Session 5 - Instructional Design Model & Online Course

Initially, I wanted to explore using the Dick, Carey, and Carey model of instructional design. But after further review it really did not fit with what I was trying to achieve in the scenario of creating an online course. My natural tendency was to then use the Rapid Prototyping model (http://phlesig.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/m11_tripp.pdf). Finding the Rapid Prototyping design model would make the most of the effort required to meet the learning objective.

Since I work in a software engineering organization, I found the system approach to instructional design was a good fit to getting my course developed. You may ask, what course would you be required to do in your organization? Primarily, since I am not an official instructor it would be more along the lines of creating an online tutorial for one of our computer soft skills, e.g., Microsoft Excel components. The training would be considered an independent module (chunk) to learn how to create a pivot table using Microsoft Excel 2007.

As a fairly cost conscious organization the Rapid Prototyping model is ideal since it allows multiple steps to be conducted at the same time, thus, saving time in the end. The waterfall model (Maher & Ingram, 1989) could loosely be applied as it is typically used for software design and includes Analysis, Design, Implement, Test, and Maintain. The Rapid Prototyping comes into play since, there is continuous access to the Subject Matter Expert (me) and the learning outcome is well known and developed.

Here is a quick recap of the steps that I would use to accomplish an online learning course:

Assess Needs & Analyze Content –
In this effort the learning objective would be to solve our business problem for the training team’s users to become more self-sufficient in creating some of their own data analysis. The audience is our training team consultants and business managers that have basic knowledge of Microsoft Excel, but, need a job-aid to support them when they are working independently.

Set Objectives –
• Formatting your data.
• Creating a Pivot Table
• Organizing your Pivot Table
• Pivot Table Calculations

Construct Prototype (Design)–
• Use screen capture software to record the steps involved in meeting the learning objectives.
• Create a voice over with steps outlined.
• Create a Windows Media File that contains the recorded procedures to be hosted on an internal SharePoint site.

Utilize Prototype (Research)–
• Since there are existing processes in place for creating the end product a prototype can be made and provided to a small segment of users for testing.
• Once testing is complete the product will be made accessible to its intended audience.

Install & Maintain Software –
Since the actual end product will be a Windows Media File (movie) there will not be a true need to install a true software application. However, access to the recorded job-aid would be available to all internal team members.