Media Utilization at Valero

By: Gabe Onofre, Patti

Polensky Cathy Perez, Samina

Merchant

Media Utilization and the Instructional

Design Process

Media utilization means to use communication that reaches or influences people. Accordingly, The Performance Juxtaposition Site (a site that states it is about learning, training, leadership

and all things related to improving human performance) writes that "Media as the means of communicating and transferring a learning

concept or objective to another individual. Media are the replicable “means”, forms, or vehicles by which instruction is formatted,

stored, and delivered to the learner (Schwen, 1977). Instructional design is the development of a systematic approach to delivering quality

of instruction.

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Valero Energy Corporation is a Fortune 500 company founded in 1980s in San Antonio, Texas. The company owns and operates 18 refineries

throughout the United States. 3.3 million barrels of oil per day. Largest refinery in North America.

Media Utilization at ValeroThrough effective media utilization and

instructional design, Valero conducts monthly CBT safety trainings (OSHA mandated) and

tracked by LMS, yearly safety training (OSHA Mandated) and tracked by LMS, emergency

response team mandatory monthly and yearly training qualifications and bi-monthly

leadership/communications virtual and/or classroom training (not mandatory) and tracked

by LMS.

Valero is effectively using the following media to reach their diverse workforce and stay remain a leader in today’s petrochemical market:

• Classroom instruction• Power point presentations • Videos (provides consist and sustainable content) • Interactive gaming systems (jeopardy type games) • Classroom props and exercises• Field training  • Computer Based Training (Captivate)  • Interactive polling program. Students are assigned a

remote control for test taking. An example -- After a module the class is given a test and they use their remote to respond. The information is then downloaded and the person (assigned) receives a grade from the assigned remote.

• Smart boards• Virtual based training via Live Meeting• Virtual based training via Adobe

•The United States has not witnessed a new refinery

construction on its soil in almost 40 years.

• Valero has strategically acquired refineries which also

included other profitable assets that have allowed

them to stay viable during challenging economic times

• Oil and gas reservoirs to supply America with energy.

•Currently, Valero is the leading refiner in U.S. with

diesel exports.

• Currently Valero is looking to expand a Texas refinery

and purchase another refinery in the Houston area .

Valero’s

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Strength, and

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• Through the numerous acquisitions and growth, Valero must be able to train their employees in a quick, consist and standardized manner in order to stay competitive in today’s ever changing market.

• By designing training in multiple media rich formats, Valero is meeting the needs of their vast growing population of 21st century employees as well as older digital immigrant population.

• As a result, it is reasonable to assume that technology and instructional design has and will continue to play a role in facilitating and enhancing the knowledge and skills of the vast and diverse workforce.

What’s next?

As the new system continues to meet performance criteria, Valero continues to look ahead.“We have evaluated very carefully the upgrade to FOUNDATION

Fieldbus™ technology,” explained Ferris, “primarily to have total plant assetmanagement capability. This will include predictive maintenance tools for various mechanical devices—especially valves. We are alsolooking at tying some packaged PLC units into the system units. We feel some additional training in system maintenance and operatingprocedures will be helpful where timing/stabilization issues are involved, particularly if we decide to add some of the system enhancements currently being developed.”

ConclusionMedia Utilization in Instructional Design and Technology (IDT) is an asset in the petrochemical industry to train the numerous different types of employees employed by Valero. Through the numerous acquisitions, Valero must train their employees in a quick, consist and standardized manner in order to stay competitive in today’s ever changing market. By designing training in multiple media rich formats, Valero is meeting the needs of their vast growing population of 21st century employees as well as older digital immigrant population.

References:

Clark, D. R. (2004).The Art and Science of Leadership. Retrieved February 24, 2013 from http://nwlink.com/~donclark/leader/leader.html

Dictionary.com. (2012, May 31). Retrieved from http://www.dictionary.com

Grover-O'day, R. (2011). Inst trends and issues. Retrieved from https://sites.google.com/site/insttrendsissues/home

Hains, A., Belland, J., Conceicao-Runlee, S., Santos, R., & Rothenberg, D. (2000). Instructional technology and personnel preparation. Topics in Early Childhood Special Education (TECSE)The university of michigan. (1996, October 18). Retrieved from http://www.umich.edu/~ed626/define.html

Valero.(2012). Company History. Retrieved from: http://www.valero.com/OurBusiness/Pages/CompanyHistory.aspx

Google Images .(2013). Retrieved from: http://www.yokogawa.com/iab/pdf/suc/iab-suc-valero-en.pdf