Ch 29-31 The Future of Instructional Design

Chapter 29 discusses the concept of reusability. Think back over the courses you've had over your educational career and identify one with poor reusability characteristics. Explain how the course could be redesigned to improve reusability without changing the underlying content.

I believe that the software courses I have taken recently have had low reusability.  I think that if I had not only learned how to use the software but also learned exactly what needs could be met with the software I would be able to transfer that knowledge to the upgraded versions of the software (there are always learning curves) as well as similar software packages.  It is inevitable that when you make a job change or even in the course of the same job you will have to change software from time to time.  Knowing the basis for the creation of a software (such as excel, word, ppt) would make the transition to a similar (but different) software much easier.

·  Chapter 30 takes a look at using rich media. Find or create a visual for instruction describing its surface and functional features.  

http://screencast.com/t/VBd3Q2oRN6Nd

Mr. Marco video clip 

Surface Features include line drawing and animation as well as text on the screen. 

Functional Features include activating prior knowledge, reviewing skills recently covered, using a graphic organizer and animation to illustrate new skill.

·  Chapter 31 discusses the future of instructional technologies in the near future from metadata to nanotechnology. Describe how nanotechnology could be used to improve a specific job or task you are familiar with.  

My mom was a teacher which meant I learned how to grade papers before I even understood the skills involved in the assignment I was grading.  Then as a teacher myself I remember being taken over by the piles of ungraded papers all over my desk.  Imagine if students were able to complete their assignments on nano-paper and then the teacher would be able to “scan” the papers with her “nano-red pen.”  Those papers would be graded almost instantaneously.  The grades on the nano-paper could also be wirelessly delivered to the grade book program on the teachers computer making “immediate feedback” a true statement!  As I read back over this paragraph it sounds utterly ludicrous.  I’m sure that’s how Orville and Wilbur’s mom felt too.

·  And finally! Chapter 32 provides two points of view on the direction of the field - the straight and narrow road and the broad and inclusive road. Which point of view do you agree with and why?

I believe that the broad and inclusive road is the way to go.  I have learned in the past few years that having a broader view opens more opportunities.  By aligning with the broad and inclusive road I think that the instructional designer of tomorrow (and today) will have a greater number of opportunities to ensure quality instruction whether created by a designer-by-assignment or by the instructional designer themselves.