The FINAL blog

So this is the end of 632 and I have to say it has been quite a journey. This course began with a mountain of information and I started to think I was getting in way over my head. However, all the information eventually started to make sense, maybe week  5 or 6, but it did eventually make sense haha. I think once everything was organized in terms of the PLE’s and all the logistics it became more of a habit, rather than a chore, to update our blog each week. By the end it was almost easier to gather my thoughts on the blog than anywhere else. This allowed everyone to see where each classmate was and it was always good know that you were never too far behind others in the class.

The mid-term came around fast and it seemed to bring doom and gloom to most in the class, but, for me it was the motivation I needed to gain a good understanding of the course content. I spend a good week going over all the modules and from that everything seemed to fit together. Plus its great to know you’re on top of things when you pass the exam….almost makes the rest of the course a little easier.

The model was a very long and worrying process lol. At first I had what I though was a good idea but when you start to map it out over the first few weeks you realize how much is actually involved in designing a model. Each week we would go over new areas relevant to instructional design, which seemed to just make me more confused lol. Like I said before though, after the mid-term everything seemed to come together and my model took some drastic changes. After a meeting to discuss the direction of my model I left with some fresh ideas and a good plan for improvement. Over the next few days I was finally on the right track and managed to put together a new model, which is very similar to my final model. I had another meeting, which helped with some final decisions, and a week or so later I had my final model.

The final assignment took me a bit longer than I expected but it was nice to have the time to not rush through it. Once all my other classwork was done I was free to focus on the final and hopefully it justified my model quite well. I’m glad to have it done now but I would love to work with this model more in future classes. The class has taught me so much and has helped put everything together from the past semester and this semester. 

How is the Model effective for Continuous development?

So as already explained my model is designed to help teams ensure continuous development.

The model is derived from my background in playing Field Hockey and is even more relevant to me no that now that I’m involved in various levels of coaching the sport. Although my background is in Field Hockey this model can be implemented by and sport , team or individual, and at any level. I say at any level, however, it would be more suited to the style of development at a higher, more competitive level.

It would be useful for coaches at this more competitive level to use a model like this to ensure the team is continuously improving throughout the season. For this reason I would suggest that the front-end analysis part should be conducted at the beginning if a new season, including the off season and then continued throughout that season.  For example the team should start the model before pre-season and then after every implementation the model cycle should be repeated. This is vital for improvement after each training session or game. Therefore an analysis stage could be carried out numerous times throughout a season. This is where the continuous development is emphasized and I felt important to try and portray in the model itself. 

Here is each section in more detail....

So it's the final week and I'm looking forward to bringing my model into its final stages. I have the model itself done but there are a few areas which might need adjustment when it comes to writing the assignment. I tried to keep up with the assignment as the model went on but it took a huge direction change a couple of weeks ago so I now need to ensure everything fits. But here is what I hope to be my final model.......

The following image shows the finer details which is what may change in the next few days. 

Model for Continuous Team Development

Okay, finally here is my model for continuous team development.

Okay, finally here is my model for continuous team development.
Let me briefly explain a few things....firstly, I wanted a model that emphasizes a continuous cycle that uses information gathered from the previous cycle to fuel the next cycle. For this I have analysis following the implementation phase, rather than having the evaluation here. My reason behind this is that the information gathered from the implementation stage will go back into analysis for the next stage of development.

I was finding it difficult to get my head around how I could design a model that fits what I want to develop. I didn’t know whether to do a model for program design, curriculum design or whatever else can be designed out there but what I did want to do was show that developing a team is a continuous process so this model would be used by coaches all throughout the season. I’m still not sure if that was the idea for this project but I’m happy with what I have so far. Any advice on how to make it improvements or changes would be welcome.

Just to explain a few more things. The analysis phase will look to analyze team performance and player performance. After the first cycle (a cycle being Analysis, Design and Develop, and Implement) the implementation phase would act as the tool for analysis of players and team performance. This will hopefully portray the idea of continuous development?!? Once the goals from one cycle are complete they move onto determining the goals for the next cycle.
I wanted to promote the idea of a pull model rather than push. With the development of a team it is difficult to know what has to be taught before knowing the needs. Since this model is for continuous development it would therefore be used every time a problem is presented in the team. Rather than designing a curriculum or program at the beginning of the season this model will instead pull information from a knowledge base of skills, play situations and game knowledge only when needed. This will occur at the design and development phase.

Implementation will either be in the form of video sessions, practice sessions or games. Each of which will determine the type of assessment needed to assess if goals are being met. At the same time analysis of performance will also be happening. Again hopefully portraying the idea of a continuous cycle?!?

Of course there will be overall goals this model is trying to achieve. These will link with the teams overall goals and will be determined either before the cycle begins or after the first cycle. Every cycle after that will not only be aiming to close the individual and team needs identified with each cycle but also to eventually reach the overall goals at the end of the season.

Model on paper

I have been thinking long and hard about my model but so far have only been scribbling notes and designs on paper. I hope to have my model up by tomorrow.....just need to get my technical skills out to put my design onto the computer. For those of you who know me will know that this is not going to be easy...haha, Laurene you know what I am talking about.

I have also been working to put my assignment together as I find that writing about the background, the purpose, the need for change, and rational for my model has helped me come to what I hope to be the final design for my model. Putting all the components into a systems model also helped a lot. By outlining the inputs and by knowing the output being aimed at it made it easier to define the process. After Dan's talk on Thursday I realized the environment my model is being designed for is more suited to the idea of pulling training when needed. So I have been working on emphasizing that in my model too.

I finally feel like I am on the right track!

Visual Update

The Visual update of my model is still in the planning. Hopefully in the next few days I will have my model complete.

It is going to follow a similar framework to ADDIE with a few alterations to suit my context. I have mapped out many ways to display the model, yet am unsure of how best to fit it all together. I am hoping that it will all just click pretty soon.

At the moment I am unsure of how important a development stage is in my model. It seems everything in Design is related to development. I think I would rather join the two together and empathize the importance of both through the one area. The design and development area appears to be the area of most significance in my model. So I am working on a way to portray that visually.