LEYI ZHU

Study Reflection

In my previous personal statement for applying for the IPT program, I wrote that“My career goal is to be a training expert who has both corporate financial knowledge and instructional technology. I hope I can develop my professional skills about the instructional design through this program.” After spending two years in this interesting program, I believe that I have made a huge progress to achieve my initial goal.

 

The more important thing is the experience broadened my view towards human learning and help me to build a more comprehensive understanding of how to use effective instructional intervention to facilitate learning. Therefore, I would like to say my current self-positioning is to be a “learning specialist” rather than a “training expert”.

 

This change really reflects my perspective towards learning. In my understanding, training still views learning as a relatively passive process which relies on the effective knowledge delivery and transmission. However, learning pays more attention to the learners' initiatives and the personal experience.  Learning is a broader concept. We as human beings need to learn new things throughout the whole life. Even as to say organizations, now we focus more on “learning” rather than “training”, because “training” is a kind of passive response to the new problem. Whereas only “learning” can help organizations to grow and to explore new opportunities.

 

The following diagram illustrates how my courses in IPT program help me to construct the core competencies as a qualified instructional designer. I will also elaborate what kinds of skills I developed during my studies. In addition, I reflect on my three main ID projects which I developed in different stages of the program.

 

For the project reflection, please click here.