successful in the field. Concepts/Ideas Gained The most valuable concept/idea that I gained from this course it understanding that not all performance problems can be solved through training. I learned that it is critical for instructional designers to be able to recognize the performance problem and determine if training is the appropriate solution. I never thought about this previously but thinking about this before starting any training program can help save the company time and money. Activities One of the most valuable activities I completed during this course, was conducting a task analysis and more specifically a topic analysis. This taught me how to work with a subject matter expert to collect the content needed to create training. I found this process to be very helpful in creating a framework for how to structure the training. ID Impact This course has provided me with a wealth of knowledge that I will be able to apply to my current position. As a Learning and Development Coordinator, I am able to help create training programs and having the knowledge gained from this course will help me to be more successful in designing these programs. I will now be able to reference ID models and learning/motivational theories when creating trainings which will help lead to better training results. I now understand the importance of defining the performance problem, the aim/goal of the training, and the learning objectives. I will also make sure to consider the characteristics of the learners involved in the training as well as any contextual characteristics. This knowledge is

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going to improve my abilities as an instructional designer and help me to produce successful training programs. Questions & Concerns The one concern I have about using instructional design is that there are a lot of theories and models to remember and it can be a bit overwhelming. However, this course has provided me with a lot of helpful websites and resources I will be able to reference to help jog my memory of the theories and models. Further Learning This course has provided me with a great introduction to the field of instructional design and walked me through the process of information gathering for starting a training program. I am still very eager to learn more about how to create effective training content. Whether that is through creating supporting documents for a live training session or full e-learning trainings. I am looking forward to learning more about how to unleash the creative side of instructional design. Conclusion Overall, I found this course to be extremely helpful. Working through the course design document helped me to think through the instructional design model and take into consideration all the outside factors that are going to affect the success of the training. I also gained several helpful resources and tools from this course that I will be able to take with me and use in the future.

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References Constructivist Theory (Jerome Bruner). (2015). Retrieved February 23, 2016, from http://www.instructionaldesign.org/theories/constructivist.html Social Learning Theory (Albert Bandura). (2015). Retrieved February 23, 2016, from http://www.instructionaldesign.org/theories/social-learning.html