It's All About the Tradeoff

Reading Collins' article, "Design Issues for Learning Environments" I couldn't help but think about how teaching, design, and time management were related. Collins argues the importance of understanding the costs and benefits associated with design and with instruction. He believes that in order for something to be effectively instructive it needs to present information in a way that balances the pros and cons for all involved. Imagine this: you're working with a group of students who are trying to grasp a new concept for the first time. Five of the students are visual learners, two rely on memorization, and the other three appreciate practical application. If you need to teach them all the same topic at the same time, how do you go about presenting it? According to Collins, you need to figure out the method that best covers the needs of all 10 students. This method likely won't be ideal for anyone in the group, but it will be effective because it will combine the necessary ingredients for overall satisfaction. You know what I mean? We're balancing what we've got to create something that will work for the majority.

This example applies to design, too. When you're creating a new template for something, you need to be familiar with the purpose behind the creation (is it intended to be instructive? to sell something?) as well as with the backgrounds of the people you're creating it for. Once you familiarize yourself with this information, you need to identify the middle ground (the area/method that will appease the masses) and go for it. Do what you can with what you have so that the end result is beneficial for the majority.

In thinking about this tradeoff scenario, I can't help but think about time management as well. (If you don't see where I'm going with this, bear with me...I promise I'll try to explain). Since I haven't spent much time formally teaching anyone anything, and I'm new to this whole design concept, I tend to apply what I learn to what I know. As a graduate student in higher education, and as a compulsive organizer and volunteer, I know time management. So here's what I see: the tradeoffs Collins discusses in his article are like the tradeoffs you make when you realize that you've overcommitted on any given day or in any certain situation. What's important is that you assess what's necessary, you adjust for what you're actually able to do, and you work to accommodate yourself and your audience (or in my daily life, my students, my supervisors, and my peers) to the best of your ability. In learning about design and instruction (and in reviewing my day planner) I realize that this balance is invaluable.