eLearning Guild ID Symposium New England – Day 2 wrap up

Posted by Gina Rosenthal in conferences | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

If you are looking my wrap up of Day 1, look here.

I forgot to mention the Tweet-up. I got to meet up with @bschlenker @edwsonoma @kasey428 @cammybean @smartinx, plus a lot of non-tweeps. We even sent pictures into #lrnchat. That was fabulous.

On to the wrap up of Day 2:

ID Considerations for Synchronous Online Learning Sessions

This session was given by Karen Hyder of the eLearning Guild. The presentation went over many things that we already do very well at EMC: making the user experience predictable and pain-free.

Pattern Libraries for Instructional Designers

This presentation was given by Valerie Kelly and David Robbins from Kent State University. They talked about how the concept of pattern libraries can be applied to developing instruction. To build a pattern library, you have to write design problems. They are using a wiki to do this. They gave this outline for a pattern library definition:

  1. Problem Summary: Specific overview of an actionable problem
  2. Solution: The task that solves the problem (specific)
  3. Context: e.g. Use this pattern when…..
  4. Examples: Screen shots of the solution in action
  5. Rationale: More documentation on the why the solution fits the problem (Literature, theory, policy)
  6. Further Discussion: Area to allow for discussion in case of growth and change
  7. More Examples: Provide more examples as needed

I love the idea of building a wiki to do this, this way people don’t reinvent the wheel to write a module for the same thing over and over again.

The Changing Role of the Instructional Designer: Re-tooling Perspectives and Competencies

This was probably my favorite presentation. You can tell because I tweeted and did not take notes. The session was given by Ellen Wagner of Sage Road Solutions and eLearning Roadtrip fame.

She talked about how it is really hard to tell people what we do. That resonated with me. I think instructional developers at EMC are very unique. We are expected to be SMEs in the technology for which we develop courses. We are instructional designers. We build and in some cases maintain the lab equipment. And all of us are expected to deliver courses.

We do it all.

She said that ID + IT = eLearning. So we at EMC are right there in the thick of things as far as eLearning goes! She defined eLearning as:

learning that connects people with (digital) learning experience, wherever and whenever they want, on whatever device they choose.

We’ve got a ways to go before we get to that point, but we are not the only ones. She also reminded me that ADDIE is not a bad word! Its just that the A and the E get forgotten. She went through several Instructional Design theories. The funny thing was she showed this list, and asked if we all had studied them:

  • ADDIE
  • ASSURE
  • Reiser& Dick
  • Kemp
  • Smith and Ragan

I raised my hand and said, “Yes and my advisor is on that list!”. 🙂 that cracked me up. She also said that IDs have to be able to write very well, persuade people about which instructional method to use and base that recomendation on business requirements, and be technical.

It was a great, great session about the opportunities that are available to us these days.

The e-Learning Instructional Design Solutions-fest

This last session was a panel discussion. The panel included Lee Maxey, Bob Mosher, Marc Rosenberg, Allison Rossett, Will Thalheimer, and Ellen Wagner.

The number one skill the panel said an instructional designer needs is the ability to write very well. Here are a couple of videos from the panel:

In conclusion, I would encourage everyone to join the eLearning Guild. The basic membership is free, and you get so much from joining this community of practice. I’m glad they gave me the opportunity to present, and I hope I’m able to attend another event very soon!

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.