This week I will be showing how wiki can be integrated into a program that the JDF can use to review some of the policies that have existed for years. A policy review requires participants to engage in critical thinking. These policy reviews would fall within the context of what West and West (2009) refers to as “Debates” and “Nominal Group Technique”. This will allow them to use two different methods of using wikis. .
There are five key policy documents that will be reviewed: the Fitness Policy, the Drug Abuse Policy, the Sexual Harassment Policy, Housing Policy, and the Education Policy. The program will be conducted online since the participants are generally in disparate places, and will not be able to collaborate directly throughout the work week. Face-to-face sessions will occur on three occasions: weeks 1, 5 and 8.
Title of the lesson/training: Review of JDF Policies
Target audience: Military Officers at the level of Captain (1 from all 8 units).
The Aim of the program: To have a mid-level management perspective of
current policies and the possible changes required.
Learning/Training objectives: At
the end of the program, participants should have:
- Become more familiar with the 5 key policies
- Gain a balanced perspective on the policies
- Express views on the policies that are based on evidence and research
- Critically evaluate opposing sides of an issue
- Produced a final review that can be used for further analysis
Rationale for the use of wiki: Wikis
provide a collaborative tool to support critical thinking (West and West,
2009).
|
Week
|
Topic
|
Key Learning Activities
|
|
One
|
Program
commencement
(Face-to-face)
|
Ø Overview of
the five policies
Ø Introduction
to wikis and how to use it for collaboration
Ø Use of wiki “Debate”
style
Ø Assign
readings for Fitness Policy
|
|
Two
|
Fitness
Policy
|
Ø Use wiki to collaborate
critically assess the Fitness Policy and come up with a group position to be
shared at the mid-program face-to-face
Ø Use of wiki “Debate”
style
Ø Assign
readings for Drug Abuse Policy
|
|
Three
|
Drug
Abuse Policy
|
Ø Use wiki to collaborate
critically assess the Drug Abuse Policy
and come up with a group position to be shared at the mid-program
face-to-face
Ø Use of “Debate”
style
Ø Assign
readings for the Sexual Harassment Policy
|
|
Four
|
Sexual
Harassment Policy
|
Ø Use wiki to collaborate
critically assess the Sexual Harassment Policy and come up with a group
position to be shared at the mid-program face-to-face
Ø Use of “Debate”
style
Ø Have
participants do group assessment of individual contribution and use of wiki
|
|
Five
|
Mid-program
review and assessments
(Face-to-face)
|
Ø Discuss the
group’s review and proposals
Ø Review the use
of wiki
Ø Discussion of “Nominal Group
Technique”.
Ø Assign
readings for the Housing Policy
|
|
Six
|
Housing
Policy
|
Ø Use wiki to collaborate
critically assess the Housing Policy and come up with a group position to be
shared at the mid-program face-to-face
Ø “Nominal Group
Technique”.
Ø Assign
readings for the Education Policy
|
|
Seven
|
Education
Policy
|
Ø Use wiki to collaborate
critically assess the Education Policy and come up with a group position to
be shared at the mid-program face-to-face
Ø “Nominal Group Technique”.
Ø Have
participants do group assessment of individual contribution and use of wiki
|
|
Eight
|
Wrap
up
(Face-to-face)
|
Final
discussions on:
The
5 policies
Use
of wikis
Evaluation
of the work
|
Wiki Activity Evaluation: This will be done by self and group assessment. Participants’ contribution will be judged based on a scale of “Above Average”, “Average”, “Below Average”. Areas that will be considered will include: Quality of contribution, Response time to other contribution, frequency of contribution and use of wiki tools.
References
West, J. & M. West (2009). Using wikis for
online collaboration: The power of the read-write web.
San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass
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ReplyDeleteMurphy,
ReplyDeleteI liked the way that you applied this to a review of policies. I also like the hybrid method of partially in person and partially online version of your training. I enjoy classes that have that hybrid component. I feel like it utilizes my time well. I'm able to have the feeling that comes from experiencing an in class debate session, while not having to try to get to class each week.
I'm curious as to what your expectations are for postings. When would you like members to post and how often? What would constitute average, above average, etc. posting for your evaluation?
-DeAnna
I think your use of Wikis is very interactive. I find it especially interesting that you chose to use the Nominal Group Technique (NGT) in your Wiki process. Franz (2012) describes NGT as a commonly used decision-making intervention “designed to solve many of the interpersonal problems associated with member behavior in face-to-face interacting groups” (p. 167). Although I’ve seen the benefits of using NGT in face-to face settings, I wonder if the “timed phases” described by West and West (2009, p. 96) would make it difficult to apply in a week’s time. It will be interesting to see how it plays out. Your post is making me think of the many ways we can use Wikis! Thank you.
ReplyDeleteReference
Franz, T. M. (2012). Group dynamics and team interventions: Understanding and improving team performance. Malden, MA: Wiley-Blackwell.
West, J. & West, M. (2009). Using Wikis for online collaboration: The power of the read-write Web. San Francisco, CA: Jossey –Bass
Murphy,
ReplyDeleteOverall, I enjoyed reading your lesson plan. I noticed you also had a less formal method of evaluation (“Above Average”, “Average”, “Below Average”.) In this week’s reading, the authors discussed the increase in motivation among students when wiki projects are supported by an explicit grading scheme (West & West, 2009). Creating motivation among our peers and subordinates in a military environment can be difficult when there is no reward at the end. In formal military courses students are rewarded by competing for honor graduate and getting superior ratings on their end-of-course evaluation report. Creating motivation is more challenging with on-the-job training exercises; however, we can motivate our soldiers by rewarding the best group with the Army Achievement Medal (AAM) or a day off work. In fact, on my last deployment, we created an internal Best Medic Competition; the winner received an AAM which seemed to increase motivation among the medics. This assignment definitely got my wheels turning!
West, J. & West, M. (2009). Using Wikis for Online Collaboration: The power of the read-write web. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
Forgive me, this has nothing to do with your blog. If I remember correctly, you are in Jamaica. Was curious if you are in the path of the hurricane? If so, hope everyone stays safe!
ReplyDeleteJennifer