POST 7: Section 7: New Direction in Instructional Design and Technology

This section of the textbook addresses new directions and emerging technologies for IDT. For your final post, reflect on how you might apply each of the following in your current or future position in the IDT field:

1. distributed or e-learning environments
2.  reusable design or learning objects
3.  rich media
4. emerging instructional technologies, such as artificial intelligence, cybernetics, Web 2.0, virtual worlds, electronic games, etc.

E-Learning Environments

   One of the first things that grabbed my attention in our textbook was that e-learning has emerged by encompassing all learning that involves technology in any way possible. It differs from distributed learning, which covers learning experiences that incorporates technology to bring about learning. One of the environments of e-learning that I want to pursue as a director of technology is the concept of learning management systems (LMS). There are so many apps available to use but one that stands out to me is .LRN. The acronym stands for Learn, Research, and Network. It is pronounced (“dot learn”) and it is a global community of educators, designers, and software developers who have come together to drive educational innovation. It is a non-profit organization committed to advancing innovation in educational technology through open source principles.

http://dotlrn.org/home/

.LRN provides a comprehensive suite of collaboration tools, a flexible toolset for innovation, and an enterprise-class infrastructure for scalable deployment.

[Gustaf Neumann, Wirtschaftsuniversität Wien]

Reusable Design or Learning Object

   This chapter was one of my favorites to read. The text tells us that a learning object is anything that can be used for educational purposes. They are building blocks of highly effective instruction, and they allow instructional designers to produce courses, assessments and other instructional materials in a way that is flexible, responsive to the needs of the students and the institution. So in order to save time and money, effective instructional designers will want to reuse the content and plug-in to develop an entire curriculum. There are many excellent attributes of learning objects but there are three that I must have. First, is the learning object interchangeable? If I can’t retrieve an object and add it to my course without problems then I do not want it. Second, if the object of learning is not flexible with many uses then it’s not for me. Lastly, the learning object must be reusable. Being able to reuse performative learning objects such as quizzes and assessments helps build self-confidence and belief in the learner.

   As stated previously, I would love to incorporate a Learning Management System (LMS) into the school I work for one day such as .LRN. There could also be a use for MOODLE. It would help me create an online working environment. I could include tools such as (interactive quizzes, video, charts, graphs, text, virtual world simulators, and figures) this would cover audio and visual learners as well as experiential or kinesthetic learners.

Rich Media   

   Our textbook defines “rich media” as instructional programs that incorporate high-end media such as video, animation, and audio. If rich media is not benefiting the learners we should not incorporate it.  I believe that we should always consider the strengths and limits of our client’s memory and adopt a learner-centered view of instruction that will provide for more effective learning. I have found an excellent source as I researched how to use rich media to the success of our students and instructors alike: https://sites.google.com/site/oakwooddigitalacademy/

There are lots of sites and topics to choose from but I will give you a little taste below…

Create Videos:

Animoto - www.animoto.com
Create videos using text, images, video, and music
Example: www.animoto.com/play/QNC5sGQucGqVQociTcfFpw

Blabberize - www.blabberize.com
Create talking pictures
Example: an example is on the main site at www.blabberize.com

GoAnimate - www.goanimate4schools.com
Create animated cartoons
Example: an example is on the main site at www.goanimate.com 

Voki - www.voki.com
Create small animated cartoons
Example: http://www.voki.com/pickup.php?scid=5621749&height=267&width=200

Create Presentations: 

MyHistro - http://www.myhistro.com/personal-business-education/#education
Create timelines and presentations
Example: https://www.slideshare.net/myHistro/myhistrobasic-guide-for-teachers

Google Drive - drive.google.com
Create documents, presentations, spreadsheets, and forms with an account from Google
Example: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B0wa1pWj1_OaTUtGS2Y1akhYY00/edit?pli=1

Prezi - www.prezi.com
Create dynamic online presentations
Example: http://prezi.com/zwjvacswsta9/vickis-prezi

LightPDF - https://lightpdf.com/
Turn pdf documents into flippable pages

Example: an example is on the main site at https://lightpdf.com/ 

 Emerging Instructional Technologies

   My perspective on emerging instructional technologies is that it must improve human performance, learning outcomes, and keep our students engaged. It is obvious that we are moving in a direction that encourages our kids to be more self-directed in their learning and tools such as Web 2.0, virtual worlds, and artificial intelligence must empower our instructors to successfully reach this plateau. Allow me to list some teaching techniques that will help instructional technologists to achieve this realm:

·         Using the wealth of online resources

·         Social learning and collaboration

·         Adaptive learning

·         MOOCS

·         Professional development in technology integration

·         Flipped classroom tools

        ·         Adaptive learning