Web 2.0 to R.A.T.

I manage special projects that involve the use of technology programs for connecting data information required for participant education crediting. This data collection involves the process of connecting one system to another with input sharing starting from the participant. These participant are adult healthcare professionals, (physicians and nurses) who are from mixed generations of Baby Boomers, The Greatest Generation and Generation X.
For the most part, these participants have busy schedules with limited time to meet with for instructions on how to use and/or introduce a new technology program that is required to obtain their credentialing. I usually end up meeting with the healthcare professional's designee (secretary or coordinator) to give instructions and details about the how to use the system.
To effectively translate learning for a clear understanding on the process of how to use the system, I have developed a self guided step-by-step Power Point PDF instructional guide of details with animated visuals of each step from beginning to end. I use this Power Point guide with detailed instruction when I meet with the healthcare professional's designee. In addition, I email this guide to the healthcare professional to assist in the most case that they are not available to meet with me.
I can see many ways to use Web 2.0 tool to translate my step-by-step Power Point guide differently using the R.A.T approach.
Using Replacement, instead of sending  my instructional PDF guide through email, I would replace it by adding it to a cloud storage for open web availability and easier access. In this way, the instructional guide is readily accessible for all participants at anytime, especially for those healthcare professional with  time constraints. In addition, more related information can be shared within cloud storage for updated learning materials, online support and collaborative experiences that can also be used to help with unanswered questions.
Using Amplification, I might add and develop a  "Doctor and Nurses Blog" page to our information website homepage. Here the participants can rely daily, informational updates to the instructional guide questions and reflection of the learning material overall. This would also allow me have open access to respond to those questions and make adjustment accordingly.
Using Transformation I would use and incorporate a Social Bookmarking system using a website such as "Del.ico.us" for participants to add links to save and remember as guide for concentrated study. For the most part Healthcare Professionals are researchers and constantly studying materials for answers. This can be time consuming with the traditional style of research using hard cover heath books and journal. By adding the "Del.ico.us" web tool, transformation can be made from the traditional way of learning, to searching the same information on the internet for learning  that can be bookmarked and linked for faster result and with a better study guided focus structure.
I am not really in the K-12 teaching environment, I am in the role of an instructor but for adults. Therefore my response to using Web 2.0 tools using RAT approach might seem a little different and was a little tricky for me. Overall, I see that "Replace" "Amplify" and "Transform" can be applied in many cases relating to Instructional Design for learning.

Generation Edge

Although I don't officially teach, I do work in an educational environment involving adults and children who use technologies to learn and communicate overall. Because of this, I can relate and understand the "Generation Edge" and differences from both children and adults. I am also comfortable in that respect because my profession that involves using technology to enhance communication and I fascinated with how it has evolved for learning.

I guess you can call the adults and children that I work my "students" with a main objective to gain knowledge for desired results. The video and articles definately describe my "students" who model "digital natives" and "digital immigrants". There is an obvious difference in understanding and learning with the generation gap of how they learn but he desired outcomes are still the same and that is to gain knowledge. I find it at times to be a bit challenging to teach "digital immigrants" for learning because of new technology tools that they are not familiar with and on the other side of the coin, "digital natives" are just as challenging at times to teach because of their lack of thought processing when it comes understanding learning differences and styles. Either way, there are understanding differences relating to their behaviors, characteristics and traits that are hard to combine.

Characteristics of my  "digital immigrant students" are that they are comfortable, fast and quick to adjust with using technologies for learning. On the other hand my "digital immigrants student" have characteristics of being slower learners with technologies, are hesitant and intimidated  with learning using new technologies, and don't have as much drive when it come to learning using new technologies. Although there are obvious learning differences, the results are still satisfied.

As with the articles and videos, the ways of learning is different depending on when you are born. There is a generation gap in perceived learning styles using new technology, but  methodologies for learning is continuously growing for overall improvement of understanding and to come closer in closing the gap.

  

LaCema's Introduction

Hi All,

My name is LaCema Womack. I work at Wayne State University School of Medicine in the Division of Continuing Medical Education. I am a Project Manager with the responsibility of accreditation and compliance servicing for physicians Continuing Medication credit for licensing with a focus on alternative education, (i.e. online learning, video streaming, webcasting).

My hobbies include coaching and officiating Track & Field/Cross Country to children 7-19 years old. In addition, I enjoy computer graphic designing. 

I am taking this class for the purpose of fulling my online teaching certification in Instructional Technology. This class is potentially the last class that I will have take to fulfill my Plan of Work. I will using my certification as part of my profession development to market my self as as online instructor or facilitator.

I look forward to working with all of you in the class and sharing learning experiences.