Week One Journal
Laura Moll
Ashford University
Dr. Bruce A. Johnson
Introduction
Just in Time learning and training is a revolutionary new concept that has emerged as a result of the internet revolution and the changing dynamics of the classroom. John Miller references an idea that helps solidify this concept and conceptualize the need for Just In Time training. He explains, before the internet people had archives of maps in books on shelves. Students were typically taught how to navigate through those books to find certain maps of certain locations. Now, with the accessibility of the internet, when someone is looking for a map or directions they simply look it up online, learn the information while they need it, and then theoretically “discard” the information until it is needed again. This reference to the use of maps provides a vivid description and analysis of the importance of the JIT approach to teaching and learning.
Value of JIT Training
Children that are entering school in the twenty-first century have a keen sense of technological influence and proficiency. They are typically used to watching the shows that they want, when they want to and skipping through commercials, thanks to Netflix, Hulu, DVR and other technologies that have “enhanced” our media experience. The same is true for reading books and other information, via Kindle and other ipad apps. Children are taught to obtain information when they need it as a result of their early experiences with technology. This transfers to their academic expectations when they enter school and set them up for an ideal inclusion into the JIT approach to teaching. Education has always been a modern, changing entity that acclimates to new interests, technology and creative innovations and the JIT approach is an important technique that will help all learners reach their maximum learning potential.
Experience with JIT Training
My experience in this methodology is minimal based on formal learning techniques and patterns. However, as a teacher I planned and formulated several lessons based on skills that were to have been mastered in previous lessons or school years. However, in many instances I had to backtrack and go over simple skills to be able to elaborate on the complex techniques I was attempting to teach. My first year teaching, I was a fifth grade teacher. One of the first skills of the year was learning the rules of divisibility. I designed my lesson plan to initially provide an overview of all the rules, and then narrow them down based on usability and functionality. However, as I began to introduce the lesson, I could see that my students were lost and had little idea what I was referring to when I mentioned the term divisor or dividend or multiple. After a formative analysis of their understanding I decided to backtrack and teach terminology and the basic process for multiplying and dividing. This JIT approach helped students to understand a concept more clearly and conceptualize new skills.
Conclusion
The value of JIT training is incredible in a modern classroom whether it is online or in a traditional classroom setting. JIT learning techniques embrace the idea that learning should take place as students need the information, so that interest and retention rates are higher. Also, it provides an opportunity to narrow down objective skills to be taught. This concept can be applied in many different situations enhancing the diversity and ability to reach students.
References
Clark, R. C. & Mayer, R. E. (2011). E-Learning and the science of instruction (3rd ed). San
Francisco. Pfeiffer
Miller, Jon. Just-in-Time Learning Model. Youtube. Retrieved June 2, 2014 from
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3gLfKLDhQg
