Product Description
Text addresses issues of how practices are adapted and applied in numerous environments; emphasizing the constraints on the design process that have been imposed by the timelines, resource distributions, and needs of various systems. Hardcover, softcover available. DLC: Instructional systems--Design--Data processing. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Instructional Design in the Real World
"Instructional design in the real world: a view from the trenches", by Anne-Marie Armstrong was published by Information Science Publishing in 2004. The author has thoughtfully compiled accounts of many different instructional designers throughout the world. The designers report on the various models and businesses that they have worked for. Many of the designers were hired to create online or e-learning modules. They discussed the successes and failures of their ventures. I will be honest; my first reaction to reading this book was not positive. But, as I engaged myself in the reading, it was a very easy read. The authors of each "story" were very honest when describing their working situations. Many reflected on mistakes they made in the ID process, others reflected on what worked best within the process.
The part of the book that I enjoyed most was that the Instructional Designers realized the importance of knowing the needs of your learner. One of my favorite quotes was that "Learners were considered identical, homogeneous raw
materials in a standard process of educational production (Cameron, 1996). They were considered as an empty vessel that only needed filling. Hence, there was no active communication between instructional developers and learners during the learner analysis process" (p.3). As an instructional designer especially for the online learner, it is very hard to know a learner that you never see or come in contact with, however, the author still keeps this in the forefront of what we should keep in mind when designing instruction.
The chapter that stuck out in my mind was the one that specifically dealt with knowing the needs of your learner. There was a case study on how job aids are used in a manufacturing plant. The instructional designers realized after the needs analysis of the learners, that they did not need full content learning, but specific tasks the worker could look up. The author compared the information they needed to a phone book. The learner already knows how to use the phone; they just need specific phone numbers sometimes.
In closing, this book really opened my eyes to the
role of the instructional designer, especially as they worked with the company and the SME (Subject Matter Expert). As the designers of an online course stated, "Merrill (1997) is often quoted as saying `information is not instruction.' This simple and profound statement seems to make a whole lot of sense; there's a lot more to teaching than just telling students about something and then expecting knowledge and skills to magically appear. Yet what we find in a majority of textbooks, lecture halls, and online courses is a whole lot of telling and not much instruction. We certainly didn't want our course to be categorized as just another "electronic page-turner" (p. 171-172). We can not expect to throw information out there and expect people to learn. The instructional design process must be carried out to achieve high levels of learning.
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Product Description
Despite the considerable, growing interest in online education, most studies have focused only on the students perspective. Merely a handful of studies have attempted to address the teachers perspectives and little has been published on the online teaching experience itself.

Expectations and Demands in Online Teaching: Practical Experiences offers a better understanding of how teachers experience the online environment by exploring various dimensions of online teaching, including class preparation, process effectiveness and quality, and technology utilization. The book assists educational institution administrators supporting online education improve their understanding of how teachers experience online teaching, and of the issues these teachers face in their teaching. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Vital Reading for Potential On-line Teacher
If you are considering a position of an on-line teacher, I highly recommend reading Sorin Gudea's book on past lessons learned by practitioners.It is a vital reference and will open your eyes on the trials and tribulations that await you.Gudea has conducted an excellent piece of research with observations and conclusions on the teacher's point of view and laid out the basis for further study.I want to personally thank him for providing this insight that has influenced my career decision in this field. ... Read more

Product Description
This book features creative yet practical ideas for making effective use of newspapers in the language classroom. ... Read more