RD/ 11 Chapter 27

reflect on what you perceive to be your own areas of strength and what competencies you feel you need to work hardest to develop given your professional goals. State and describe at least three competencies you’d like to develop and why. I do understand that most of you are school teachers, not ID&T professionals, but certainly there is plenty overlap between these different types of roles

Right of the bat the definition of competencies is the quality of being competent; as having suitable or sufficient skill, knowledge, experience, or being qualifeied to perform a task (Reiser & Dempsey, p. 272). Thus far in my career I feel as though I have been tossed around due to budget cuts I have lost out on the experience. Every year I am learning a new schools expectations and new curriculum. I feel like a first year teacher every year. On the other hand, this does give me strengths as well. I am familiar with several curriculums at various grade levels and subjects, such as Physical Education and Enrichment (technology). As well as, I adapt well to new surroundings and can work collarboratively with staff members to best benefit the children. I would like to develop further in analyzing data, designing and developing instructional methods and strategies. With more experience and time I will feel more competent in these areas, but would like to focus on creating data I can interpret and go back to the classroom, teach, reteach and go from there. I know it is key to have many instructional strategies, it keeps things interesting and hits on the different learning styles of people.

R/D 8 Chapter 21

Well, I finally did have a chance to get the correct book! I'm glad I had the opportunity to read this chapter. The district I am working for is going through a district wide systemic change and I was pleasantly surprised with the reading. There were definitely some things our district did in comparison to the reading such as "some "discrete events" a chronological series of activities for engaging in systemic change" (Reiser & Dempsey, p. 211). We have put together many activities for staff, families, and students to adjust to the upcoming facility plans of merger two schools into four different elementarys. The pre-planning for all of this was not handled as well as it could have been. The chapter refers to "one of the most common reasons for organization transformation to fail is lack of good preparation and planning (Reiser & Dempsey, p. 214). Once the staff took action about the matter the district chose to be proactive and listen to us. Which I felt fit well with continuous events. We have now had direct contact with the assistant superintendent as well as the superintendent, while things are still in progress many of the matters are now being handled. I think it will be interesting what next year will look like for all of us with these mergers. I can envision most classes with about 30 students in them. I am curious how this is helping our students and what is best for them. In addition, what will the district look like in 5 years, will their plan hold true of remodeling and building new elementarys? Only time will tell. This reading was very interesting in learning more about what is entailed with all of these changes that can occur.

R/D7 Chapter 18

What are, in your mind, two unique or interesting or different or noteworthy ways Instructional Design/Technology has been used in business and industry that you believe could be usefully applied to your won professional work? Explain.

I found the technology-based training to be interesting and pertain to the educational field. Not only does the technology based training save on costs but it also can involve more professionals that couldn't attend due to budget constraints. This seems to be a never ending battle for many educational facilities. Everyone wants highly qualified teacher, to meet the "No Child Left Behind" law, but to what extent is this being meant. I feel if we incorporate more training using technology more educators could be reached. Pod casts, Web casts, discussion boards, blogs, and so are all ways for people to gather information, reflect on it, discuss the benefits and weaknesses and move forward and apply what they have learned. It could then be revisited to obtain feedback for what went well and what didn't. People could also choose professional development that pertains to what he/she is teaching. I personally have been to numerous pd's that have no bearing on what I teach and I'm only there to get my training done. That is not what training is, if it doesn't pertain to my subject being taught why am I there?

Another interesting instructional design is that of globalization of training. I would be very interesting in what is being taught in other countries. How are we as a country comparing to other countries. Through the software the developers are creating on tackling the language barrier, all kinds of new doors could open with communication across the globe.

I find it very exciting to learn about ideas and concepts from anyone whether they are teaching next door or half way around the globe that I can take and incorporate into my teachings. Using technology will have a new affect on the way training is conducted. Hopefully, many schools in the area will take advantage of these incredible tools and allow teachers quality training.

Week 5 Task 2 Activity Google Maps

My lesson is geared towards 2nd grade. Sometime in the beginning of the year I would have them start pen-pal letters. The 2nd graders would find a state they would like to learn more about and select a city within that state. At that point we could pull up Google maps to explore any interesting facts about the area. The student's would then start to create their letter writing skills. As a class, we would make a plan of interesting places in Battle Creek, such as Kingman Museum, Leila Arboretum, Post Elementary, Post Cereal, and of course somewhere fun like Full Blast. I would create a Google map of the places we came up with and the students would incorporate the map into their writing. (If I were doing the pen-pal letters with upper grades I would try something an online pen-pal site). This activity could continue all year and students would be able to share what they learned about their state with their classmates. We could continue to develop the map all year as well.
http://maps.google.com/maps/empw?url=http:%2F%2Fmaps.google.com%2Fmaps%2Fms%3Fie%3DUTF8%26msa%3D0%26msid%3D101122621346498101082.00044ef489ea6723ba861%26ll%3D42.31617,-85.18022%26spn%3D0.008169,0.018711%26output%3Dembed%26s%3DAARTsJpeHyDLiCHGZN7ojSOJA1e-UDtXkQ&hl=en&gl=us

R/D9 Course Reflections

I have found in the beginning many things were confusing. I never use the wmu e-mail, so I was behind from the start by not looking there for information. In my previous classes everything was done on blackboard, I liked that. All discussions, posts, and assignments were put in the drop box, and for each grade I was given comments ( That was a big motivator for me)! So far, the blog is more of an inconvenience than a helpful tool. I have always wanted to set up and use a blog. I thought it would be something a class could use, until I found that it is blocked from our server. The wiki again glad to be able to create one, but not sure if I would ever use it. I really enjoyed using Google maps I can invision incorporate it into my lessons. One thing I struggle with is I don't feel like very much of what I am learning geared towards elementary level. That is how I try to put things into perspective, since that is what I teach and plan on continuing to teach. Also, the requirements for responding to posts. If 4 responses need to be made than that is the minimum requirement for full points. It was not clear on how many should be made how would we know you didn't want 3 or 5 I didn't find it stated what we should be doing until after the fact. The book is okay, again my experience using blackboard's discussion board seemed to be a better means in having meaningful discussions it was set up as more of a dialogue. Overall, I have learned new information, which is always a good thing, and was exposed to new technology I haven't used before. I can't wait for summer break to start and really play with some of the technology like the photosharing!

R/D6 Chapter 14 Adoption, Diffusion, Implementation, and Institutionalziation of Instructional Design and Technology

What are some ways the ideas/concepts/principles discussed in this chapter could be applied in your professional work? Do you see opportunities where these ideas could help you or your students?

In the district I work for they seem to do a lot of piloting of software and/or equipment. The (LoTi) Levels of Technological Implementation seems to fit with this work. There are the "researchers" checking out the different technology available at this point they are the nonusers and are becoming aware. They then move into exploration and infusion the product to find out if it suits their needs or the needs of the students. If it is meeting their needs or they find the product needs further testing they can integrate with other fitting areas, where then they may want to expand and finally refine and tweak to make a successful product implemented. Piloting programs and software seems to be the solution to providing further opportunities for teachers and students to use technology.
I enjoyed reading the eight facilitative conditions that contribute to implementation. With the school I currently work at closing I am shaking my head and relating to what I am reading. We as a facility have been dealing with the eight conditions and problem solving to resolve many unsettling matters. For us, these issues need to be dealt with before we can move on to implementing the new plan with merging our schools.

R/D5 Chapter 3 History of Instructional Design and Technology

Indicate whether you think the Internet and Web will have a major impact in one or more of the following areas:

a. Educational programs at K-12.
I feel K-12 education has many restrictions when it comes to technology. There is access to numerous things on the Internet, but teachers have to be cautious of what is out there and plan very carefully of student activity on the Internet. I believe this plays a key role in the resistance or hesitation to fully climb on board and really fuel our K-12 students with many interactive Internet experiences. I like what Reiser and Dempsey wrote about technology in the schools "...an increased presence of technology in the schools does not necessarily mean an increased use of that technology for instructional purposes" (pg. 35). Once teachers have a strong grasp as to what is appropriate, enhances the curriculum and makes learning more meaningful will we see a major impact on those students. The high school students have more leeway than the elementary and even secondary, but there still are many restrictions as to what teachers and students are able to accomplish. Eventually, over time we will see the Internet playing a larger part in the education of K-12 students.

b. Higher Education (Community Colleges, Colleges, and Universities)
The internet is a lifesavor for college. I couldn't imagine not having readily available access to the internet during the course of my studies. There are many courses now available online as well as Online Universities, it makes life easier. People are put under so many demands when you can complete the same course online as driving to a university, it is a no brainer that the online course is going to win. Students save on gas, commuting time, they have access to work on their assignments when it fits in their schedule, there are countless advantages. The Internet has already made a huge impact on higher education and I can only see things soaring from here. Reiser and Dempsey share successful statistics, "In the past few years, interest in using the Internet for instructional purposes has also been rapidly growing in higher education and the military. For example, between 1994-95 and the 1997-98 academic year enrollment in distance learning courses in institutions that offered distance learning..nearly doubled" (pg. 35). I would be curious what 2007-08 academic school would compare to 1997-98. In my personal experience, I have had great success thus far utilizing distance learning. I can't imagine what will come in 10 years or even 5 years!

c. Adult Education (in business, government, and military)
Training seems to be one of the reoccuring pieces in addressing the impact on adult education. Training for the military and businesses. The Internet has dramatically changed business' over the past decade. There are numerous online business that are very successful. As I was reading through the chapter I was thinking about gamers. 15 years ago gaming is not what it has evolved into today. I was watching something on t.v. where gamers compete against other gamers all around the world for quite a bit of money. Who would have thought gaming would be able to pay the bills. Wasn't it our parents that told us to stop playing all of those games they'll rot your brain. This industry wouldn't exsist if it wasn't for the Internet. All the time there are advertisements on television for online businesses promoting working from home and showing testimonials of people living on the beach of California in a beautiful house making $10,000 a month. Again, this something that 10 years ago we wouldn't have seen. The internet has become a fundamental tool in adult education. When I need to find out information, I surf the Web as do many others.