(R/D10) For your reading reflection, since you have now read for the past few weeks about instructional design/technology in three different contexts (business, P -12 & higher ed), identify 2 or 3 significant themes or differences you have noticed across these contexts and describe them. Is there a particular area or way that you believe your current professional working environment could learn from the other contexts described in these chapters?
-- Well, each one seems to have the basics— they are well-organized, have management systems and employee training in place. All three try to employ the most motivated and knowledgeable people. Business is about the money. Schools’ main purpose is to educate. Higher ed is also concerned about making money, but if they don’t do a good job with educating students they won’t get the money.
Higher education requires much more in the way of meetings, research and training responsibilities than P-12. The things they do are very systematic, usually requiring piecemeal changes. Colleges and universities have to attract, and retain, their students. There is much more motivation/striving for excellence. P-12 students generally attend school where they live. Higher ed. has many faculty members for each area of study, whereas P-12 sometimes only have one or two teachers for a particular subject.
My current school is trying for systemic change through piecemeal work. They could learn a lot about having properly trained people in the correct positions who know what they are supposed to do and do it, organizing throughout, and following through on establishing and enforcing rules, consequences and decisions.
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7 comments:
I agree with you about the purpose of p-12, higher ed, and businesses. I think that purpose is the main defining differences between the three. Higher education kind of combines the two because like you said if they don't attract students then they won't get money.
I would like to have more productive meetings at my school. Of course we have staff meetings, various committee meetings, and I also talk to other teachers. However, I would like to see what is done at the other schools in the district, like the middle school for instance. It would be nice to get some insight on how they do things there and that might be able to help me teach ninth graders more effectively.
I think that you are fairly accurate in you classification of the 3 levels. I think that money is a factor in all three levels in some regards. It is defenitely most prevelant in the higher 2, but a handful of people choose the district that they live in often times based on the success of the school, which equals more money for the more successful schools. I would consider that as a similarity in all 3 levels.
I was surprised by the amount of "other stuff" involved in higher education. I guess the part I see is the professor teaching so thats what I picture and think of. As you and chapter point out research, training, and teamwork is also required.
Tony Vitto
Donna,
I agree where the focus lies in each of the three areas. As I was reading your post a question came to me. What if p-12 educators were required to be published or do more research? Would that change the system at all and if so in what way? I don't see how we(teachers) would have time the way districts keep expecting us to do more, with less materials and time, and with bigger class sizes...but it might be something worth looking into?
Donna,
Most of your comments include organization and this is such a huge part of our professional field. I rememeber you making and organization comment about your personal day as to not waste valluable time by repeating yourself. Much like that theses forms of change need to be organized so their final products will be accepted in the final stages rather than have to be revisited or even rewritten. They need organized group leaders in order to successfully have change.
Jennifer
I think you right in your analysis of P-12, Higher ed, and the business world. I know P-12 is not out to make money, however, I know some schools do exactly that while others just try to stay out of the red. Since, I only see the "education" side of things at the P-12 level. I would love to sit in on a school business meeting and see where money goes and what the priorities are.
There is room for more efficiency in education and that's what instructional design is all about. Improvement of systems through correct management. Managing people really cuts across all three.
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