EDID 6503 Instructional Design Theories, Models and Strategies

Final Project Reflection Paper

Terry Hall April 26, 2014

The final project for the course Instructional Design Theories, Models and Strategies was to combine the existing work environments of the assigned members of our group to create a single work environment and subsequently design a new instructional model appropriate to the operations of this work environment. Before submission of the final project document, a group presentation of the new instructional model was done. The completion of Assignment 3 was a requirement for this project as it represented an instructional model designed to reflect the operations of our individual work environments. Interestingly, the grades for Assignment 3 were not released until just prior to the presentation date. As a result peer review and self-assessments played a major role in highlighting how complete and/or how accurate our approaches to Assignment 3 were. At one point I wondered if this was intentional on the parts of the course facilitators. If so, it was quite an effective move as ongoing discussions were the result. This assignment made a close knit group an even closer one. For the first time we became moderators on the Blackboard Collaborate, learning how to manoeuvre the controls for the power point presentation. This was unusual and a little exciting having to make a presentation without the face to face interaction that one has grown accustomed to for presentations. As a group we were very nervous about the having to speak at the presentation. Due to technical difficulties one of the group members was not able to present. As such I had to jump in and continue to present her section. I felt good within myself that I was able to do so without much hesitation. With the design of the now model, I was introduced to Astleitners 13 principles of effective instruction and his FEASP Approach to the design of positive feelings instruction; and differentiated between emotionally sound instruction and emotional intelligence. In selecting the

instructional strategies for the new model, more understanding was made of the use of the words instructional strategies, components and sequencing. I previously used all three interchangeably but have now been set straight on their correct usage by one of my peers. The project by itself was not very difficult having created a model before in assignment 3. Lessons learned emphasised the true meaning of group work. Working as a team requires the sharing of effort, providing support to other members of the group when needed, conducting peer reviews and the acceptance of feedback on any shortcomings while providing encouragement to the other members of the group.