Subject: Feedback to the Three episodes
Author: A
After reading through the text from episode 1 - 3, I found it very interesting in terms of learning and understanding as well as broadening my knowledge on the two terminologies used; Instructional Design (ID) and e-Learning and relating them to my work and personal experience.
When I read the word "design", I related it to my experience as a Senior Training Officer in Fiji's public service. Before conducting a training programme, I always design relevant teaching/learning materials to suit the group of civil servants who will be attending the training programme. But, after reading the texts then I began to realize that ID is totally new to Fiji's public service.
The word e Learning reminded me of my days as a tertiary student at Fiji's University of the South Pacific (USP) when I was doing my Bachelor of Arts Degree in Management & Industrial Relations. Being a working student, I had to complete 6 units of my 300-level courses through Distance & Flexible Learning (DFL). There is a USP website called "Moodle" where we can go online and access all our learning materials and course guideline and study by our ownself. Therefore, I would rate myself as having some experience of e - Learning.
Similarly to ID, e-Learning is also new to Fiji's public service. But, there have been future plans in the pipeline by the current Government for the introduction of e-Learning after the introduction and implementation of the e-Government project in various government ministries in Fiji. e-Government in Fiji has a recent history and hence is in its very infant stage. In 2003, Fiji government introduces e-Government service and is slowly progressing in this direction. One of the latest e-Government project that was implemented in 2009 was the online website; www.egov.fj for students throughout Fiji to submit their scholarship applications online. There are lots of works to be done before the e-Government project in Fiji comes any closer to what exists in Asian countries.
It was very interesting to read the exchange of words/ideas with reference to ID and e-Learning by the two professors; Professor Reigeluth and Professor Linda Haraism. I agreed with the information shown in Figure 1: "Major Differences between the Organization of Industrial and Information Societies" (by Reigeluth). (Suzuki, 2004, p.5).
In Fiji's public service, our trainees are adults with diverse backgrounds. Training is conducted via face-to-face method in line with teaching methods conducted with the school education in Fiji. After reading and having some understanding of ID, I would propose that ID and E-Learning are the best teaching methods to be used in corporate training. I therefore, supported the comments by Professor Linda Haraism that "ID is a method of designing (planning) what type of teaching techniques are the most effective, efficient, and appealing to the learner and the subject that is to be learned, as well as the learning environment that has been provided." (Suzuki, 2004, p.6).
I also read and was very interested with Episode 3 on discussions @SIGEDU Case Studies Session 2003. I could relate it to the HRD divisions in Fiji, where it is viewed as costs rather than investments. Training programs that are conducted by the Public Service Commission have been reduced as well as sending participants to attend some long and short terms training programs that are partly sponsored by donor agencies aboard have been revised to minimize costs.
To conclude, the Public Service Commission (PSC), where I worked, as the key agency plays a pivotal role in developing appropriate policies to address these areas of needs and assist each organization tackle their core responsibilities well within the resources allocated in any financial year. My attendance to read the Masters degree: Instructional System falls in line to meet some of these concerns and challenges that I have raised therein. It will also develop my ability and capacity to assist formulate new training methods and strategies that are suitable for the Fiji environment considering the stage of development that we are in now and what it takes to make it tick to address training needs for the Nation in future. This opportunity will also allow me to share the knowledge and skills gained from attending this program to my colleagues in the Training Units of other government ministries and departments in Fiji and collectively we will foster forward as a team of professional trainers to ensure that we contributed to the nation of a knowledgeable society by 2015. As a developing nation, Fiji, in my view, needs this opportunity to expand the skill level of its training personnel to enhance our capability to train our own people especially with the backdrop that we are well versed with the challenges, constraints, shortfall and the various training needs of our individual organizations.
Subject: Re:Feedback to the Three episodes
Author: B
Hi A,
I found your paper quite interesting as it looked at where the Fiji's public service is heading and how having an online presence can make things convenient for the general public in accessing information and to apply for scholarships.
I remember the Minister of Education, Filipe Bole mentioning about developing secondary school subjects to be offered online. I haven't heard much about it since 2008.
This could be due to the fact as you mentioned have to do with policy work. And I guess having "Instructional Designers" and creating such posts would look into the pedagogical value of content or material with the content specialist.
I have been on some of the government websites and they seem to be all over the place and looks very busy...not that it is your responsibility.