Sample Design Project for EDCI705- Instructional Design
Developed by Dr. Sheryl Asen
George Mason University
Another Example is Available at www.erols.com/semanuel/76305069.html
Note: This is only ONE example of how to format your final design project. This should, in no way, be seen as the ONLY WAY to construct an instructional design document. As the course progresses, you will be getting information on formatting, etc. Also, please be aware, that this project does not include the feedback given to the student. It is, however, a good example of the progress you can make in this course and should be used as a relative standard. Some of your design projects may be more extensive than this. Your format and length will ultimately be determined by your instructional goals and objectives. So with that in mind, please use this project as you see fit. John Castellani (Instructor)
Introduction
The Stevenson, Inc. is a large organization specializing in international development. To help the Stevenson, Inc. improve its business practices, a new computer program called the Performance Management System (PMS) has been developed. The top managers of STEVENSON, INC.Corp. have determined that PMS installation will begin February 1998. A large majority of DGBs 2,000 employees will use the PMS to create and track budgets, track projects, and generate reports. Since the PMS is a new computer application, STEVENSON, INC.management has projected that 1,800 employees will need training on how to use PMS. Currently, STEVENSON, INC.Corp. has an outside contracting firm, Debron Associates, conducting commercial off-the-shelf software training. However, to cut costs, STEVENSON, INC.management has decided that they would like to have a skilled set of in-house trainers deliver the PMS training. STEVENSON, INC.management has requested Debron Associates to develop a Training the Trainer workshop for a group of STEVENSON, INC.employees.
Needs Analysis
A Debron Associates Instructional Designer has been assigned to develop the Training the Trainer workshop for STEVENSON, INC.Corp. First the Instructional Designer met with top management. In the meeting the Instructional Designer learned that:
Following the meeting with STEVENSON, INC.Corp. managers, the Vice President of Operations directed the Instructional Designer to the Director of Human Resources to discuss the potential trainers. The Vice President of Operations also informed the Instructional Designer that the Director of Human Resources will serve as the STEVENSON, INC.content expert.
After meeting with the Director of Human of Resources the Instructional Designer learned that eleven STEVENSON, INC.employees were nominated by their first-line supervisors to attend the Training the Trainer workshop. These employees were nominated due to their background in teaching or their ability to learn software quickly. Many of these eleven employees were in DGBs PC users group where every month two members present a topic on a software application. To determine the level of training knowledge each potential workshop participant has acquired, the Instructional Designer will develop a questionnaire to collect information about training skills and observe training delivery skills in the next PC users group meeting.
The questionnaire was given to the eleven nominated employees. The questionnaire consisted of fifteen questions that requested information about the nominees training experience and computer skills. The most important question asked in the questionnaire were: 1) Do you have formal teaching experience? 2) Have you had formal training in delivering classroom instruction? 3) Have you delivered computer training in a classroom environment? 4) Do you have experience conducting classroom training, one-on-one training, or developing computer-based training? 5) Are you comfortable speaking in front of a group? 6) On a scale from 1-5, 1 being not knowledgeable and 5 being very knowledgeable, how would rate your computer skills. From the questionnaire, eight of the eleven employees have not trained in a classroom environment. Two of the eleven employees taught High School subjects and one employee taught at a Jr. College. Most employees teach computer applications to their co-workers in one-on-one coaching sessions. Other findings from the questionnaire include, two employees having formal training in delivering classroom instruction. Additionally, most employees feel comfortable speaking in a front of a group and rate themselves as knowledgeable to very knowledgeable about computers.
After observing two employees deliver a topic at the PC users group meeting it was determined that the employees delivered training from only one learning style. Also, neither employee used visuals or solicited questions from their audience. One of the employees delivered his topic quickly and spoke too fast. The other employee used many technical terms when delivering her topic. Observations from the audience included many appearing to be bored or confused.
Instructional Goal
Through data gathered in the needs analysis, training is needed for STEVENSON, INC.employees on delivering instructor-led computer training in a classroom environment. Eventually, the Training the Trainer workshop participants will effectively train other STEVENSON, INC.employees on the PMS and STEVENSON, INC.Corp. will have a skilled group of trainers on-site.
Actuals
Currently, the trainer/trainees have some training skills that are useful for computer classroom training. These skills have been identified as: 1) some trainer/trainees have classroom training experience, 2) most trainer/trainees have done one-on-one training, 3) most trainer/trainees are computer literate and are comfortable using computers and technology, 4) most feel comfortable speaking in front of a group, and 5) many trainer/trainees do the computer trouble-shooting for their office.
Optimals
Information gathered from the needs analysis also indicated some skills that need to be acquired and addressed in the Training the Trainer workshop. The skills needed by the trainer/trainees include: 1) communication and listening skills, 2) Adult Learning Theory, 3) questioning techniques, 4) developing visual support, and 5) classroom management.
Learner Analysis
As discovered in the needs analysis the trainer/trainees conduct ad hoc one-on-one training sessions with their co-workers. These training sessions are done at the work site. Usually the trainer/trainees help their co-workers with off-the-shelf software use and troubleshooting. Often times when a co-worker is having a computer problem, they first go to the trainer/trainee before going to DGBs Information Technology Division. Additionally, three trainer/trainees have conducted teaching in a classroom environment. Out of the three trainer/trainees who have experience with classroom teaching, two individuals have taught for one to three years, and one individual has taught computer applications part-time for one year.
The trainer/trainees who will attend the workshop come from various positions within STEVENSON, INC.Corp. Six of the eleven trainer/trainees are in support positions at STEVENSON, INC.Corp. Three trainer/trainees are Project Specialists and two trainer/trainees come from the Information Technology Division. The trainer/trainees come from varied educational backgrounds. Four of the trainer/trainees educational background consists of solely a high school diploma, two trainers/trainees have completed some college, four trainers/trainees have received a bachelor degree, and one trainer/trainee is taking courses to complete a masters degree.
All trainer/trainees are interested in computers and technology and a majority of them stated that working with computers is one of their hobbies. Eight of the eleven trainer/trainees also stated that they enjoy assisting their co-workers with computer usage.
On the comments section of the questionnaire distributed to the trainer/trainees three employees stated that they did not need training. These employees felt they were all ready skilled at delivering computer training or that their previous teaching experience would suffice.
Task Analysis
Goal Statement
Upon completion of the Training the Trainer workshop, learners will demonstrate effective presentation skills by incorporating training techniques into a thirty-minute training presentation of the PMS software application.
Types of Learning Outcomes
The instructional goal for the Training the Trainer workshop requires the learner to directly apply effective training delivery techniques to real life training situations. Therefore, the learner is expected to use the training methods demonstrated and discussed in the workshop to the PMS training courses they are anticipated to deliver. Additionally, once learners complete the workshop and deliver training, they will need to determine when it is the most appropriate time to use a training technique covered in the workshop.
The two types of learning outcomes that learners will utilize in the workshop include intellectual and cognitive skills. Intellectual skills are needed for learners to apply training techniques learned in the workshop to actual training situations that will occur outside of the workshop environment. Additionally, learners will also need to use cognitive strategies in the workshop. Learners will learn skills by relating the training techniques discussed in the workshop to their prior teaching, one-on-one, or training participant experiences. It is anticipated that each workshop participant will acquire his or her own training delivery style.
Information Processing Analysis
To gather precise information for the Information Processing Analysis for the Training the Trainer workshop, the Instructional Designer gathered information by interviewing the top rated trainers at Debron Associates. Additionally, the Instructional Designer gathered information from observing five training courses delivered by five different Debron Associates trainers. In the interviews with trainers, the Instructional Designer asked what are the steps the trainers perform when conducting a training session. The Instructional Designer then documented the responses received by the trainers. Next, the Instructional Designer observed five training sessions. During the observations, the Instructional Designer took notes on the steps each trainer performed in their training session. The notes taken from the trainer interviews and observations were complied, and a master list of training steps was constructed. The master list of training steps is based on common steps the trainers performed in order to have a successful training session. After compiling the master list of training steps, the Instructional Designer held a meeting with the Debron Associates trainers to receive feedback from them. Revisions were made to the list of training steps based on the feedback received from the trainers in the meeting. A final list of training steps was created for constructing the Information Process Analysis. Listed below is the final list of steps in which an experienced trainer would take to ensure a successful training experience:
Prerequisite Analysis
In order to effectively deliver the Training the Trainer workshop, a prerequisite analysis was conducted to determine the skills the learner must have prior to attending the workshop. By determining the prerequisites for the workshop, all workshop participants will begin the workshop with a standard knowledge base related to workshop topics. Listed below are the steps a trainer performs to effectively deliver instruction (numbered 1-13). Under each numbered step are bullets which indicate the prerequisite for the step. The prerequisites for the Training the Trainer workshop include:
Performance Objectives
Listed below are the performance objectives for the Training the Trainer workshop.
Assessment
On the following page is a table listing the subskill task and assessment item for each performance objective.
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Instructional Strategy
The instructional strategy developed for the Training the Trainer workshop will follow Gagnes Nine Events of Instruction. In this design paper, the Instructional Designer has described the instructional strategy for the opening of the course and performance objective #1 which states: given an overview and description of the characteristics of adult learners, the learner will correctly identify all adult learner characteristics from a list revealing adult learner characteristics and child learner characteristics.
Introduction, Arouse Interest and Motivation
The workshop will begin with the instructor describing a training scenario. The scenario will tell the following story:
A training participant is sitting in a training room. The training session is about to begin and the participant glances around the room. There is nothing on the walls and the announcement of the bulletin board is a least a year old. Five minutes after the session is scheduled to start, the trainer comes hurrying through the door with a stack of papers. The instructor then turns to the first person in sight and asks them to pass out the training materials. The training participants glance at each other with a look of despair and think, "Oh, no! Here we go again, another one of these
dreaded training courses.
Once the instructor has described the training scenario, the instructor will lead a discussion with the learners on what their thoughts and perceptions are about the trainer described in the scenario. The responses received from the learners should be unfavorable towards the instructor described. Based on the responses received from the learners, the instructor will stress the importance of a trainer acquiring the necessary skills and techniques to effectively deliver instruction. Next, the instructor will inform learners that in the Training the Trainer workshop they will learn the skills and techniques that will help them to become effective trainers for the PMS courses they are expected to deliver as well as other training delivery opportunities which may arise throughout their careers.
Establish Purpose and Preview a Lesson
Next, the instructor will inform learners of the topics that will be discussed in the course and review the course objectives. The topics/objectives to be conveyed to learners include: 1) Explain the basic concepts of adult learning, 2) Identify competencies of effective computer trainers, 3) Articulate components of a successful computer training experience 4) Develop and practice computer training techniques, and 5) Use audio-visuals to support computer training. After informing learners on the course objectives, the instructor will inform learners that they will deliver three video-taped presentations throughout the workshop. The video tape will allow learners to view their training delivery skills and provoke thought on how they can improve their skills. The intention is also that with each taping the learner can view how their delivery skills have improved after receiving instruction in the workshop.
Recall Relevant Prior Knowledge
After the introduction and preview, the instructor will lead a discussion on the observations the learners have noticed in their experiences as a training participant. The instructor will ask participants which skills and techniques they thought were effective and ineffective when they observed a trainer. The instructor will remind learners to keep these thoughts in mind when learning about each topic in the workshop. The learners should follow the example of trainers who demonstrated favorable training techniques and avoid demonstrating examples of unfavorable trainers.
Process Information, Focus Attention, and Employ Learning Strategies
The instructor will begin by defining andragogy and the adult learner. Next, the instructor will direct learners to the page in their handout listing the characteristics of the adult learner. The instructor will discuss how the adult learner is motivated to learn because they are problem centered. An example will be used of an employer who has migrated from WordPerfect to Microsoft Word, and the employee must learn Word to continue performing their job. The next discussion will be that the adult learner needs to be treated like an adult and will test the validity of new information and take in new information after judging its accuracy and usefulness. The instructor will ask learners to reflect back to when they were in elementary school. In elementary school, learners listened to the teacher and teachers had "all the knowledge". Next, the instructor will discuss that adult learners have valid experiences and have the choice whether or not to come to training. The instructor will continue to go down the list of the characteristics of the adult learner and give practical examples of each characteristic. After the discussion of adult learning characteristics, the instructor will reveal a prepared flipchart listing the adult learning characteristics in one column. In a second column, the instructor will describe pedagogy or child learning characteristics. By listing adult learning characteristics in one column and child learning characteristics in another column learners are able to view the contrast between the two types of learners.
Practice and Evaluate Feedback
Learners will reinforce their learning of adult learning characteristics through an in class exercise. In the exercise, each learner will form into a group consisting of two people. Each group will be given both adult and child learning characteristics mixed together in the form of a handout. The learning groups will circle all adult learning characteristics listed on the handout. After circling the adult learning characteristics, each group will present their findings to other learners and to the instructor. When each group reports their responses to the class, the instructor will inform learners if they chose the correct adult learning characteristics. For all correct responses the instructor will review the concept of the characteristic selected by the learner and give an example supporting the characteristic. For all incorrect responses the instructor will inform learners of the incorrect response and remind learners of the adult versus child learning characteristics.
Summarize and Review, Transfer Knowledge, and Remotivate and Close
At the end of the exercise, the instructor will review adult and child learning characteristics concepts introduced at the beginning of the lesson. The instructor will then inform learners to keep the adult learner characteristics in mind when delivering the PMS courses. The instructor will stress the importance of understanding how adults learn to effectively build successful learning experiences. The instructors will then state that trainers who recognize adult learning characteristics can better deliver instruction so that it is fun, effective, and contributes to productivity.
Assessing Performance and Enhance Retention and Transfer
In the Training the Trainer workshop, the final exercise at the end of instruction is for learners is to present a thirty minute presentation. In the presentation, learners should demonstrate training techniques that incorporate the characteristics of the adult learner.
Sample Production
Rationale for Media Choice
After reviewing several mediums such as videotape, video conferencing, and people to deliver the Training the Trainer workshop, the Instructional Designer determined that the use of an in-person instructor would be the most effective. The decision to use and in person instructor is based on the demonstrations and activities learners will participate in throughout the workshop. These demonstrations and activities include group exercises, reporting findings, and conducting presentations. For each of the above-mentioned activities an instructor needs to be present for facilitating exercises and discussions as they occur. In addition, learners will need an instructor present to assess their learning and provide immediate tailored feedback necessary for improving training delivery skills.
The instructor for the Training the Trainer workshop will have at least five years of experience delivering computer and soft-skill training courses. The instructor will already be knowledgeable about the training skills and techniques covered in the workshop and has implemented these strategies into their instruction.
Sample Print Material
A sample of the Training the Trainer learners guide is located in Appendix A
Formative and Summative Evaluation
Description of Expert Review
Once the course agenda, learners guide, and instructors guide are all developed, two of the Basin Associates trainers involved in the information processing analysis meeting will serve as content experts to review all training materials developed. The Debron Associates content experts will review the materials to ensure that the information is useful, accurate, relevant, and geared towards those new to the training profession as well as those wanting to improve their current training skills. After the Debron Associates content experts review the materials, DGBs Director of Human Resources will then review the materials. The Director of Human Resources will review the content of the materials to ensure the examples and exercises used in the learners guide are practical and reflect real-life situations that occur at Stevenson, Inc..
In addition to the training materials developed, the three content experts will review the goal statement, learner analysis, task analysis, and assessment instruments. The goal statement, learner analysis, task analysis, and assessment instruments are all considered instructional design items. As each instructional design item is developed the three content experts will review the items and provide feedback to the Instructional Designer. Next, the Instructional Designer will revise the instructional design items based on the content experts feedback.
Description of Learner Validation
Once the content experts review the training materials and the instructional design items, the Training the Trainer Learners guide will be given to three workshop participants for review. First, the participants will review the workbook on their own. Each participant will be requested to make written comments on improving the Training the Trainer Learners guide structure, language, exercises, and examples. After each participant reviews the learners guide and makes comments, the Instructional Designer will meet with each participant individually to receive detailed information on their suggested improvements to the learners guide. Next, the instructional designer will make additional revisions to the course materials based on the participants feedback.
The trainer/trainees involved in the STEVENSON, INC.Training the Trainer workshop are the only employees identified to deliver the PMS courses. After the workshop is delivered, the Instructional Designer will conduct a focus group with the trainer/trainees to discuss how the course and training materials can be improved. The focus group will be held in the event STEVENSON, INC.requests additional Training the Trainer workshops for their staff.
Plan for Summative Evaluation
After the trainer/trainees deliver at least two PMS courses, a summative evaluation will be conducted. DGBs Human Resources department will develop and distribute a questionnaire to each of trainer/trainees to determine the workshops worth and effectiveness.

By the end of this course, participants should be able to:

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Reflective Thinkers relate new information to their won experience and continually ask themselves how they feel about what they are learning. They ask themselves the question, "Why?" Reflective Thinkers are inclined to:
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Practical thinkers want just the facts. They want to know the quickest and easiest way to use the computer. They ask the question, "How?" Practical thinkers are inclined to:
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Conceptual thinkers are looking for the big picture. They want to know what is going on behind the computer screen. They ask the question, "What?" Conceptual Thinkers are inclined to:
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Creative thinkers enjoy change and challenge, and test the limits of the software. They ask the question, "What if?" Creative Thinkers are inclined to:
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Grabowski (1976), after substantial review of the competencies in several studies, distilled ten competencies that are common to most studies. The competent educator:
