Course Description:  Development of skills and knowledge related to the systematic design of instruction. Emphasis is placed on content analysis, instructional strategies, and formative evaluation.

 

Reflection:  I feel as though taking a course like Instructional Systems Design was a great benefit to me.  I had actually taken a course incredibly similar to it as a required course for my secondary education minor for my undergraduate degree, but this was a much-needed refresher for me.  Throughout much of this course, I was asked to consider how and why I designed the lessons I have taught the way I did.  It really made me begin to slow down and think.  As a newer teacher, I am very well aware of the positives and necessities of reflecting on past lessons and making any needed changes each year.  However, I feel as though this course helped me to design better lessons and units the first time around and potentially having fewer fixes needed for the future. 

 

Instructional Systems Design though wasn't just a course for teachers, which was helpful for me when it came time for feedback on any of my work.  Our final project for this course was also my first official group project within this program, as well as my first group project ever as a distance student.  I am so used to just being able to meet up with my group at a library or coffee shop that having to rely on technology was quite the challenge!  However, that also was a great lesson to me on just how much technology can do.