My initial definition was not looking at the overall broad view of the topic of Instructional Technology, and once you step back and see the variety of ways that instructional technology is utilized in the workplace. Examples are hiring an Instructional Technologist to train on software systems for private industry as well as working with educators to roll out new software and learning programs.
It was also important for me to focus on in this class on the different ways people learn and what that looks like through my lens. Since we all are different and are brains all not hard wired the same. I think people learn in different ways, some prefer to read, others like to write, many like hands on experience, and others learn best by teaching. I am definitely in the category where I learn more and embed the content more when I teach or train others. I also think there can be obstacles if people are not excited to learn content.
For example, I had to attend a finance training and learn the different processes and since this is not my favorite kind of training to attend, I sometimes feel my brain shutting off. However when I have a training consultant from finance require us to engage and take pop quizzes regardless of how I feel about the information I want to be successful so I will rely on my reference sheets and be more attentive. This is an example, for me when their are now stakes at play, such as my grade in this course. Some people are motivated by goals and grades, but others are not. When I am learning a topic that I am excited about, I have a tendency to lean in and take copious notes and am so excited when I am successful. In general though, there is no one way approach that people learn, but it is crucial to establish a comfortable learning environment whether it is synchronous, asynchronous, face to face, hybrid, etc...
