Shari's+Feb+23+Summary

Well, Smith and Ragan had some useful information regarding assessment. I found a lot in this chapter that I could mull over. The discussion of norm referenced testing was interesting. I cannot recall ever suffering from anxiety for testing. I recall doing poorly on standardized tests, but that was due to poor (or no) preparation. So, it was helpful to hear from others about their experiences. It is difficult to address those experiences if you don’t really understand the impact on the testers.

As I reread the chapter this week, I zeroed in on the discussion of practicality. I am glad Smith and Ragan included this discussion in the chapter. It applies to all aspects of design including analysis, development and assessment. Resources are not infinite, and we can’t approach design problems as if we have infinite time and money. We have to make trade-offs and get to good enough.

Another realization for me this week is the need to explore the concepts we address through multiple sources. I imagine that in some ways what Suzan is doing (taking 502 and 702 at the same time), while difficult, is quite beneficial: to compare and contrast two bodies of thought. I recently started reading a new instructional design theories text edited by Reigeluth and Carr-Chellman (2009), and in their introduction they state, “. . . many instructional theories were constructed with little regard for prior theories.” (p. 6) Reading Smith and Ragan while reading Morrison, Ross, and Kemp may be a lot to take on, but it also forces the student to consider the different thoughts and reconcile them into your own understanding.

Reigeluth, C. M. and Carr-Chellman, A. A. (2009) Understanding instructional theory. in //Instructional-design theories and models: Builing a common knowledge base. Volume III,//Reigeluth C.M. and Carr-Chellman, A. A. (eds). New York: Routledge.

Here's a link Shari (hope you don't mind - Linda here) - we should probably be using this textbook in this class. I wish we had this class for a year, we could do this book a semester after this class. Maybe when I get back from sabbatical I could do a special topics covering this book? link