Attack of the Scope Creep

The Art of Effective Communication

The Art of Effective Communication

            Communication is still considered a high value item that any project manager must be able to use to be effective.  Most projects will live or die due to the success of communication.  Managers are will either be promoted or fired depending on how effective they are with this specialized tool.  A major part of any PM duties is to keep senior leadership with status of the project (Portny, 2008).  Even a bigger part is that communication is being used in so many different ways, PM will need to stay abreast with all the diverse media in order to communication with his team and management.  Watching, listening and reading “The Art of Effective Communication” gave a glimpse of some of the different ways to correspond with your co-workers.  Each media (email, voicemail, & Face to Face) gave me a prospective on each tool and how it can be more effective.

            Email is probably the most use form of communication in the world.  In the 20 years I have put in the Air Force, it’s amazing how much a modest task as giving a simple order has gone from face to face to reading your email.  Military leadership has encourage the folks from the old generation to embrace the new form as communication as it has allow us multitask more and get more accomplished at a short time (PDG, 2009).  They key was to embrace but not forget how human interaction is important.  As project managers, we must take into consideration the subject of the email and whether it can give the reader clear and concise instructions on what the goal of the email is.  This falls more into the formal communication where the main purpose of the message is to get the readers attention on the task at hand and what is needed from them and timeframe of when this task needs to be completed (Portny, 2008). 

           

            Voicemail is the one media most people hate to use.  Primarily due to its informal nature and the difficulty of getting the proper message across.  This tool is used just to get the listener a small message of what is needed and majority of the time, the person giving the message will ask for some confirmation of this message.  Verification is the most important detail as it’s the only way the reader will know if the listener got and understand the message.

           

            Face-to-Face is the old school way to get your message across.  This tool is the best tool for any PM who wants to ensure their message, instructions and suspense’s are given and understood.  During the program, “The Art of Effective Communication”, Face-to-Face was the only media where the message was clearly given and understood from the reader how important these tasks were.  One would only hope that any PM would primarily use this media as it will not only give validation of the message being delivered but also be able to read your employees as it will allow the PM to interact and clear any misconceptions they might have.  The Art of Effective Communication has given us a quick guideline on all the different tools used in communication and maybe just give use an understanding how to use each one effectively. 

Hermes Sanchez

Portny, S. E., Mantel, S. J., Meredith, J. R., Shafer, S. M., Sutton, M. M., & Kramer, B. E. (2008). Project  management: Planning, scheduling, and controlling projects. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Professional Development Guide(PDG). (2009). In Professional Development Guide (AFP 36-2241), Washington            DC:

Quality Air Force Post-mortem

Quality Air Force Post-mortem

                My time in the Air Force has taught me that changes comes quite often.    During my early years, I was put in charge of an project that dealt with Air Force Quality process.  This was the new assessment for units that help units to evaluate their process and improve on it.  It was called Quality Air Force 2000.  Being an eager Non-Commission Officer, I was eager to prove my abilities and took the project head on and attempted to bring our squadron to Quality Air Force. 

My main plan was to follow certain guidelines given by HQs which was teach the knowledge, give scenario exercises and validation of new assessment being used.  HQs has sent out all the materials to follow thru with the project at hand.  Lesson plans, Scenario exercise, class materials, and validation exercises.  We were even given training on how to instruct and evaluate the new system.  The training went well and majority of the all project managers where excited to institute this new assessment tool.  We were ready to get started and I felt this project was going to be a big success.

Once my classes got started, I notice that the different type of culture compared to the training I had.  The atmosphere in my training session was needed during my instruction times with my squadron.  This is an area that needed to be notice as learning was stand still.  A Non-Commission Officer in the AF are taught to understand their folks and be able to comprehend their values in life to be able to better associate yourself with them (PDG, 2009).  This ideal should’ve have lead me to re evaluated certain aspects of this project and make it tailored more to the individuals in my squadron.   Follow-Through is another responsibility that helps you work with others to institutionalize achieved changes (Beach, 2006).  This new system had only valued certain members in this project and they lost their focus on the teaching at hand (Portny, 2008).  Training became difficult and seem to lose its steam after the third and final day of the instruction.

                Finally,  the units in the squadron seem to down play the Quality Air Force 2000 as only 3 of the 15 units instituted the assessment tool.   Only one of the three units who did use the system found any value in improving their process.   The Air Force across the board did not think the Quality Air Force 2000 project go as well as they plan.  Soon after, they develop at least two more different assessment systems .  But in the end  the Air Force now uses a hybrid method of the old Quality Air Force 2000 system to assess unit process.  In retrospect, the tools HQs gave us was adequate tools for the new process.  Currently The value should have been place more on units members.  Getting the members involve directly with the process could’ve made this project a lot more successful and save the Air Force a lot of money of developing two more different systems.   I was too young in my managerial career to be more patient with the members and find how this system could’ve have impact them more in a personal level.

Hermes Sanchez, TSgt, USAF

Portny, S. E., Mantel, S. J., Meredith, J. R., Shafer, S. M., Sutton, M. M., & Kramer, B. E. (2008). Project management: Planning, scheduling, and controlling projects. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Beach, L. R. (2006). Leadership and the Art of Change. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, Inc.

Professional Development Guide (PDG). (2009). In Professional Development Guide (AFP 36-2241), Washington DC:

Distance Learning Reflections

Distance Learning -- Reflection

Hermes Sanchez

Walden University

EDUC 6125: Foundation of Distance Learning

25 December 2011

Learners Motivation -- Reflection

Starting this course was exciting for me as I was looking forward to making my mark as its where I looking to start my next career as a teacher online.  Understanding the concepts of distance learning is vital for any teacher or instructor.  There are many factors to consider as I learned throughout this course.   Its has made me think about where the perception of distance will be in the future and how as an instructional designer I can be a proponent and positive force to this ever growing field of distance learning.

During my classes I have learned that learning is all about getting that change in behavior.   Distance learning seems to fall in the same category as for this field to excel in the future, people need to learn and understand this field.  There may be many kinds of actions that have shown that this field is heading this that directions as record number of students are joining the crowds to online classes.  It comes down to the person believing that doing this instruction and being able to change their behavior and at what level (Ormond, 2009). I never thought that this was such a complex process especially since everyone has some areas that differ from others.   In 10 – 30 years, most universities will have more students online that in class just due to the cost and availability to the students and the schools themselves (Simonson, 2009).   Soon companies will value degrees from distance learning as high as any traditional university and that will be the paradigm that will break and keep distance learning going strong. 

My experiences over the last 19 years in the military have given more experiences that most executives would never have in a lifetime. I do believe what works for you now might not work for you later in life. This is why it’s so important to get this information out how this invaluable resource is used all the time in online courses.   Instructor designers must know that these concepts or ideas need to be carried out to the schools and workplaces to show how great this type of instruction is.  Some instruction must be designed to effect a change in belief and value systems (Conlan, 2003).   This is why I am a big proponent for distance learning and its most vocal cheerleader.  I encourage folks to try this medium so they can get some type of connection to see its benefits.    This is how we get the connection with all the theories, styles, and motivation from distance learning.  Once we understand their distance learning process, the others will fall in place. 

I have met so many folks who are thankful to the lord for distance learning. Whichever online education options you choose, they all require focus, dedication, and motivation (Simonson, 2009). These are all traits you look for when you go too any traditional university or trade school.  With the ease of scheduling and empowerment of assignments deadlines, it seems that it gives everyone a change to get their knowledge and power in order to get that degree to get that promotion, pay raise, or new position.  These positive forces is a big wave to information that is slowly getting to the all of US as schools await for more homes to catch up to the technology to allow more folks to get online and get their degrees.  It’s a big force that will assist many people in a positive way.

With all my schooling and work experience; I was amazed on how things go on when it came to distance learning. The concepts and styles allow me as a instruction designer to be able to see and understand how to deal and assist any student.  I will be able to know which way I should take the course or class, what questions will get them to open up and what teaching media and instructions will work best for that student (Ormod, 2010).  Distance learning is a field that is getting stronger and will be a major positive force in the educational world.  This course has help me feel better prepared to run a course and be able to adapt.  This is a course that has given me the tools to succeed and I will be a positive influence that will guide to others on how to succeed and prosper.

References

Ormrod, J., Schunk, D., & Gredler, M. (2009). Learning theories and instruction (Laureate custom edition). New York. pp53

Simonson, M., Smaldino, S., Albright, M., & Zvacek, S. (2009). Teaching and learning at a
distance: Foundations of distance education (4th ed.) Boston, MA: Pearson

Ormrod, Jeanne , (Director). (2010) . Information Processing and the Brain. [Motion Picture].

Conlan, J., Grabowski, S., & Smith, K. (2003). Adult learning. In M. Orey (Ed.), Emerging perspectives on learning, teaching, and technology. Retrieved from http://projects.coe.uga.edu/epltt/index.php?title=Adult_Learning

Converting to Distance Learning

Distance learning is becoming a bigger media when it comes to education.  Many educators will need to break from that paradigm in order to keep up with the technology and not be left behind.  I have created a document that will discuss the different avenues, methods, and ideas that would be helpful to any educator who wants to transfer over their courses to distance learning.  The biggest shame is that educator don't even realize how much help its make to so many people by teaching them a subject they would not otherwise have a chance to live day to day.

Hermes Sanchez

To be Open or Closed

To be Open or Closed

By Hermes Sanchez

         In our society, it seems that when items and programs are free, a certain value is placed.   Open Course is a free resource that has been most individuals are unaware of.   These courses are tool to improve learners’ knowledge. Many use these courses to coincide with their regular studies, to plug in holes or to get an awareness how other universities treat a matter (Simonson, 2009).  Any students would strongly benefit from some more coordination and from some access to teaching beyond the pure material.  One example of a good Open Course site is http://webcast.berkeley.edu.

 

         They handle a wide arrange of courses that would benefit any student looking for quick refresher or updated their knowledge.  They also have campus service for recording and publishing course and campus events for students and learners.

         One aspect that grabs your attention is the educators’ involved in these courses.  Its your list of the top scholars of each department.  Their focus is primarily on leveraging technology to bring down the overall cost of production and distribution (Simonson, 2009). They have developed system automatically invites eligible faculty to participate each semester, manages their responses, create and schedule course recordings, and process and publish media files to Webcast Berkeley. 

         This clearly shows that Berkeley has carefully pre-planned and designed their courses more for a distance-learning environment.  With majority of the courses in You-tube, most information is directly form the course itself with an institute course premise and outline that allows students to follow carefully and be able to build their knowledge base.    This is a basis that seems to be growing and a fast rate as its development is setting new standards for open course learning objects.

         The latest design that the schools are looking to enhance is the OpenCast Matterhorn Community. 

  

Opencast Community is looking to launch a development project which is a collaboration between 13 partner institutions to develop and deliver an open-source automated lecture audio and video capture, processing, and distribution system.  They will set a new precedence on the value of the open course that very well even go further than the original concept on the online community chat that can involve world wide talk which will open to everyone.  Course designers have look in a way to fully maximize the course activities with interaction with students aboard and possible networking and knowledge base that will only benefit any learner who goes into this open course.

     Open courses seems to be a big trend that many big universities are using to enhance their students, prepare them for their courses, and for what the future will be in distance learning.  Berkeley has a good open course program that is beneficial to any learner or student who is looking to build the information tank and be able to tackle any additional courses to get that degree.  Course developers have set good planned course material and gathered their top educators on video to give the student a complete interaction for the old school or classroom traditionalist but given a small sample how the distance learning will be a big force in the future.  I would be “Open” than be closed when it comes to these courses.

Hermes Sanchez

Reference

Simonson, M., Smaldino, S., Albright, M., & Zvacek, S. (2009). Teaching and learning at a distance: Foundations of distance education (4th ed.) Boston, MA: Pear

Selecting Distance Learning Technologies

The example I selected to work on deals with Asynchronous training. This type of training is a difficult as there is no interaction with teacher and student. The instructional designer must be able to create a training environment that will keep the students compelled with the instruction and be able to enhance their learning and experience (Simonson, 2009). Furthermore, being able to give them scenarios that will allow them to use their experience to be able to present plausible answers to the questions at hand.

With this in mind, I wanted to look at the situation at hand.   It discusses how a company is trying to improve their safety training modules with flexible training schedules, quality training and ease of use. In my experience when it comes to safety training, there is no room error. My four years as a Safety training monitor at my unit has shown me that realism is key in training and gives the value in importance. It’s important to find a module that can support the Asynchronous training while being able to show the vital aspects of safety training. That system is School Rack.






It has the capability to share information, documents and files. This is important as Safety always have standards and policies for example OSHA safety regulations that we used in the military was a important document for personnel to know and understand especially if you work with hazardous material.

SchoolRack’s rich text editing system allows a instructional designers to publish any form of content on their Learning module (Shaughnessy, 2009). They can post anything from a hyperlink to a YouTube video. This is definitely one of the best features as it can show the importance of safety as its highest level. Safety training makes its strongest compelling lessons by giving the learner a visual experience of vital essence of safety. With the flexible system, many educators use SchoolRack to manage large lists of resources for students, such as a list of links to external learning sites. With the large numbers of Safety sites on all data and government & State safety regulation, this will at least give the learners an open avenue to find the answers to their safety question.

Other qualities of SchoolRack are the discussion board, private messaging and Text editor. The discussion board is where members of groups, which deals with Safety, will be put in module where the training is taking place. This is grand opportunity for learners can interact with other educators whose experience might give insight for others to do their work.



Private messaging works great if you need to get in touch with those members to get first hand communication with those individuals who have similar experience you have, and is able to answer some safety questions you are having trouble fixing.



The SchoolRack text editor ease of use is one of its attributes. It has is the “Insert Image, Media, or File” button where you can easily grab images or files from your account, or embed a YouTube video or other widget directly into a post. This will allow the educator to tie in all important safety aspects and develop step by step instructions for the students to complete the training modules .




SchoolRack module will do wonders for any organization that is looking to train their employees with all its tools, flexible scheduling, and ability to give and store invaluable safety information that will give supervisors and mangers comfort in knowing that there employees got high quality training and knowledge that can avoid lost of equipment, materials and life.


Hermes Sanchez

Simonson, M., Smaldino, S., Albright, M., & Zvacek, S. (2009). Teaching and learning at a distance: Foundations of distance education (4th ed.) Boston, MA: Pearson.

Shaughnessy, S. (2009) 
”An Interview with Artie Mohbeg, SchoolRack.” EducationNews.org
ENMU
Portales, NM.

http://www.schoolrack.com/