EDTEC 540 - Gagne Group

Module 01: The Field of Educational Technology

By: Blair Cook, Gerry Deocampo, Herminia Lezcano, David Pierce

1. How might you define Educational Technology?

It can be described as a group of disciplines that are used to analyze potential problems and evaluate, implement and manage solutions to those learning situations. To this end, performance or learning needs are analyzed. Solutions are designed to address those needs. The proposed solution is then developed and implemented to address the specific situation. Although Educational Technology involves the use of computers and other complex systems, its broad range of utility is not limited to the tools of high-tech.

(Definition derived from: www.neiu.edu/~dbehrlic/hrd408/glossary.htm )

2. What is the relationship among educational, instructional and performance technologies? How are they similar? How do they differ?

The three technologies are similar in that they are all based on specific outcomes, or objectives. In each, objectives are identified in order to design and implement effective curricula to enhance a student’s knowledge, skills, and/or attitudes. The differences lie in their target populations. For example, educational objectives are aimed toward the student or learner; instructional objectives are designed from a designer/developer or teacher/trainer perspective; performance objectives addresses the actions and results of the learner/trainee.

3. What does the "Technology" refer to in Educational Technology and Performance Technology? Can you be an educational technologist and not work with computers or electronics?

Definition of Technology:

The body of knowledge available to a society that is of use in fashioning implements, practicing manual arts and skills, and extracting or collecting materials. (Source: The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition)

So an Educational Technologist and Performance Technologist uses available knowledge, skills and tools in a systematic process to solve problems relating to performance, achievement and learning.

In this case “technology” refers to the tools used in learning, instructing, and performance. Technology tools can range from computers, phones, radios, projectors, cameras, and other high-tech machines, as well as, books, periodicals, journals, and films. It encompasses all the tools needed/required to enhance learning, instruction, and performance. I suppose it is possible to be an educational technologist and not work with computers or electronics, since those are not the only tools that facilitate learning, instruction, and performance; however, the greater likelihood is that educational technologists will work with high-tech machines given the Information Age in which our world exists.

4. Educational Technology is used in a variety of sectors in our society: K-12 schools, universities, government, public service organizations, corporations. Name some specific examples of Educational Technology in action within these various sectors.

• Colleges and Universities: Offering individual courses as well as fully online degree programs. Using virtual classrooms environments made possible with programs like Blackboard, WebCT, etc.
• Government: Used in trainings and simulations at all levels.
• Corporations: Training programs for customers, employees, vendors.
• Public Service Organizations: Can be used to facilitate training and orientation of new employees within an organization; develop television and radio advertisement, designing fund raising events.
• K-12: training students and teachers in the use of technology and using multimedia tools as a delivery mechanism for course content. Use of computers in the classroom to create electronic projects that supplement student learning, as well as demonstrate acquired knowledge and skills.
  

5. What are some basic job skills common to the variety of careers in which educational technologists may find themselves?

• excellent communication skills, both written and verbal. Presentation skills fall under this also.
• good organizational skills
• great problem solving skills
• project and time management
• critical thinking/analysis
• the ability to extract information from other knowledgeable people
• creative and able to think outside the box.
• ability to work well with others – interpersonal skills.
• good computers skills, ability to create/edit on the computer competently
• ability to use computer software such as office productivity, graphic design, web design.
• a desire to continually learn new ideas/concepts, often independently.

Regardless of career choice, the educational technologistshould be able to work with subject matter experts, if not one himself, to understand the nature of a problem and isolate specific objectives in the performance of a task. Working within a team environment is crucial to the educational technologist for effective change to occur within an organization. The ability to draw data from numerous sources and arrange it into useful form is another desired skill for the educational technologist.

6. What kinds of products and services do educational technologists produce in their various jobs?

• instructional Guides/Manuals
• face-to-face training seminars/in-services
• web pages
• training videos/animations
• research reports / white papers
• help files for software
• learning units (multimedia)
• curriculum (K-12, higher education)
• educational videos and other media
• professional development courses
• web sites, CD-ROMs, videos, DVDs, audio, and other media
• textbooks
• web-based curricula
• productivity Software
• instructional development and delivery systems
  

7. Based on your team's experiences, what are the different careers paths you bring to the educational technology field?

Blair Cook

• newspaper copy editor
• desktop publisher
• photographer
• journalist
• video/multimedia developer
• network administrator
• web designer/developer
• web design/web animation teacher
• Information Technology Administrator / Distance Education Systems Administrator

Gerry Deocampo

Instructional Designer. I am no longer a secondary school teacher. I do have 11 years of middle and high school teaching experience in math, science, web design, and tennis. Currently, I am starting my second year out of public education as an Instructional Systems Designer.

Herminia Lezcano

•        Teacher
•        Web developer
•        Programmer
•        Journalist
•        Trainer
•        Consultant
•        Network Administrator
•        Marketing Specialist
•        Videographer

David Pierce

My military experience shows the ET designing training courses for operating and maintaining various weapons, communication, and navigation systems. Additionally, the ET plays a vital role in diagnosing logistical support problems and designing more efficient means to deliver personnel and supplies to arenas throughout the world.

8. Describe emergent career opportunities for educational technologists.

As computer technology continues to mature, the educational technologist plays a vital role in exploring and designing effective educational and training media. As traditional pedagogical teaching gives way to technology-supported learning environments, the educational technologist will be counted on to construct effective simulations that resemble the natural environment.

• Training for corporations
• Human Resource Development
• Performance Management
• Task Analysis
• Developers, designers, graphic artists
• Teachers, trainers, instructors
• Project managers

9. What are the personal and professional attributes or character traits that contribute to success in this field? (For instance, what qualities would it take to produce an entire instructional product from start to finish?)

• project management skills – ability to juggle many ongoing tasks
• communication skills - written and verbal
• organization, time-management
• a good problem-solver
• attention to detail
• personable – a good sense of humor
• ability to present ideas in a variety of situations
• ability to relate to all kinds of personalities - interpersonal skills
• needs to be flexible
• enthusiasm
• patience
• self-motivated
• ability to learn new concepts quickly
• adept at high technology
• a love of learning
• The ability to work as a team member is an important asset
• self-motivation
• become a subject matter expert in field
• ability to identify and use available resources
• conscientious
  

10. What are some of the current trends that may affect the study and/or practice of educational technology?

• Growing service-oriented economy ( USA) versus manufacturing/production
• Increasing broadband Internet access
• Cell-phone technology
• Cooperation, collaboration, interdependency
• Outsourcing/subcontracting
• Advances in computer technology
• Growth of the Internet around the world
• Knowledge management
• Networking
• Communication
• Collaborative software
• Knowledge of emergent learning methods
• Increased demand for educational technologists
• Greater access to computers
• More powerful and effective learning methods, tools and strategies

Computer technology will continually affect the Educational Technologist’s study and practice. Using this technology will enable the Educational Technologist to design learning environments for students whose classroom will be manipulating data that cannot, or should not, be performed in the real world.

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