Running head: REFLECTING ON MY EXPERIENCE 1

Reflecting on My Experience in the Instructional Design and Technology Master’s Program

Metacognitive Essay

Julie F. Boino

The University of Oklahoma

REFLECTING ON MY EXPERIENCE 2

Table of Contents
Growth and Development ............................................................................................................... 3
Key Points of Learning and Development .................................................................................. 4
Strengths and Weaknesses .......................................................................................................... 7

Portfolio .......................................................................................................................................... 8
Key Projects ................................................................................................................................ 9
Instructional design document. ............................................................................................... 9
Instructional text project. ...................................................................................................... 11
Internship. ............................................................................................................................. 12

Looking Ahead.............................................................................................................................. 14
REFLECTING ON MY EXPERIENCE 3

Growth and Development

When I applied for the Instructional Psychology and Technology Master’s Program at the

University of Oklahoma (OU), I had only minimal knowledge of the instructional design field.

At the time, I was working as a Project Manager for the Federal Aviation Administration as a

contract employee. I had not been working there very long when it became apparent that the

position required more than just project management skills and responsibilities. It also needed

someone with knowledge of instructional design. One of my colleagues, an Instructional Systems

Specialists, recommended that I pursue a master’s degree in the Instructional Design and

Technology emphasis at OU. I had started to become familiar of the elements of instructional

design while working and shadowing the Instructional Systems Designers, but I felt that going

back to school would be beneficial to myself and to my career. I was not familiar with learning

theories, instructional design models, or design documents.

In April of 2016, I received my acceptance email into the program. I was excited yet

nervous to go back to school. I completed my undergraduate degree in December 2014, so it had

been a little bit since I had been in school. I also finished my undergraduate degree online, so I

was somewhat anxious about being in on-campus courses. My bachelor’s degree is in English,

and I felt concerned about keeping up in the classes without a background in education. But once

the semester began, I felt confident that I made the right choice to continue my education in the

Instructional Design and Technology program. Over the last two and a half years, I have learned

more than I anticipated. I did not realize how much the field of instructional design and

technology encompasses, from all the theories to the different software programs. Especially

coming from a background with no prior knowledge in this area, I feel like I have developed
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skills and knowledge in areas I did not expect. I have already been able to apply these skills in

my previous and current positions.

Key Points of Learning and Development

I feel that each of the courses I completed throughout the program has contributed to the

development of my skills and knowledge in instructional design. In my very first semester in the

Fall of 2016, I took EIPT 6143, Instructional Development with Dr. Ge. This was my first

introduction into the field of instructional design. The course taught several core aspects of

instructional design, including task analysis and learner analysis, as well as evaluation methods.

The different types of analysis that take place when designing instruction were new to me, as I

had not seen this done in my workplace. It is such a crucial step in the process, and I feel that it is

the most valuable skill I acquired from this course. I also completed EIPT 5533, Introduction to

Instructional Technology with Dr. Bradshaw that same semester. We learned about the major

instructional design theories, the various learning theories, and the different technologies used in

education. Taking these two classes at the same time was difficult, but extremely beneficial. The

content in each one complemented the other, and I was able to apply elements from each into the

other class.

The following semester, I took EIPT 5203, Measurement and Evaluation in Education

with Dr. Hennessey. I remember being extremely nervous for this class because I thought it was

going to involve quite a bit of math, but it turned out to be just fine. The math was simple and

did not require high-level math skills. We were taught how to interpret test data and also how to

design effective evaluation tools. I feel like I was able to get a firm grasp on how to design an

appropriate and applicable test, as well as how to write test questions. In the same semester, I

completed EIPT 6523, Visual Literacy for Educational Media Production with Dr. Bradshaw.
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We were taught how to use many different software programs to design instructional media. I

developed skills in Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Audition, and Adobe Premiere Pro that I was able

to apply in both my workplace and in my personal life. We also learned about design principles

and visual literacy, which increased my skills and knowledge in developing visual instructional

materials, such as presentations and handouts.

I had a busy Summer 2017 semester, taking three courses. I completed my one-hour

practicum credit with Dr. Bradshaw, along with two other students, Edwardo Quinonez and

David Thomas. We were tasked with creating an information hub for people around OU and

Norman who did not have regular access to food, called food insecurity. Edwardo had a

background in web development, so he developed the website while David and I researched

locations that Norman residents could reach out to if they were in need of food. We also

provided information on food insecurity and how Oklahoma is impacted by it. The website

contained a map with locations that offered food and other assistance to those in the community

who needed it, as well as how others could provide assistance to those in need. I enjoyed

working in a group to complete this task. It showed me that working collaboratively on

something yields different, and sometimes more impactful, results than working alone. I also

took Dr. Heddy’s course, EIPT 5183, Motivation and Learning in the Classroom. In this class,

we were taught about motivational theories and learning theories. I enjoyed this class because I

learned how important these theories are to consider when developing instruction. Motivating

students is a huge part of making sure the instruction is effective. In addition to these two

courses, I completed EDAH 5413, Design and Delivery of Distance Education with Dr. Doo

Lim. I took this course as an elective because in my job at the time, we taught several online

courses, and I felt like it would be beneficial. We learned about the different learning theories,
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principles, and strategies for distance learning. We were also exposed to different learning

management systems. I was able to develop skills on how to present information in an online

setting, as well as how to utilize different online learning tools.

In the Fall 2017 semester, I took EIPT 6503, Design and Development of Text-Based

Instruction with Dr. Bradshaw. In this course, we learned how to design text-based instructional

materials, including a procedure guide and an infographic. We developed materials in Adobe

InDesign. This was my first-time using InDesign, and I was a little apprehensive because it is

such a complex program. However, I was able to develop key skills in InDesign that I have been

able to incorporate at work by designing infographics and procedure handouts. I also took EIPT

5023, Analysis of Quantitative Data I with Dr. Hardré. I was extremely nervous about this course

because I had not taken any kind of statistics course before, but I actually ended up liking the

course more than I thought. We learned how to interpret statistical data, as well as how to use

and carry out analyses in the program SPSS. One of the skills I have been able to use from this

class is how use statistical data as a tool and analyze what it means.

This past Spring semester, I completed EIPT 6433, Theories, Pedagogies, and Tools for

Online Learning with Dr. Ge. This course focused on learning communities, online learning

environments, and the theories and concepts behind them. I am very interested in designing

online courses, so this class was beneficial to see different ways online courses can be structured,

and which online environment is best for different contexts. I also completed my two-hour

internship credit with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). I worked with the Designee

Standardization Branch, AFS-640, revising course and lesson objectives. I also created an

interactive online course using Articulate Storyline, as well as transferred online lessons from

Adobe Captivate into Articulate Storyline. This was one of the first times I worked on a project
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that was implemented in a real setting, rather than just as a project for class. I found out just how

important having appropriate objectives is, as well as making sure the instruction aligns with the

objectives.

I completed EIPT 6053, Analysis of Quantitative Data II with Dr. Crowsen over the

Summer 2018 semester. Since I had already completed Analysis of Quantitative Data I, I felt

confident that I would be successful in this class. This course focused more on analyzing and

interpreting the data. We learned different and more complex analyses procedures in SPSS. I feel

confident in using SPSS to carry out various statistical procedures.

In the current semester, I am taking EIPT 6343, Instructional Models and Strategies for

Multimedia Development with Dr. Ge. So far, we have learned about different instructional

design models and theories, as well as the learning theories associated with these models and

theories. This class has helped me to understand which theories and design models are best used

in different instructional settings. It has emphasized that different topics and contexts are better

taught by following certain methods and theories.

Strengths and Weaknesses

Throughout the program, I have developed strengths in certain areas, while there are still

other areas I would like to improve upon. I feel like my strengths are found in screen design and

presentation, as well as organizing content. In all three of Dr. Bradshaw’s class, EIPT 5533,

EIPT 6523, and EIPT 6503, we learned quite a bit on the visual aspects of instructional

materials, making sure the messages and content presented were easily understood and that the

design was cohesive and appropriate. I have been able to incorporate these skills when designing

and developing courses and lessons in Adobe Captivate, Articulate Storyline, and TechSmith

Camtasia for my work. I am able to present the content in a way that is easy to follow and has
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meaning for the students. Visual literacy is a key aspect when developing materials, and I feel

that I am able to present the content in an effective way. In connection with this, I also believe I

have developed a strength in organizing the content for instruction. The sequencing of the

content being taught is an important step when designing instruction. I am able to organize and

present the content in a sequence and manner that is effective for learning, drawing on prior

experience and recall when needed, and allowing time for practice.

Despite the numerous skills I have developed in this program, there are still a few areas I

would like to improve upon. I am not as comfortable as I would like to be giving presentations in

class. It is not always easy for me to speak in front of large groups; however, this program has

definitely improved my ability to do so. Although, I wish I was more confident in my

presentation skills. I still get nervous and prefer to have others speak. I would also like to

improve upon my skills designing instruction for the K12 setting. My experience in instructional

design has been focused on adult learners in a corporate setting. I feel that my skills are lacking

in in the area of school-aged children. There are so many possibilities for activities and

opportunities when it comes to designing and developing for the K12 setting, yet I feel like I

have not been able to grasp these skills fully due to my inexperience with them.

Portfolio

For my portfolio, I decided to showcase my work using the Portfolio app within the

Adobe Creative Cloud Suite. It is included in the subscription plan I already pay for, so it did not

cost me anything additional. I chose this platform for my portfolio because it is specifically for

designing portfolios instead of just being a template within a website builder. It also allowed for

customization throughout without having to know how to do HTML coding. It was fairly easy to
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use and understand, and it optimizes the content for desktop, tablet, and mobile phone viewing.

The Portfolio app has several design layouts to choose from, and I chose the one I felt best

worked for the type of content my portfolio contains. It does not allow for embedded PDFs, but

it does support the use of the Scribd add-in, so I used that tool to upload my projects.

Key Projects

Instructional design document. This was the very first design document and project that

I completed in the program. EIPT 6143, Instructional Development, was my first course in the

program, so I had little knowledge of the theories and rationales behind Instructional Design. For

this project, we were asked to create a design document for an area of instruction we believed

needed to be added or improved upon. I was working as a contractor for the Federal Aviation

Administration in the Designee Standardization Branch, AFS-640, at the time. I chose to

improve upon the instruction of FAA Form 8100-1 because I had witnessed the lack of

instruction that was previously being given on this form, as well as saw first-hand students

struggle with the form. There were several forms that needed to have their instruction revises,

but I ultimately chose Form 8100-1 due to the number of students that were enrolled in the

course it was taught in. I worked with Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) at the FAA to design and

develop the course content and evaluation materials.

This project was completed in various stages over the course of the semester. We first

completed a proposal for the project. Once that was approved by Dr. Ge, we moved on to the

Needs Assessment, Contextual Analysis, and Learner Assessment. I this section, I was able to

explain the need to revise the instruction, the setting for the instruction, and a description of the

learners the instruction would be designed for. This was the first time I had seen something like

this done, but it is very needed! It is important to know the rationale behind the instruction, or a
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reason for it to be changed. It is also crucial to know who the intended audience of the

instruction is, so the materials can be tailored to the students. We then completed a task analysis.

I completed a procedural task analysis due to the nature of the instruction being more procedural.

I relied heavily on my SMEs for help in this section. Once the task analysis and construction of

the learning objectives has been completed, we then completed the instructional plan. In this

section, I outlined how the instruction would be designed. Instruction would be provided in two

parts, online and then face-to-face. I provided a storyboard for each slide, speaker notes, and

instructor notes. The online portion would be delivered using Adobe Captivate in the Blackboard

LMS, while the face-to-face portion would be taught in a one-hour lesson. The final part of the

project was the evaluation plan. Formative evaluation took place in the form of surveys, one

completed by the students, and another completed by the instructors. For the summative

evaluation, the students were evaluated in two ways, through observation by completed a project,

and then through a multiple-choice test.

Throughout this project, we received feedback on each component from Dr. Ge and our

classmates. This was extremely helpful, especially since this was so many of our first time doing

an instructional project such as this. Dr. Ge was able to provide guidance on the instructional

theories and rationales. She provided insight into the different analyses and suggested ways to

improve each section. The classmates who reviewed the different sections of my project also

provide helpful feedback. They were able to look at it from a different point of view to offer

suggestions, as well as share their feedback from Dr. Ge.

Overall, I was, and still am, very proud of what I was able to produce for this project. It

shows that I am able to determine an actual instructional need, defend it, and then revised the

instruction to remedy the need. I believe that I sequenced the content appropriately and used
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effective design methods. If I were to complete this project again with the skills and knowledge I

have now, there are some areas I would do differently. Since this project was designed for the

FAA, I was limited in the technology that branch had available to use at the time, as well as my

skill level in using instructional technology. Instead of using static slides in Captivate and

PowerPoint, I would now design more interactive slides, either in Articulate Storyline or

TechSmith Camtasia, programs that branch now has. In this project, I indicated that an

interactive form would need to be developed for the online portion. Now I have the skills to

actually develop this type of interactive document. I would also improve upon the summative

evaluation method of the multiple-choice test. Even though this test is mandatory for these

students, more problem-based questions should be incorporated in relation to the form.

Instructional text project. This was the final project in EIPT 6503, Design and

Development of Text-Based Instruction. We were tasked to create a printed instructional guide

that included illustrations or pictures in addition to text, developed in InDesign. As a somewhat

new rider at the spin studio Moxieride, I saw a need for the studio to have a guide for new

riders. The purpose of the New Rider Guide is to provide new and beginner spin class riders

instruction on various aspects of Moxieride classes. This guide helps riders learn and understand

the proper adjustments to make to their bikes, so it fits each individual rider correctly, what the

different hand positions mean and when to use them, as well as what the instructor’s verbal cues

mean during a class. This guide was designed for the development of psychomotor skills.

This was designed using InDesign for print and well as for a web-based document. This

was the first time I had used InDesign, so there was a learning curve I had to go through. Dr.

Bradshaw provided instruction on some of the major functions in InDesign that were helpful and

much needed for me. This was also the first time I worked with an SME outside of my work. I
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had to schedule time with one of the spin instructors and work with him to develop the content.

This was a bit challenging because we had to coordinate schedules to find time to meet.

When I was working on this project, I had very little practice using InDesign. I would

definitely redesign the layout of the guide now that I am more comfortable using InDesign. The

guide is somewhat boring, with just a plan white background and black text. I would like the

design to be more exciting. I would also like to retake all the pictures. The studio is dark, and the

instructor’s black clothes make it sometimes hard to distinguish what is going on in the photos.

The content is fitting for the situation, I just feel that aesthetically, the design could be improved.

Internship. From August 2015 to June 2018, I worked as in Instructional Designer at the

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). I completed my internship requirement there in the

Spring 2018 semester with the Designee Standardization Branch, AFS-640. I worked on three

projects for my internship. I created an interactive online lesson using Articulate Storyline 360, I

revised course and lesson objectives, and I also transferred online lessons from Adobe Captivate

into Articulate Storyline 360.

For the interactive online lesson, I worked with several SMEs to develop a lesson on

creating a Plan of Action for Designated Pilot Examiners (DPEs). This topic had not been taught

before, and there were multiple requests from students to have this instruction added to the Initial

DPE course. Tony, the instructional system specialist for the course, created a storyboard for the

lesson. I then worked with the SMEs to develop the slides in Articulate Storyline.

I also revised 102 lesson objectives for 25 courses. This was the bulk of my internship.

For the majority of the courses, the learning objectives of each lesson were just an overview

of what would be taught in the course and in each lesson. They did not state what the students

needed to be able to do or learn at the end of the course or lesson. I was able to revise the
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objectives in order for them to accurately portray what the students were expected to understand

or be able to do by the end of each lesson or course. This lets the students know what they need

to focus on and what they need to be able to accomplish in each lesson.

In addition to the developing interactive lesson and revising all the objectives, I

transferred four online lessons from Adobe Captivate into Articulate Storyline. Storyline has

more interactivity, and the branch wanted to add engagement activities into the online lessons,

rather than just the static Captivate slides it was using. This was a tedious task because I had to

copy and paste all the elements into Storyline, as well as create new elements within Storyline. I

also had to transfer the audio files for the speaker notes, as well as make sure all the closed

caption files were in sync with the audio.

I really enjoyed this internship because I was able to work on projects that were different

than my normal tasks and responsibilities. It was also exciting to work on something was

actually implemented in the real world. I feel like I was able to fully grasp how to develop

meaningful objectives. They can be challenging to write, but they are extremely important to

have in order to make sure the instruction is focused on the intended outcomes. If I could change

anything about the work I did for the internship, it would be revising the content based on the

objectives. For these lessons, I had to make sure that the objectives were aligned with the content

that had already been designed and implemented. I would have liked to design the objectives

first, and then design the content, making sure the instruction was aligned instead of doing it the

other way around.

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Looking Ahead

Even though I already have a position as an Instructional Designer, I would not have been

as successful without the knowledge and experiences I have gained from the program. I have

learned about concepts that I had never been exposed to before, such as learning and

motivational theories, all the different forms of analyses, and the various instructional

technologies. I feel confident in providing rationale behind decisions and about why certain

methods would be more effective in different contexts. I am able to sequence content in a

meaningful and applicable way. I have worked with SMEs in several projects and understand

their role and importance when designing instruction on content I am not an expert in. I have

been able to use my acquired knowledge to make procedure guides for my company, process

flowcharts, and provide training on how to use certain software programs. Instructional design

does not have one answer for every instructional situation, but I am confident that I will be able

to make educated and successful decisions when presented with these situations.