New Directions & Current Issues

1. Section VIII addresses new directions and emerging technologies for IDT. Select three of the following and reflect on how you might apply them in your current or future position in the IDT field:

• distributed or e-learning environments
• reusable design or learning objects
• networks or Web 2.0 technologies
• rich media
• digital games or simulations
• virtual worlds

ELEARNING ENVIORNMENTS:
I would use elearning environments as a method to enhance learning in subjects when and if I thought more in-depth learning was required. I would allow the students to do their own research on whatever the subject was, but I would assign and use restricted web-sites depending on the grade level. Using elearning students can apply  blended learning with other forms of learning such as social learning. I have seen and used this method with slow learners and find they react and respond to this type learning. It could be because it is one-o-one and they can study and advance at their own pace. A student who I was assigned to, who could count but did not know that numbers meant something, actually started to learn at a rapid pace once he learned to play math games on the computer.

REUSABLE DESIGNS:
The way I understand reusable designs is it is more or less a template where my information would be placed on a form. This way I could be reminded constantly that I had added the necessary information to each lesson. From the lesson in our text book they are, interchangeable, flexible, reusable, and shareable. This system makes it a little less time consuming when planning for a class. It does seem important not to infringe on someone's copyright, so I would need to make sure everything was legal. This system is a good means to make use of more experienced instructors and insure the students got the benefits of my instructions and that of others. It is just making the students get the most they can get from instruction. I see nothing wrong with using proven methods in instructions especially proven lesson plans.

RICH MEDIA:
Making use information gathered from media sources keeps up with the thought of using someone's else's knowledge and forwarding it to the students. Here we can use it in many forms, real player, Microsoft media player, apple quick time player , just to name a few. It has been proven time and time again that videos can and do enhance learning. In the second grade we used it often for a variety of reasons. Number one, it excites the students, 2. they stay focused, 3. they retain the information.
www.washington.edu.accesit/articles?1146 is another source of information concerning what (rich media) is all about.

What learning goals or objectives could the technologies you selected help learners foster? Could the technology facilitate attainment of that learning goal better than traditional instruction? Why or why not?

Keeping everything student centered is the objective for teaching. These methods make learning more fun and enjoyable. It is a tough assignment for an instructor to teach and entertain students for a complete day. Using these methods gives the student several different avenues to learn. One good why is the teacher can observe everything the students are involved with if they are on a computer, watching a video or occupied by some other means than just having to set there and listen to the instructor. For instance, a very experienced teacher I was assisting was teaching third grade students a math lesson. Remember third graders are not allowed to use calculators in this district. Two of the students constantly used calculators while she was teaching. True they were sneaky, and knew they were doing wrong, but continued the process until I told on them. She might have known if she was using some sort of technology to instruct and could spend some time observing the students. The instructor was very good and experienced, but it is a real challenge to observe 22 or more students constantly. It is true these students know how to cheat.

2. Section IX focuses on issues related to instructional design, rather than new technologies: professional ethics, diversity and accessibility, the nature of design, and providing instructional guidance. For each of the technologies you selected above, discuss what ethical issues using the technology might present. Does the technology enhance accessibility and accommodate diverse learning needs? How and/or can you design instruction using that technology? How much guidance would instruction with that technology require? What kinds of guidance would be necessary?

Making use of the above technologies the user should have a code of conduct and an ethical awareness, and well as know the true complete meaning of integrity. Copyright infringement would be of the utmost concern and the person using the other persons information should always be aware of the policies. It is very important to give credit to anything borrowed in order to teach a class. Any mistrust such as saying it is your own, lying, cheating, will lead to the students not believing anything you taught them if you become discredited. So, always give credit where it is due and maintain your own integrity.

Making use of the technology we have today is so good as compared to thirty years ago. Learning from many points of view can be easily studied with the tap of a button, or the click of a mouse. Point of view is a good area to pursue. Like if I want to know what a former president's view on the economy was, I can look it up and compare it to another past or present president's point of view. Whatever and whenever someone has a need to find information it is there on the internet. All one has to do is just put information into the search engine or the url, something will come up it may be necessary to change some words, but it is amazing what it can do.

Designing instruction using technology is an added asset to designing instruction. Honestly the computer will almost do the work for you. I would use a template, create the objective, transfer the information to Microsoft word and fill in the blanks. After the objective I would design a path to reach my learning destination. Assessment must be included also otherwise how would I know if the subject was learned or unlearned. I would look up the TEKS to insure my plan all came together and I was able to prove all the subject according to the TEKS required by the state.

Guidance would be provided to each individual, or group, as needed. I would use groups if I thought each group was on the same level, or close to the same level. After the elearning was fulfilled I would give assessments to see where areas were low in understanding, then I would do whatever necessary to bring the understanding to the appropriate level. Extra lab time could be utilized or work at home if the student had facilities at home for research. The amount of guidance required would depend on the grade level, the subject, the level of the students performance and the assessment results.

Little or no guidance would be requires with a GT class, but more may be necessary for a class with several inclusion students. One class of 5th graders I taught might not need any assistance at all. The other two 5th grade classes would require some guidance. The 2nd and 3rd classes would need help as there were many inclusion students there. Several were slow learners, others were ADHD, some were just plain ornery and did not care whether they learned or not. Being classes are what they are the teacher must decide on an individual basis exactly what is required and needed. Some just need motivation, others need on-on-one. Despite all the problems associated with learning, most all of these students knew how to use a computer.

One concern I have concerning use of technology is this: How you going to teach "COMMON SENSE" if they are not being taught with hands-on experience? There are probably multiple means to accomplish this, and I do believe it is necessary. I like the way PE is taught in these modern times, I believe it helps. Another is, doing things with their hands. Pottery is a good way, woodworking is another, welding, gardening, I place these up there with good learning and just, if not more, important than knowledge obtained by way of elearning.
My point of view on technology is that it is a tool although it is the best tool for education since the invention of the text book, but it is a tool. Without the guidance of the teacher learning will be limited. Assessments by the teacher reveal what they need to know and if they learned it or not. Through these assessments the teacher will know how to improve knowledge.