Section 5: Trends and Issues in Various Settings

Having students create a tri-fold travel brochure as a cumulative desktop publishing assignment could be completed using rapid prototyping. With a tri-fold brochure, there would be 6 “pages” of information to include, with one of the pages being the front cover. The remaining 5 pages could be left up to the students.  As students create the information that they want to include on the individual pages, they can add it to their “template brochure” or “workable model”.  The template would be edited as needed until the students were pleased with the product. Thereby, building the brochure page by page with information on site-seeing, maps, pictures, and more the students would create a finished brochure from their working model.

 

Courtesy of jegsworks.com

Creating applications that are tailored to train each member of the military on his or her job requirements could possibly help our military personnel in the field. This training would need to be broken down into components accessible both individually and as a whole; so that the soldier could review/train on a specific item or the whole concept. Using multimedia instruction in the form of interactive courseware, computer-aided instruction and simulations would be a definite plus for the deployed soldier. According to the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, there are several pilot programs underway that plan to integrate training through smartphones. These programs will allow applications to digitize training and simulations and improve overall training effectiveness.  All of this training would be available on a tool the size of a cell phone, easily transportable by military personnel. Thus, the "anytime, anywhere" instruction that is so vital for today’s military would be accessible when and where needed.

To introduce GSTE and SUTE in a staff development activity to colleagues, I would first discuss the two methodologies’ phases and steps. Then I would divide the group into two teams, one team representing GSTE and the other team representing SUTE and let them create a quick design plan using the methodology of the group they represent.

Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma, uses the name Faculty Development and is housed under the Institute for Teaching and Learning Excellence division. It offers services in certificate programs, instructional design and assessment, tech training, online resources, and events. Some of the specific programs offered are:

Preparing Online Instructors, a 6 week program offered during the summer.

Career Development, a set of 14, two-hour workshops offered every other year.

Course Observation, a student focus group, meets approximately 30 minutes at a time depending on availability.

Instructional Design, a designer works with faculty one on one with reviews at mid-term and end-of-semester.

The Open Tech Lab is available to faculty to work on projects at their convenience.

Special Events such as ADVANCE Series and Difficult Dialogue Series are also made available to faculty from time to time.

The University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Arkansas, uses the name Employee Development Program and is housed under Human Resources. It offers campus training services and offers a resource library. Some of the specific programs offers are:

New Employee Orientation, a two partial day information and resource workshop offered on Mondays and Tuesdays.

Individual Couseling Services, by appointment

Other workshops offered included Stress Management for the Holidays and Sustainability at Home—Save Energy, Save Money!

The University of Alaska in Anchorage, Alaska, uses the name Faculty Development and is housed in the Information Technology Services department. It offers workshops, just in time tutorials, as well as, one-on-one instructional design consultation and media services.

Some specific programs offers are:

Getting Started with eLive, a 1 and ½ class offered twice a semester.

 Tweaking Blackboard II, a 1 and ½ hour class offered via eLive, twice a semester.