Deploying new technology in the workplace can be challenging for the end user and the team that is developing and deploying the technology. Often times the end user is accustom to performing a job function a certain way and new technology can be difficult to learn, appear cumbersome, intimidating and not relevant. I recently rolled out a new system at work to streamline the work type request to help improve efficiency amongst resources and provide more accurate reporting. In the initial stages of the project there was a great deal of resistance to this new system. Keller’s ARCS model would have been beneficial to help motivate the team in the area of Attention, Relevance, Confidence and Satisfaction.
The new system was rolled out by executive leadership to grab the attention of the folks that were going to be utilizing the system. There were several pilot sessions and deployment meetings to bring awareness to the new process. The corporate initiative was to increase efficiency across the organization and this process directly coincided with this goal. Streamlining the work would allow resources the ability to focus one solution and timeline for a faster implementation. From a metrics stand point projects would not be open as long with various scope now being spread across multiple projects.
Once the teams were aware of the system and the importance to the company it was also important to build their confidence in using the system and identifying the satisfaction of the usage. According to Driscoll (2005) curiosity will motivate but it is important to provide out of the box experiences to captivate learners. To achieve these goals innovative process workshops were held and process documentation made available. The users were very pleased with the training made available and quickly caught on to the process. Once their confidence was built up it was easier to see the benefit of streamlining the work. Several end users were identified as subject matter experts (SME) in the process and rolled it out to other organizations. The SME’s gained satisfaction by not only learning a new process but also gaining presenting and instructing knowledge that could be used in future position. Driscoll (2005) discussed the importance of learners realizing that not all skills will be applied immediately but are equally important.
ARCS is a useful checklist, which draws upon some well established research. And, given the doubts many trainers feel about delivering online, where they can’t establish face-to-face contact, it’s probably more useful in this context than anywhere.
References
Driscoll, M. P. (2005). Psychology of learning for instruction (3rd ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson Education
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Module 4 Post
Connectivism Mindmap
My mind map provides an overview of my network.
My network has changed the way that I learn by offering a wider perspective and wealth of knowledge. Before I expanded my network to include blogs, scholars, journal articles, I relied heavily on google and online consumer forums for knowledge. I now feel more confident in my knowledge being supported by existing research and feel that I can add new information to my field.
I learn best from journal articles written by scholars that have researched and completed studies on particular topics. I also enjoy blogs because they tend to be very easy to interpret and apply. I enjoy virtual environments where I can collaborate with fellow classmates and bounce ideas.
When I have a question I tend to research related topics and/or issues to find a connection. This type of research allows me to learn more about the root cause and related topics.
Friday, April 15, 2011
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Module 3 Post Cooperative arrangements vs. individuals
Cooperative arrangements vs. individuals
I agree with Reheingold that humans have a basic instinct to work together as a group based on past history. The video also discussed that collaboration does require the loss of some self reward through competition to achieve an overall collaborated effort. I agree that this is necessary for the progression of society. The world is showing that is the direction that we are moving towards with the current coloration efforts discussed such as science, space exploration and healthcare; cure experimentation.
The constructivist principle that people learn as they learn is supported by collaborated technology such as blogs. I and many of my fellow students had not yet been exposed to blogging until learning took place during some of our courses. While learning new principles and theories we also learned the technique of blogging including reading and responding to other blogs. Another principle that motivation is a key component is supported by the technology that is utilized in our classroom small groups to support and motivate our team. The teams utilize technology such as Skype, chat and wikis to provide and receive peer and instructor support.
The following is a link to a research study that took place over two years where participants were places in groups to collaborate utilizing technology for collaborative learning. The dialogue exchanges between the students and instructors fostered and environment that exceeded the plan curriculum and enhanced learning.
References
Fisher, M., Thompson, G. S., & Silverberg, D. A. (2005). Effective Group Dynamics in e-learning: Case Study. Journal of Educational Technology Systems, 33(3), 205-222. Retrieved from EBSCOhost.
Rheingold, H. (2008, February). Howard Rheingold on collaboration [Video file]. Retrieved from http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/howard_rheingold_on_collaboration.html
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Module 2 Responses
This week I responded to the following blogs:
Gary Allen’s synopsis of significance of conversation and the interpretation of the various theories at:
Also responded to the following blog:
Module 2 Responses
This week I responded to the following blogs:
Gary Allen’s synopsis of significance of conversation and the interpretation of the various theories at:
Also responded to the following blog:
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