It was very interesting to read the differences and similarities in instructional design among the business, military, medical, and education industries.
While the corporate, health, and educational industries primarily rely on external designers, the military has a need to utilize both external and internal (for security reasons) designers. I thought it was vey interesting that some of the allies use the same training locations and or programs. Adversaries also have access to these technologies, but not always legally. This affects how the instructional designers design and deliver the training products.
All of the above mentioned industries can benefit from the business mantra: “better, faster, cheaper.” The military and the medical industries especially benefit from design cycle time reduction and increased effectiveness and efficiency. It was noted that often times in the military, the most current technology used in the design phase is already outdated by the time the product is built. Designers have to take this into consideration and design products whose technologies can easily be adapted with the latest technology designs.
Because business and military industries are both global in nature, cultural sensitivities are key in these industries. Designers must take into consideration communication styles, what interpersonal relationships look like, and other cultural factors for the design implementation to be successful.
The military and medical fields must develop interpersonal relationships and open communication in order to build trust. For both of these industries, ineffective instruction can have life-threatening or catastrophic consequences.
All of the industries use some form of technology training. The military and medical fields both found that on the job training, otherwise know as problem-based learning (PBL), showed evidence “that PBL students tend to integrate, retain, and transfer information better, and that they have superior self-directed learning skills” than those in traditional programs. Reflection is a critical component in the problem-solving process. Reflection gives meaning to practice and encourages a deep approach to learning. The medical field uses technology training to lighten the burden of teaching and free up more time with patients. While educators feel that PBL students are more engaged, the gains on high-stakes tests have been inconsistent. Several different reasons were listed for the possible mixed results.
Budget constraints were mentioned for the corporate and governmental industries, but many teachers also know first-hand that their resources are definitely affected by budget constraints as well. While all of the fields can benefit from technology affordances, the business, military and medical industries have benefitted from the ability to have long-distance video conferencing. This has had a significant positive impact on budget constraints as well. Doctors are able to use video conferencing to introduce patients to their care-givers, have medical students observe surgeries, and provide expertise to rural doctors. (C.T., 2017)
After analyzing all of the industries, it is important to note that developing 21st century learners benefits all. Developing a new educational framework of student outcomes that will equip our learners with a global awareness, critical thinking and problem-solving skills, communication skills, creativity and innovation skills, collaboration skills, contextual learning skills, and information and media literacy skills. Our students need to be able to access information efficiently and effectively, evaluate the information critically and competently, and use the information accurately and creatively. Finally, our classrooms need to promote the development of life skills such as leadership, accountability, adaptability, personal productively, personal responsibility, people skills, self direction and social responsibility. The military, medical, and educational industries all noted the importance of developing life-long learners.
Part B
While Japan and Europe hold the top two spots with the largest companies in the world, their IDT seems to be lagging. According to Reiser and Dempsey, not until the last 5 years (at the time of publication), have these countries made strides in catching up. In contrast, Koreans saw the value of IDT and sent teachers and scholars overseas to promote IDT in formal education. Now it is an expectation for teachers to upgrade their technical and pedagogical knowledge every three years. However, e-learning has not been as successful due to the fact that Koreans prefer face to face communication with the teacher or content expert. Yet another place where we see that cultural norms place a significant role in successful implementation. I believe that the US could benefit from adopting some of the Korean standards. While we, too, use specific technology performance indicators in teacher evaluations, more specific training is simply offered, not required. The soft roll-out of allowing educators to become comfortable with technology has gone on long enough. I believe it is time for us to step up our game and require more rigorous and creative applications of technology in our classrooms. This does not have to be the job of the teacher alone. If our instructional specialists would put lessons together that use specific technologies to accomplish these means and provide training, our students would be better equipped for our 21st century world.
In trying to address the problems that arise as our population grows exponentially, it will be imperative that our future leaders have been taught how to think critically, problem solve, know how to communicate and collaborate globally taking into consideration cultural differences, use creativity and innovation. Having more authentic STEM opportunities in our K-12 classrooms is one way to facilitate these skills. We have already seen a shift in having more nonfiction reading in the classroom in order to support STEM or problem-based learning. One example of problem-solving and creative innovation is raising bugs as an editable source of protein. Research has shown that insects are sustainable and nutritiously more beneficial than much of the food we normally consume. Bugs require fewer natural resources to thrive, take up less space to raise, and would eliminate 20% of the greenhouse gases that are a result of livestock farming. (Nguyen, 2013) However, in this country, there are definitely some cultural norms that would have to be hurdled. Are YOU insect-erested?
Resources
Reiser, R. A., & Dempsey, J. V. (2012). Trends and Issues in Instructional Design and Technology (3rd ed.). Boston: Pearson.
T., C. (2017, June 16). Video Conferencing for Doctors Lets Medical Students Make the Virtual Rounds of Ten Hospitals a Day - VC Daily. Retrieved June 26, 2017, from https://www.videoconferencingdaily.com/healthcare/video-conferencing-doctors-lets-medical-students-make-virtual-rounds-ten-hospitals-day/
Nguyen, T. C. (2013, December 03). Insect Farming Kit Lets You Raise Edible Bugs. Retrieved June 27, 2017, from http://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/insect-farming-kit-lets-you-raise-edible-bugs-180948261/
You did a fantastic job comparing and contrasting the various contexts in which we find instructional technology and design. You mentioned several things that I had not thought of- It is interesting how state and federal entities appear to always be behind the ball when it comes to technology due to budget cycles and constraints. Further, you mention healthcare workers and that technology is utilized within that arena. Telehealth and telemedicine has its own association called The American Telemedicine Association. Although there are concerns with regard to confidentiality, we will most likely see more and more growth within this area of practice. Also, the need for instructional technologists will be needed to help establish and support such programs.
ReplyDeleteWhile Japan and Europe hold the top two spots with the largest companies in the world, their IDT seems to be lagging. I was surprised by this within the reading. I assumed that they were ahead of the United States with IDT. Although they see the value, it has taken these countries and large companies to catch up. Culture plays a significant role in the “why” and how that affects implementation within their educational system.
“In trying to address the problems that arise as our population grows exponentially, it will be imperative that our future leaders have been taught how to think critically, problem solve, know how to communicate and collaborate globally taking into consideration cultural differences, use creativity and innovation.” I couldn’t agree more!
I am NOT insect-erested! So fun! I hear that everything is good that is covered in either chocolate or bacon- even your insects!
Stephanie,
ReplyDeleteGreat blog post! I also found it interesting that some of our allies use the same military training locations. I think it helps us build better relationships with one another, bu tit is important that we are aware of their cultures and customs.
I agree with your comment that teachers need to "step up our game" and integrate more rigorous applications of technology. It is hard since teacher's have so much going on already. The only way to help with this would be, as you wrote in your blog, to have some sort of technology/instructional specialist to put lessons together for us. We all know that time is a limited resource!
Great post! I enjoyed how you showed relationships between each of the groups you addressed. "Better, faster, cheaper" is definitely one of those sayings I have heard before but I hadn't really thought of business as using it. You brought to the forefront several items I had ready but didn't really focus in on...good job!
ReplyDeleteWe do need to step up our game and at the same time, our technology and instructional specialists need to realize that those down in the trenches with the students need help in gathering lessons for our students. Training us to use certain technologies is not enough. Time constraints have teachers so busy chasing their tails that it's hard to remember some of the places we can look for lessons or sites to use to help enhance student learning. We sometimes need help finding the lessons themselves.
As to being insect-erested...I'll pass for now but give me a few years and my palate might change and I just might give it a try. :)
Great post! You make some excellent connections within the various contexts you explored. You caught my attention with your comments about the effects of PBL on student engagement. I, too, can see how there might be inconsistencies in performance results on standardized testing measures as they don’t seem to align well with assessment practices in PBL method. I feel blessed to work in our current district where student engagement is valued, though, and I see our district moving more in the direction of problem/project based learning experiences with the development of the new STEAM center in the next few years. My friend and I have been tasked with designing this year’s GT 6 hour update PD on the topic of Project Based Learning using inquiry methods. This approach to learning also addresses constraints on resources and budgets as it teaches students to practice flexible, innovative thinking with a problem-solving approach, which are the same benefits you mention in your discussion about STEM opportunities. This type of thinking will surely benefit the future of instructional design in each of the contexts mentioned in the text. On a final note, your thoughts on how our country’s education system compares to other countries was insightful and encouraging. As I mentioned in my post, it looks like we are headed in the right direction, and I think we are both fortunate to work in a district that values these approaches.
ReplyDeleteStephanie,
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading through your post. Relevant connections were made throughout. A couple of points that really stood out to me include how IDT impacts the medical field. Specifically how doctors are able to introduce their patients to caregivers and provide support for rural doctors. These are incredible opportunities that are present now. I imagine how many times an urban doctor has connected with a rural doctor and because of their joint efforts, a life was saved.
I also liked how you noted that developing 21st century learners benefits all. Being able to view it through this perspective enlightens us to how many lives we will have an impact by empowering that one student.