Self-Evaluation

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Prior to my introduction to the IDD&E industry, I possessed no concept of how instruction was designed, developed, implemented, or evaluated.  Through my exploration of course content, research, practice, and development, I feel that I am well on my way to becoming proficient regarding the skills, knowledge, and attitudes required of an expert instructional designer.  I am in no way an expert, but I feel that IDD&E coursework and exposure to ID competency work and development have set me on the correct path.  As a Soldier, I feel that the majority of the instruction I will be delivering will be prescriptive in nature, but I am now comfortable with understanding the intricacies and efforts required to make that instruction pertinent and effective. 

 

Throughout my journey as a student in Syracuse University's M.S., IDD&E program, I have developed across all IDD&E standards of Practice competencies, some more than others, but ultimately, I have grown significantly regarding my IDD&E skills, knowledge, and attitudes.  The competencies which I feel have been best developed begin with 1.2: Enhancing Interpersonal Skills.  As a senior U.S. Army leader, I felt that my ability to engage in interpersonal relationships was strong and developed properly, but upon gaining a better understanding of what this meant outside of the Army, it became clear that I had some work to do. 

 

As a result of the IDD&E M.S. program, I have gained a deeper appreciation for the art and science of interpersonal relationships through extensive team collaboration and external source relationship development.  Further, I now understand, and am able to employ, the proper tactics required for developing these relationships in the civilian sector such as the utilization of proper vocabulary and the importance of understanding the motives of a client.  Strengthening and understanding how to cultivate strong interpersonal relationships provides IDs with the opportunity to display their talents.  Without this competency, one may never get the chance to show others what they can do.  I also believe that I have grown significantly regarding competency 1.5: Enhance Research and Evaluation Practice Skills, 2.1: Acknowledge Performance Gaps and Plan Analysis Processes, 3.1: Select or Create Appropriate Instructional Design or Evaluation Models to Enact Design Plans, 4.0: Implement and Disseminate Instructional and Non-Instructional Interventions, and 5.3: Lead, Maintain Quality, and Manage ID Projects And Deliverables.

 

I feel that the IDD&E standards of practice are an effective evaluation method to gauge the level of competency of aspiring IDs, but my role as an Army instructor will not include the development of many of these competencies.  However, the enhancement of my skills, knowledge, and attitude regarding ID will definitely enhance my abilities as an instructor and will surely open countless opportunities for me upon retirement from active duty service.  There are still several IDD&E standards of practice of which I require self-improvement, but I feel that personal enhancement of these standards will be best completed through practice and application.  I have included my self-assessments below, ranging from the beginning of the IDD&E program with periodic updates from the conclusion of each semester of the program, for a more thorough an complete self-assessment of my perceived progress as a result of the M.S. IDD&E program of study.