Since you have now read for the past few weeks about instructional design/technology in three different contexts (business, P -12 & higher ed), identify 2 or 3 significant themes or differences you have noticed across these contexts and describe them. Is there a particular area or way that you believe your current professional working environment could learn from the other contexts described in these chapters?
The themes among the chapters I found significant are the
collaboration and process. Everything is put together by a team of members whom
collaboratively work together to complete a process of steps to obtain a specific goal. Ch. 22 refers to the five stories shared about the common roles of becoming a full professor. Again these are two process where each individual is working for a goal that can only be met through collaboration. Ch. 21 discusses Product vs. Process approaches (
Reiser & Dempsey p. 211). This approach to change must occur with
collaboration, research teams are
actively working towards a better understanding of the process and how schools should be transformed.
I believe my professional working environment could learn from the Step-Up-To-Excellence piece on page 213. Our district is going through drastic changes that need to follow a systematic approach to ensure a design is implemented that will positively affect the families, students, and staff. I have faith that the administration department followed some type of process that they collaboratively worked on to choose the best decision for everyone. It is difficult to watch all of this happen and not know what is actually happening to the schools. Everything is planned out through meetings and so forth, but it is not until a decision is made that faculty finds out information regarding their jobs. For me, this feels as though it has some gaps in the plan for smooth tranistions. Hopefully with practice, but not too much, the district will have implemented a well developed process for conduting business such as school closings.