Defining the Field

1. There are so many different ways to define instructional technology/instructional design, and each is unique to the environment in which it is used and implemented. As a stay-at-home mother, I find that instructional design and technology facilitates learning through analyzing learning and performance issues and incorporating the use of various technology tools to address those issues. Short and simple. In my "workplace", my daughter uses technology daily to learn her letters, sounds, etc. She has a "compooter" in the car (her Leap Frog) that teaches letter sounds, letter recognition, and how to write the letters of the alphabet. Her "compooter" also lets her practice following directions and tracing and identifying shapes. She has also shown a great interest in reading, so I feel certain she will be getting one of those reading games that allows her to read a story with a stylus that pronounces the words as she points to them.

2.

It took me forever to figure out how to get this image into my blog, but I finally got it! I don't know if it's readable, but I'm proud of myself nonetheless. :)

The Dick, Carey, and Carey model adheres to the six characteristics of instructional design: 1) The model is learner centered because the needs of the learner are assessed to identify the goals for the instruction and the learner is continuously analyzed throughout the learning process to make sure proper instruction is taking place and to allow for revisions as needed. 2) The model is goal oriented because the goals are identified early on in the process, performance objectives are written to aid in the successful completion of the goals, and revisions are made as needed to stay on track as well. 3) The model focuses of meaningful performance by assessing the needs of the learner and then developing the appropriate strategies and selecting the necessary materials and assessments to support meaningful learning. 4) The model assumes outcomes can be measured in a reliable and valid way and supports this by allowing for the design and implementation of a formative evaluation of instruction and a summative evaluation. 5) The model is empirical, iterative, and self-correcting, which is evident by showing that revisions to instruction throughout the process are possible at all times. 6) The model is typically a team effort--this instructional design model supports teamwork and allows for the inclusion of many.

I don't know that this type of instructional design plays into my "workplace" at home with my three year old, but I did employ this type of design in my third grade classroom for some assignments. Throughout the year I had my students work in groups to complete various team projects. Each group was expected to write out the goals for their project, assign roles for each group member to perform to aid in the completion of the project, and decide on the best method to use for project completion. Very often my students would find it necessary to make changes to their plan when they ran into a snag. I would explain that this is fine and even encouraged because it helps them to understand that things don't always go as planned and we should be flexible to change.

3. Technology use in the classroom can be a wonderful thing if you know how to use it effectively. I can remember going to the computer lab when I was in elementary school and playing Math Blaster to work on my addition and subtraction skills. My second grade teacher liked to show film strips to highlight something she was teaching in class. I can also recall taking a computer class in high school that taught keyboarding and other basic computer skills. In today's classrooms technology can be used for all that and more: to research and present information, communicate with teachers and classmates, conduct lessons, and take virtual field trips to distant places.

In K-12 education, students and teachers can use blogs as a means for submitting assignments and discussing those assignments. Blogs could also be used by the teacher to keep students and parents up to date on the latest happenings in the classroom and informed of upcoming class and school events. Wikis could be used in much the same fashion. A wiki could provide students a place to turn in assignments and discuss with the teacher and fellow students a current classroom topic. Classroom discussions could carry over into time spent beyond the school walls.

In the higher education arena, I have had the opportunity to participate in online discussions with classmates and professors using web cameras and microphones. I have utilized blogs and wikis in the same manner as discussed above. More and more colleges and high schools are offering online courses to accommodate students when distance and other factors come into play. For higher education and adult education (continuing education) purposes, YouTube and other online video providers can offer numerous ways to post information. These students could use YouTube to post videos of themselves making presentations for class or watch an assigned video to highlight a topic being discussed.

It's amazing (and sometimes a bit overwhelming) to think about all the ways that technology can play a part in the everyday learning of our students and ourselves. Just think of all that will be available to us in the next decade. It blows my mind to try and imagine what school might be like when my child enters high school and college. As a teacher, this is equally exciting because technology provides yet another way to reach out to students and make learning fun and engaging. I just hope I can keep up. :)