Thoughts on the Course

 

REFLECTION

 

While I have come to the end of this course, I would like to take some time to reflect on my takeaways. In this course, I practiced and implemented the ADDIE process and planned corporate training in Supervisory Management using the Canvas Course Management System.   In addition, I learned about storyboarding and structuring online learning courses according to the various learning theories and multimedia principles to avoid and reduce cognitive load.  I also learned that the course design, learning experiences, and assessment have to be aligned with the course outcomes and objectives and that the content has to be segmented and arranged sequentially for deep learning to occur.

 I have also come to understand the importance of designing with the students’ availability and access to technology in mind and the importance of creating technology orientation prior to the commencement of the first modules to equip learners for success in the course. 

  I have discovered that being an instructional designer is an intricate and multi-faceted role requiring varied knowledge and technical skills to include but not limited to: video and audio editing, graphic and web design, social media use, course authoring, and curriculum development.  As for a career in instructional design, it is a highly competitive field with opportunities to work in education, business, and government in various instructional design-related roles, such as Multimedia Creator, Learning Management Administrator, and instructor/trainer. 

While I sometimes find the readings overwhelming, I learned a lot, especially from the text I rented, but I intend to purchase it as a reference for my career in instructional design.  While I have not fully decided whether to work in education or corporate organizations, I have started to preview prospective employment and the requirements so that I can best align my skills with them.  I think distance learning is the future of education and that the ubiquitous use of communication technology and mobile devices has led to a greater acceptance of this mode of delivery. 

  In conclusion, I do, however, think that, for the most part, it is fraught with traditional educational practices, but hopefully, that will change in the future to reflect more competency-based learning instead of the traditional forms of assessment. I hope that I can be instrumental in that change in the future and help to usher in a more practical mode of learning with more reliance on performing relevant tasks like authentic assessment.