The Design Challenge

I was presented with an instructional design challenge and was tasked with analyzing the problem, proposing a solution, and then writing an evaluation report. This process required me to analyze the situation, design a plan to address the problem, and evaluate data to write reports.

The problem I was presented with was: "The university has recently transitioned to a new synchronous web conferencing software. The software allows for group work, chat messaging, interactive whiteboard use, and can also be used for hosting one on one meetings with students. You’ve been tasked with helping to design the training for faculty that will be used during the faculty orientation."

The Approach

I generally followed the ADDIE process to address this problem

to the extent that was possible in this course.

Analyze- I analyzed the situation by designing a needs analysis, analyzing a hypothetical set of results from a needs analysis, and analyzing the learner population. More specifically, the needs analysis highlighted that all faculty need to use the full functionality of the new web conferencing tool, Collaborate Ultra. The interactive components of the web conferencing tool are not being utilized by most of the current faculty. The new faculty's online teaching experience ranges from novice to expert.
Design- I then created a proposed design for the training, ranging from learning goals and objectives through the design of the instructional training itself. Specifically, I suggested that researched-based strategies deepen the learning outcomes for all. Participants were asked to set their own learning goals with a strategy from the book, Tools for Classroom Instruction that Works called, "Goal Cards" (Silver et al., 2018). Each learner will establish a few learning goals for the web conferencing training. After the training has concluded, learners are asked to note whether the personal learning goal(s) were accomplished? Goal Cards can be designed to try out a particular strategy or complete a task or assignment. The learners will identify personal learning goals related to online teaching or the new web conferencing tool. Next, spell out the plan to achieve the goal. Lastly, reflect on whether the learning goal was achieved. The instructor can give helpful feedback to the participants about their progress. Another strategy that was implemented was the Cooperative Learning framework (2018). Cooperative learning is a high-yield strategy that fosters individual accountability and positive interdependence during group work. Jigsaw is a cooperative learning strategy that allows participants to become "experts" at a topic as well as the teacher (to their group). Participants were placed into groups of four to five members called the "Home Team" (2018). Each member was given a web conferencing tool feature to research and become an expert at. Members leave the Home Team to create an "Expert Group." The Expert Groups were made up of all of the members from each Home Team that was assigned the same web conferencing tool. While in their Expert Groups team members researched and shared ideas on how to teach their Home Team members about the specific feature. Learners returned to their Home Teams after thirty minutes with the Expert Groups. Each member of the Home Team made a small presentation of their web conferencing tool's features and best practices. After all of the presentations were finished, all participants were quizzed with a few "big idea" questions.
Develop- Due to course structure, we did not actually develop the proposed training.
Implement- Due to course structure, we did not actually implement the proposed training.
Evaluate- I was provided with a hypothetical data set that I analyzed to evaluate the success points and weak points of the instruction. I then wrote an evaluation report based on this data.

References

Silver, H. F., Abla, C., Boutz, A. L., Perini, M. J., & McREL International. (2018). Tools for Classroom Instruction That Works: Ready-to-Use

Techniques for Increasing Student Achievement. Classroom Instruction That Works Series. McREL International.