This is truly welcome to the world of blogging for me. I am starting my journey towards a M.S. in Instructional Design & Technology with concentration in Training & Performance Improvement. I hope to gain knowledge from each of you throughout the course as we embark on the online learning community together. The sites listed below will be a resource as I continue to work in the Instructional Design field. Instructional Design and training is not one size fit all. Each site speaks to the future of Instructional Design and Technology in the classroom and workplace by discussing different areas it affects and methods to use.

Anatomy of an eLearning Lesson

http://empowerlms.wordpress.com/2010/06/25/anatomy-of-an-elearning-lesson-nine-events-of-instruction/

I found this blog to be extremely useful. It discusses the benefits of e-learning. The structures allows the individual to move through the site in a self-guided pace walking you through aspects that I had not yet considered myself. It also shares specific touch points that would need to be in place to make the training successful. This will be useful in providing you with a mock checklist to begin with. It will be useful in sharing the latest in incorporating e-learning to the classroom. It starts by providing feedback on preferred methods to gain attention of learners. This soon transitions you to begin the thought process of, “How do I enhance the retention so the individual is able to transfer the knowledge to the job?” This will be a key focus for me in retail. After the participant has received their training, most companies expect both profitability and performance improvement. How associates perform is often considered a reflection of the value of the training.

Performance Improvement

http://pdginnovates.wordpress.com/2010/07/01/bridging-the-performance-gap-training-is-just-part-of-the-solution/

Reni Gorman has been designing and delivering learning solutions for nearly 20 years. Training is not a one size fit all or the only component needed when seeking a behavior change. This blog speaks to this. As many companies have down sized and experienced an increase in early retirements the need to operate more efficiently is essential. With this loss, there have been tremendous gaps in performance. Here they offer different views on bridging the performance gap, as well as, discussing cognitive tips for the learners. Through my experience, I have found more productive associates when they understand the why behind the process and realize their contribution to the success of the big picture. This will be very beneficial in providing me with different techniques and views to consider, challenging my thought process as an instructional designer.

Project Management

http://eight2late.wordpress.com/2010/07/01/on-the-interpretation-of-probabilities-in-project-management/

This site provides an overview of project management essentials. It also covers the effects of organizational culture on the success of a project. Company culture has a direct impact on project flow and implementation design. This is a great collaboration of best practices in project management for organizations undergoing change management.