Summary
This portfolio provides evidence and reflection of my learning and professional development throughout the online Master of Education (M.Ed.) degree in Training and Development (T&D) at North Carolina State University (NCSU). Through selected course documents and narratives, I relate my coursework and learning to my future career plans in the areas of instructional design, organizational development, and adult learning.
In my master's program, I acquired an abundance of knowledge, skills, and abilities. Those most significant to my learning include: conducting training and performance improvement assessments, task analyses, and training programs; designing and developing instructional lessons and evaluation plans; improving organizational performance and effectiveness; considering ethics and social responsibility in the workplace; applying adult learning theories, principles, and training approaches; understanding the basics of qualitative and quantitative research; and working with subject matter experts.
The process of reviewing, reflecting, and writing about my master's coursework was gratifying. I was surprised by the quantity and quality of my learning and growth as a professional. Although I was aware that I worked diligently to earn my master's degree, looking collectively at the course documents I produced placed my accomplishment at an entirely new level. In addition to the coursework I completed, my ability to effectively use various learning technologies and consider their application for adult learners evolved from being a student in a distance-based degree program, to being a highly effective instructional designer.
Completing my M.Ed. in T&D while working full-time in the field enhanced and advanced my education and professional development. I was able to directly apply what I learned in my courses in the workplace, and then share and discuss these experiences with my peers and professors. Moreover, I was able to learn from the experiences of my peers and professors in their workplaces. One of my primary goals when I started this master’s program was to become a specialist of a discipline. While there is always more to learn and further to grow, my competence as a training and development professional was affirmed in developing this portfolio.
The three themes I identified among my selected coursework – instructional design, organizational development, and adult learning – represent common areas in the profession of training and development. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics (2012), training and development managers, "plan, direct, and coordinate programs to enhance the knowledge and skills of an organization’s employees," and "developing the [knowledge and] skills of [an] organization’s workforce is essential to staying competitive in business." In fact, the typical duties listed for training and development managers all relate to instructional design, organizational development, or adult learning.
It is exciting to consider my next steps as a professional, and the career track where future learning will occur. In the coming months, I plan to learn more about massive open online courses (MOOCs) and multimedia design. My memberships with professional organizations, networking and learning through social media, and viewing trainings on-demand will all assist me in meeting these goals. The header of my portfolio shows a black and white photograph of an empty room with tall windows and bright light casting shadows in different angles. It is a visual metaphor for the vast directions in which I can go as a training and development professional, a journey, which I believe has no bounds.
In my master's program, I acquired an abundance of knowledge, skills, and abilities. Those most significant to my learning include: conducting training and performance improvement assessments, task analyses, and training programs; designing and developing instructional lessons and evaluation plans; improving organizational performance and effectiveness; considering ethics and social responsibility in the workplace; applying adult learning theories, principles, and training approaches; understanding the basics of qualitative and quantitative research; and working with subject matter experts.
The process of reviewing, reflecting, and writing about my master's coursework was gratifying. I was surprised by the quantity and quality of my learning and growth as a professional. Although I was aware that I worked diligently to earn my master's degree, looking collectively at the course documents I produced placed my accomplishment at an entirely new level. In addition to the coursework I completed, my ability to effectively use various learning technologies and consider their application for adult learners evolved from being a student in a distance-based degree program, to being a highly effective instructional designer.
Completing my M.Ed. in T&D while working full-time in the field enhanced and advanced my education and professional development. I was able to directly apply what I learned in my courses in the workplace, and then share and discuss these experiences with my peers and professors. Moreover, I was able to learn from the experiences of my peers and professors in their workplaces. One of my primary goals when I started this master’s program was to become a specialist of a discipline. While there is always more to learn and further to grow, my competence as a training and development professional was affirmed in developing this portfolio.
The three themes I identified among my selected coursework – instructional design, organizational development, and adult learning – represent common areas in the profession of training and development. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics (2012), training and development managers, "plan, direct, and coordinate programs to enhance the knowledge and skills of an organization’s employees," and "developing the [knowledge and] skills of [an] organization’s workforce is essential to staying competitive in business." In fact, the typical duties listed for training and development managers all relate to instructional design, organizational development, or adult learning.
- Assess employees' needs for training (instructional design; organizational development)
- Align training with the organization's strategic goals (instructional design; organizational development)
- Create a training budget and keep operations within budget (organizational development)
- Develop or update training programs to ensure that they are current and make the best use of available resources (instructional design)
- Oversee the creation of training manuals, online learning modules, and other educational materials for employees (instructional design; adult learning)
- Review training materials from a variety of vendors and select materials with appropriate content (instructional design; adult learning)
- Teach training methods and skills to instructors and supervisors (organizational development; instructional design; adult learning)
- Evaluate the effectiveness of training programs and instructors (instructional design; organizational development) (U.S. Department of Labor, 2012)
It is exciting to consider my next steps as a professional, and the career track where future learning will occur. In the coming months, I plan to learn more about massive open online courses (MOOCs) and multimedia design. My memberships with professional organizations, networking and learning through social media, and viewing trainings on-demand will all assist me in meeting these goals. The header of my portfolio shows a black and white photograph of an empty room with tall windows and bright light casting shadows in different angles. It is a visual metaphor for the vast directions in which I can go as a training and development professional, a journey, which I believe has no bounds.