Section 7

This section of the textbook addresses new directions and emerging technologies for IDT. For your final post, reflect on how you might apply each of the following in your current or future position in the IDT field:

1. distributed or e-learning environments
2. reusable design or learning objects
3. rich media
4. emerging instructional technologies, such as artificial intelligence, cybernetics, Web 2.0, virtual worlds, electronic games, etc.

1).   Although I do not currently have a position, in the very near future (and already in some areas), I feel that using e-learning environments is going to quickly play a role in many library media centers across the globe.  I have been looking into using Skype or other avenues to invite authors from long distances to participate in author visits allowing students and the community to participate in a live discussion.  According to the definition in our book, distributed learning is "any educational or training experience that uses a variety of means, including technology, to enable learning (p. 290)."  I have been involved in distance learning opportunities and know that the equipment is nearby and easily available for use in our area.  My entire Master's degree has been earned by using distance learning on online classes.  I feel that e-learning has a valid place in the future of education and is not going to go away, but continue to improve and become more readily available, even at an elementary level.  Using tools online to create learning opportunities has endless possibilities.  As with any technology, there is the potential for "hiccups" but, the "key to these systems is the manner in which they support and encourage the development of content...."(p. 297).  I feel that it is very realistic to imagine author visits via the web, celebrity read alouds, getting a birds eye view of the writing/editing/illustrating process that the students can actively be involved in.  I would hope that I can take an active role in introducing and possibly designing some of these new advancements in my area.

anulik.edublogs.org

 

2).  The campus that I used to complete my Practicum hours this semester, already incorporates  reusability throughout the campus.  The school uses CSCOPE curriculum and that is based off of building on past knowledge.  The teachers might use a webquest in 2nd grade that the 3rd grade teachers are able to use to enhance/refresh memories while then adding to the webquest to make it more grade level appropriate.  The library offers books on several levels for each of the topics studied, so the students are exposed to each  level books.  Although there isn't necessarily anything broken--it is materials that have been used and improved upon for the appropriate age group.  This campus is a very low socio-economic area and reusing materials is very important to budgets and a great cost saving method.  I feel that this campus does a great job with reusability and making resources last.  The school recently received iPads for each grade level and they are able to store programs for Kindergarten thorough Fourth grade, therefore making them a very usable and valuable tool on the campus. 

 

 

blog.mmsholdings.com

 

 

 

3).Rich media is defined as "learning products that incorporate high-end media such as video, animation, sound and simulation (p.312)."  Each of the classrooms on my campus were recently given a SmartBoard and I feel these have dramatically changed the educational goals and delivery of education on this campus.  Teachers are easily able to locate and use many aspect of high-end media in the classroom where students can be directly involved in the delivery and learning aspects of the day.  Students are able to quickly see results and no longer have to wait for the teacher to change the projector screen, prepare the tape player, etc.  These SmartBoards have afforded the campus to enhance learning on a variety of levels--the viewing for the class is easy, it is directly connected to the teacher computer and can easily and quickly display videos, web pages, etc. at the push of a button.  The students are very fluent in the use of the SmartBoards and you can see them light up when they know an activity is coming up on the SmartBoard.  These boards are able to assist the teacher in meeting all learning types in the classroom quickly and easily in one central location.  the audio, visual, tactic--all learning styles can learn and retain information using these high-end technology materials.

 

 

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4.) I have learned many valuable lessons in my coursework for my degree.  One of the biggest lessons I have learned is the value of 2.0 tools in the education world.  The quick format of the forms, surveys and other aspects of the 2.0 tools makes them a desirable tool in the education world.  I can easily see and have seen the value in the surveys that can be linked to a spreadsheet to quickly see results.  As a future librarian, I can see how these tools can enhance a mini lesson, an interest check, etc.  Web 2.0 tools are easy to learn how to use and can quickly be taught at a staff meeting and then quickly transferred to a classroom setting.  I also see how blogs, etc. can all be used and enhance lessons in the library that can transfer to a classroom setting.  I do not have experience with may of the other emerging instructional technologies, but it is not because I do not feel that they will not work or benefit my teaching.  I have not been exposed to some of them as of yet, but after reading about them I can see how they could enhance learning to some degree.  I recently watched a PodCast where they discussed gamification using games in the classroom to motivate students.  We do not own any of the latest games in our home, but I have seen some virtual games used in PE and other educational settings and hear the students go on and on about the experience.  I will continue to research and learn as my career in library media specialist continues to grow and expand to new avenues. 

 





askatechteacher.wordpress.com

Section 6

Section 6: Getting an IDT Position and Succeeding at It

I am currently a stay at home mom with three years of teaching experience.  I taught self-contained,3rd grade for two years and Math & Science for 4th grade for one year.  I am set to graduate before the end of the month with my Master's LIS.  I hope to get a job in a library campus soon after graduation, but if I don't, I have a couple of long term sub positions lined out! 

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                                                                               photo from: anothergrayhair.typepad.com

My dream position would be in a elementary librarian position.  That would put me at a first level service in an education economic sector.  Using the WorkMatrix allowed me to see some of the specifics about the workforce that are of value to me and helped make my priorities list.  Some of the features of work that stood out to me and that I scored high on were geographic location and high income growth.  I realize that in may states, teachers are not highly paid, but there is almost always room for growth in this type of field.  I am a family woman and it is very important that I stay close so that I can continue to be actively involved with my family.  I have three sisters and we all have kids, as Army brats growing up we traveled a ton and missed our family, so this is a very important part of our children's lives and location is important! 

sites.google.com

 

Based on these intentions, one of the biggest things I need to better my skills and up my qualifications, is simply experience in the library.  I have spent many hours in our local elementary campus library this semester with my LIS Practicum class.  I need more training on the computer programs offered to assist librarians in the purchasing of books and materials.  Although the demands of the coursework has been very beneficial, I feel like the only thing that will really improve my skills is just more time in the workforce.  I feel like the course load that has been required of me has been beneficial and allowed me to gain knowledge and be involved in many hands on activities.  This semester alone I have spent more than 8100 minutes in an elementary library setting.  I have been involved in many aspects of running a library---from the day to day grind of checking in/out materials, sitting in on meetings and the paperwork.  I have recently applied for a position that unexpectedly opened for the remainder of the year on the high school level and feel that something of that nature would greatly assist me in developing my skills. 

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After carefully reading and examining the professional organizations, I feel like there were a few that would support my learning after graduation.  I am already a member of TLC and see many benefits from librarians sharing information about job openings, lesson planning ideas and more information about regulations, etc.  I think this has been beneficial and a great place to learn during my coursework. 

One of the organizations that I saw that could benefit me was the American Society for Training & Development (ASTD).  After reading the information and gaining a little bit of knowledge about the organization, I felt like this one allows members a great networking opportunity.  I loved the idea of the online job bank and feel this is one that could be beneficial before graduation as well as right after for employment opportunities. 

I also found the information provided about the Association for Educational Communications and Technology(AECT) was beneficial in my field of work.  In the librarian field, a rapid change to "technology media centers" has many librarians searching for information to share and learn.  This looks like a valuable association to look into before and after graduation as well. 

 

medicalimagingtalk.com

I did not see a list of conferences that were available--might have missed something!?!?

Section 5

So sorry...technical difficulties didn't let me publish last night ;(

The chapters in this section identify trends and issues with instructional design and technology in a variety of settings: military, health care, P-12, higher education, and around the world. In this week’s blog post, tell which setting you are working in or intend to work in. Then identify one thing that you learned from reading about each of the other settings and explain how that concept, idea, or approach could be adapted to your setting.

I am currently a stay at home mom, but have three years of teaching experience with 3rd grade (2 yrs--self-contained, 1 yr--math & science). The year that I quit teaching to stay at home with my son--we were thrilled that they were going through and replacing all of the chalk boards with dry erase boards! No fancy technology, or projectors--just no more chalk dust and chalky hands!

While I was in the education field and as I am now experiencing in my substituting days, I can definitely see how the military culture has an impact on instructional design. One of the very first quotes that I connected with in Chapter 19 in talking about how the instructional designer "must produce training that meets the requirements of the military as well as the needs of the individual (p.186)." This is a must have frame of mind in any teaching situation. I picture all of the requirements of teachers in meeting demands of TEKS, STAAR, etc. and see how easy it was to overlook the needs of my students on an individual level. One of my favorite things to do in my classroom, as we came closer to the days of those looming tests, was to have them write things on an index card that worried them about the test---fear of not passing, forgetting things, etc. I would collect them all and explain that now I held each of their fears in my basket, they were no longer "theirs." It seemed to ease some of their fears and gave me a great opportunity to read the index cards to learn of ways to meet individual needs. This is only one tiny example of ways that I tried to keep my students needs met on an individual level while still focusing on the requirements of the "military."

As I continued to read and gain a little insight to the thoughts of the authors, so many similarities begin to emerge in the classroom I was in and what I am seeing today in the school systems. The issues that the book highlights on pages 188-189 are key components to factors that many schools face today: funding--are there really any districts that do not face issues with funding?, technological range--every school in the nation is trying to facilitate learning with funding and keeping up with our ever-changing, fast paced technologically forced world, delivery environment--making sure that any advancements in a classroom setting are used to the very best of it's ability to enhance a classroom setting is always a challenge!, design constraints--implementing new technology into classrooms that will actually provide an enhanced learning environment without adding new & unnecessary demands on teachers is vital, and lastly, the people--making teachers stay up to date in their field of knowledge while adding new advanced technology components is a challenge, but one that proves to be critical.

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I am certain that in several points of my short teaching career I used several different methods of teaching and a variety of teaching models as stated in the other chapters of this section. I had always heard that teaching was not a one size fits all type of job and I learned that valuable lesson very early on!

Chapter 20 focuses on the roles of instructional design in a variety of health care settings. One way that I felt the PBL section was pretty spot on to my classroom. I loved taking every possible opportunity to give my students hands on learning. They loved the hands on real life application activities in the classroom and it seems to have had a real impact on their learning.

 

Chapter 21 focuses on the P-12 trends. I found this one a little more challenging to make a connection with, but felt that for the most part it was easy to agree with some of the GSTE (Guidance System for Transforming Education). I feel like many of the items listed in the tables on pages 212-213 were valid and can easily be seen in many teaching strategies in classrooms today. Focusing on the needs of the students while keeping mind the core values such as teaching respect, responsibility, etc.

R-E-S-P-E-CT     C-U-L-T-U-R-E      R-E-S-P-O-N-S-I-B-L-I-T-Y

In Chapter 22 we see the trends in higher education. I found some interesting and valid points in this chapter as well, but I found it hard to relate to the information past the "Lecturer" phase. I have zero plans to go back to school and find it hard to even compare myself to someone in a higher standard of education--therefore making it challenging to think of how to adapt my setting as such--however, I did like the Instructional Design Generator Model! I feel like teaching is a team effort now days and as I am finding in my substituting, the teachers have always worked together, but now days seems to be much more of a group effort in switching classes and only teaching a couple of the tested subjects.

 

 

Finally, looking at Chapter 23 focusing on the trends for the "world at large."  The authors of this chapter take a deep look at the industrialized vs. the developing world.  As stated on p. 236, "the primary concerns of decision makers in developing countries will likely go to creating relevant, effective, and efficient learning opportunities for the young."  I feel like these are valid concerns not only for developing countries, but for our schools here in the US as well.  Responding to the needs of the student population is something that a teacher feels a desire to seek in the classroom through the lessons/activities used to instruct.  I feel like the authors discussing the needs in foreign countries have to include adults many times, could also include many areas here in the US.  I used to teach in a very low, scio-economic area at a school that was considered Title I. Many times as the school is focusing on events to reach out to the community, they looked at ways to include parents and promote opportunities for adult education.  At a recent health fair where students were educated on bicycle safety, there was also a booth about GED opportunities as well as healthy food portions from infants through adults. 

In conclusion, I would say that making sure to provide the best opportunities for your classroom using various teaching methods and designs should be a major component to any successful teachers classroom.  Teaching is not a "one size fits all" career choice and one of the ideal characteristics of teachers is to be able to adapt to meet the needs of the students.  Many times, you don't have complete control where or what type of setting you will be teaching in, so it's important to have an open mind and the ability to adapt as needed.