Chris's comment

Awhile back as part of the original introductions, I asked Chris in his old blog (this is his new blog - http://blogfrog-chris.blogspot.com/) about whether chris incorporated instructional deisign into the work he does and if he does, how.
This is the reply I received (thanks so much Chris!)

----

cjbeck - 11:25pm Apr 16, 2007
Christopher John Beck

"Elle asked me how I thought Instructional design impacted teaching practice in my area of work.

Instructional design for me is at the centre of teaching practice. It really is the way you go about getting your learners to learn what you want them to know. How you instruct learners and what methods you use obviously affect the learning outcomes. What I am learning in my teaching practice is that you can not take anything for granted with students, that is to say the way you instruct is very important and care must be taken not to assume anything. A big factor that always surprises me is how differently students intercept and interpret instructions that you give them. Making instructional design logical and simple is not always the solution. Delivery and consideration for learner audience groups and their preferred styles has to be in my mind given lots of consideration. I know when I am working on instructions you really have to ignore your own perspective and try positioning yourself in that of the learners. The learning objects which have been discussed are great reusable resource idea, but as a stand alone tool for learning I Think they are insufficient. Compiling information with a few moving images and squeaky sound affects is not my idea of meaningful learning. What I am trying to say is that multimedia has its place but the true enjoyment of learning for me lies in the social interactions we make with other learners and teachers. The learning object really is a book on the computer except the chapters become objects. Multi-media has a great role to play in education but whiz bang computer content serves to gratify its creator not its uses!"

----

I think for me, one of the most important points that i can take from this, is the idea that you need to try and position yourself within the learners shoes. That is, the tools you use, what you teach and especially, HOW you teach, has a massive impact on the learner and consequently, if you do not cater to make that learning meaningful (by considering your audience and their learning styles) then no real learning can be achieved.

I also agree that you cannot assume anything because as you said, students interpret information differently - what one learner may get out of the learning may be different to what another learner does.
I think though, that is the lovely thing about learning. That a generic piece of information can be transformed and used in so many different ways, is great. It allows for different viewpoints about the one thing and hence, many different persepectives that each individual can learn from.

About using learning objects as stand alone objects for learning..it is my opinion too that there should be human elements associated with learning. Yes, there are programs like chat programs that try to cater for this but it is not quite the same - interaction wise. I think discussion especially is not the same when using these programs. There is no real flow etc.

SO...

For all those who have read this. What is important for you in learning? What is the one element that you need to learn effectively and efficiently?
And really, it can be anything from needing social interaction to lecturer slides to needing a good tutor.

Let me know (I am sure it will help us all in some way!)