Saturday, August 31, 2013

Section 1: Defining the Field


1. How do the definitions in the first chapter compare to your own definition of instructional or educational technology?  What experiences or other influences have shaped your definition? How has your definition changed from examining the definitions in the first chapter of this book?


    Trends and Issues in Instructional Design and Technology by Robert A. Reiser and John V. Dempsey  provides a current definition of instructional technology which will continue to change. Technology is growing and changing at a rapid pace and instructional technology is changing to keep up with the pace. The definition of instructional technology has changed greatly since the early definitions that was simply viewed as media.

   Prior to taking any ETEC classes my thoughts on educational technology were to use technology to teach using computers, pictures, projector, and audio. I was a student in high school in the late 80's and the use of technology in the classroom that I was subjected to was a cassette tape recorder, over head projector, and an occasional film. I took a typing class using typewriters and I don't remember ever seeing a computer being in the school. I must say I was astonished how far instruction technology had come when I entered college in 2007 and started conducting my observations in public school classrooms. The Smart Board was so advanced from what I had seen in the classroom it could have been alien technology, at that moment I was fascinated and even though I was majoring in Interdisciplinary Studies, I use my electives to take ETEC classes to help me be an effective teacher using instructional technology. 

  After reading the first chapter my definition has changed considerably. I thought of instructional technology as a tool to teach the content and to help reach students with different learning styles. I have come to the conclusion that I was missing such a huge part of the meaning. The authors, Reiser and Dempsey discuss that one of the goals for professionals in the field is to improve performance, and the goal should be to help learners apply the new skills and knowledge they have acquired. The terms that are important to reach that goal are creating, using, and managing.  (p.4) 



2. Next, think of a lesson or unit of instruction that you have developed. Or if you haven’t ever taught or developed instruction, think of one that you have received. How does that lesson adhere or fail to adhere to the six characteristics of instructional design? How would you redesign it to better adhere to the six characteristics.

For a previous ETEC class I design a lesson plan integrating technology. Since it was my first attempt at creating a lesson plan integrating technology I'm sure the lesson could use revision as the Dick, Carey, and Carey model of instructional design points out. I will continue to revise this lesson because I feel it has the potential to be a unit that the students will enjoy. Below is an overview of the lesson plan and the six characteristics of instructional design the textbook lists and my thoughts on how my develop instruction relates.

Lewis and Clark Expedition
Social Studies, Math, and Technology.
Grade: 4
Objective: Upon completion of watching and analyzing the “Lewis & Clark Expedition” video from the History Channel, in a group students will create an expedition using Google Maps of the Lewis & Clark Expedition. Students will plan what supplies and money are needed for the expedition. Students will create a map of their expedition, supplies and money needed and compare it with the other groups in the class.
Teacher: Watch and discuss the “Lewis and Clark Expedition” video from the History Channel.
Discuss the Louisiana Purchase and Jefferson sending Lewis and Clark to explore the lands acquired in the Louisiana Purchase.
The students will view “Lewis and Clark Expedition” video discuss the Louisiana Purchase and Lewis and Clark Expedition.
Teacher: Ask the students to think about the nearly 8,000 miles Lewis and Clark explored and how they could accomplish such an exploration. Discuss what types of supplies were needed.
The students will get into groups and create an expedition using Google Maps of the Lewis & Clark Expedition. Students will plan what supplies and money are needed for the expedition.
A rubric will be given to each group and jobs will be assigned within the group.
Each group will create a map of their expedition, supplies and money needed using a poster board.
Each group will compare their map with the other groups in the class.
The class will discuss each group’s ideas and display their creations in the classroom.
The students will be accessed of their cooperation in the group and the quality of work the rubric stated.

The six characteristics of instructional design the textbook lists and my thoughts on how my develop instruction relates:
1. Instructional design is student centered. - When creating this lesson plan I wanted the students to have the ability to work in groups to help one another to create the product  and achieve the stated objects with minimal help from the teacher.  
2. Instructional design is goal oriented. - This lesson plan has the goal of mapping the Lewis and Clark expedition, what supplies and money are needed, and present the final product to the class on a poster board. The students are presented with a rubric on what is expected and knowing the goal  they have the freedom to be creative in the way they reach their goal.
3. Instructional design focuses on meaningful performance.- By the students mapping out and planning Lewis and Clark's expedition I feel the lesson does focus on a meaningful performance because instead of just reading a chapter the students will be an active participant in the expedition.
4. Instructional design assumes outcomes can be measured in a reliable and valid way. - The outcomes of the instruction can be measured in a reliable and valid way because the students will be creating a final product of the Lewis and Clark expedition. I feel that creating a project will be a much better choice than a paper-and-pencil test. The students will be showing their knowledge and skills that were used to created the final project.
5. Instructional design is empirical, iterative, and self-correcting. - To reach the goal of the developed instruction the students as a group will be collecting data, using math calculations and revising their expedition projects. Developing the instructional design consisted of research and self-correcting on my part.
6. Instructional design typically a team effort. - Due to the fact I created this instruction for an online class I was not able work on a team. However, I did use advise that teachers have posted online so I did reach out for help and others opinions and ideas. 







3. In the 3rd chapter, Reiser distinguishes instructional media from instructional design, excluding teachers, chalkboards, and textbooks from the definition of instructional media. Why? Would you consider teachers, chalkboards, and textbooks instructional media? Is the purpose of instructional design to incorporate media into instruction? The first three chapters of your book define the IDT (Instructional Design and Technology) field and provide a history of how it has evolved over time. In your blog post for this week, reflect on the following:



In the 3rd chapter, Reiser distinguishes instructional media from instructional design, excluding teachers, chalkboards, and textbooks from the definition of instructional media. I can understand Reiser excluding teachers, chalkboards, and textbooks from the definition of instructional media  "in order to clearly describe the history of media." (p.18)  Personally I do consider teachers, textbooks, and chalkboards part of instructional media. I came to the conclusion because as the  definition given in the text is "instructional media as being the physical means via which instruction is presented" and in my opinion that includes teachers, chalkboards, and textbooks. (p.18) 


The ADDIE model is made up of the phases of instructional design. What I love about the ADDIE model is that it isn't to be used in a linear step-by-step manner and revision is an important part of the ADDIE model. Revision is often necessary to develop instruction that is effective so the students will get the most out of the instruction.The text states "it is often necessary to move back and forth among the activities of analysis  design, and formative evaluation and revision" and the ADDIE models design makes it easily possible. (p. 12)

Reiser, R. A., & Dempsey, J. V. (2007). Trends and issues in instructional design and technology. (2nd ed.). Upper Saddle River: Prentice Hall.

2 comments:

  1. Vicki,
    I really liked how you described the technology from when you were a student in the 80's. It also makes me think when I entered high school in 2002 and I feel my technology experience was much the same as yours. We did not have smart boards, slates, ipads or active voters. We occasionally would go to the computer lab and when we did it was to work on typing skills. Now that I'm a teacher, educational technology seems to have really gained the spotlight in education today. As you stated earlier in your post, I also looked at technology just as a tool to reach a student who may have a different learning style. After so many Etec classes it really broadens your perspective on what all educational technology entails. I think the ADDIE model promotes the six major steps in order to create instructional design that is successful and effective.

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  2. I was a high school student in the early 90's, so not much after you. My experience was pretty much the same as yours...cassette players, overhead projectors and typewriters!! After several years in the classroom, it is fascinating to see all of the technological advances being made.
    I also like that the ADDIE model isn't to be used in a linear step-by-step model. I feel that using the ADDIE model in lessons will create successful lessons.

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