Reflection EDTC 6010Introduction to Instructional Technology

 Standard:

From ISTE standards for Technology Facilitators:

TF-I. Technology Operations and Concepts. Educational technology facilitators demonstrate an in-depth understanding of technology operations and concepts.

            A. Demonstrate knowledge, skills, and understanding of concepts related to technology (as described in the ISTE National Educational Technology Standards for Teachers).

Description of Assignment:

      This artifact was created for EDTC6010 Introduction to Instructional Design in the fall of 2012.  The class was taught by Dr. Slagter Van Tryon.  For this assignment I was tasked with creating a newsletter using a template in Microsoft Word that would describe the field of Instructional Technology for a person not currently in the field.  The content of the newsletter includes major concepts, events in the history of IT, influential learning theories and trends in the field as discussed in the course. The result is a clear snapshot of instructional technology as a career along with a historical perspective.  In addition the newsletter focuses on the application of the principles of IT in educational settings. The information in the newsletter is presented in text supported by appropriate graphics. The newsletter includes the following sections: Defining the Field, History of IT, Learning Theories, Trends in IT and a summary that includes a personal reflection.  The length of the product was expected to be between 6 and 8 pages.

     I relied heavily on the courses textbook, Trends and Issues in Instructional Design and Technology, third edition by Robert A. Reiser and John V. Dempsey for the content of my newsletter, as well as the AECT website.  From these resources I was able to develop a definition for the field of instructional technology and locate information on the psychological roots of IT such as behaviorism and cognitive information processing theories which were a large part of the newsletter.

     Although the project was assigned to teach someone else about instructional technology the process of constructing this product helped to clarify for me what the Instructional Design field involves.  One of the first assignments we had in class was to write a definition for IT.  The majority of students focused on computers in schools and other tools of presentation such as Smart Boards in a classroom setting.  Through the synthesis of this product the true scope of the ever changing field of Instructional Technology became clearer to me.

Example of Standards:

     This newsletter demonstrates my ability to explain the major concepts of and influences on the field of Instructional Design and there by my understanding of technology operations and concepts  as stated in the ISTE standard TF-I. The artifact clearly explains the theoretical roots of IT and how theory is applied in the educational setting. I define the field using the current AECT definition as the study and ethical practice of facilitating learning and improving performance by creating, using, and managing appropriate technological processes and resources (Association for Educational Communications and Technology, n.d.).   An analysis of the definition in a historical context examined the theories in psychology that form the foundation of Instructional Design.  These include the behavioral learning theory of B. F. Skinner that brought about the concept of instructional feedback.  The importance of feedback was further explored in the Cognitive Information Processing Theory that arose in the 1970.  Feedback, in this theory, was a way to continually improve performance by changing what was stored in memory. Finally, I included a discussion of Constructivism.  In this theory the responsibility of learning shifts from the instructor to the learner and is dependent on the prior experience of the learner (Reiser & Dempsey, 2012).

     I have shown how the definition has changed over time as new technologies and media have developed.  The newsletter explores the changes in IT from the first Museum Schools of the 1900s , the excitement in technology brought about by the launch of Sputnik in 1957, through today's advances in computer and internet technology (Reiser & Dempsey, 2012).  The content of the letter is heavily supported with photos, tables and diagrams.  A time line of these significant events and theories is also included in the product.

Changes:

     I used the bulk of the newsletter explaining three influential learning theories, behaviorism, cognitivism and constructivism. While important to the development of the field I think I would shorten this section for more emphasis on current trends in IT.  Of the eight page newsletter only the last page was devoted to this topic.  I would also do better research on the use APA in my citations and references.

Representative of future career goals:

   This was the first piece of evidence that I had to complete for my Master's program. I feel that many people, as was the case with me, enter this program with a small concept or perspective of what exactly is Instructional Technology. Through the process of creating this newsletter my own understanding of the possibilities within the field became clearer.  The product itself is representative of something an instructional technologist would create for a school or business to inform a given audience.

    This newsletter reflects my knowledge of the history of IT.  Knowing the dynamic role historical events such as the launch of Sputnik, has had on the field is important to a professional in the field. As the field and technology continue to evolve I will use resources to keep abreast of the changes and trends.

References

Association for Educational Communications and Technology. (n.d.). History of the

            organization. Retrieved November 3, 2012, from:  http://www.aect.org/about/history/federalaid.htm.

Reiser, R. A., & Dempsey, R. A. (2012). Trends and issues in instructional design and

            technology. (3rd ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.

Nancy Curley

Digital Learning and Teaching Coach

Onslow County