Final Reflection

• Hybrid classes are synchronous and asynchronous in the same course.  Online video once meant asynchronous text; some images and a rare video have become a wonderful mix of video, audio, animation and interactivity.
• Academic distributed learning Distance learning is a subset of distributed learning, focusing on students who may be separated in time and space from their peers and the instructor. Distributed learning can occur either on or off campus, providing students with greater flexibility and eliminating time as a barrier to learning. A common feature of both distance and distributed learning is technology.
• Virtual classes are an environment where the process of sharing information and skills for actual or simulated tasks in a social environment that learning takes place and people develop professionally and personally.
• Distributed learning at physical locations is something that my school district requires of us.  We have to earn 18 hours extra throughout the school year.  Other teachers and professionals in the district provide DL sessions that are designed to help us learn and support us professionally.  They are very helpful and are usually very beneficial to us in our jobs.
• Distributed learning via virtual locations my district also offers some DL via the internet and virtual ecourses.   They are convenient and easy to complete on your own time.  Distance and distributive learning have changed the way we do professional development and it has opened our options tremendously.  

• Looking back over my graduate school classes I have had very few classes that have don’t have much reusability for my career.  I wish that I had more lessons and things that I could use in the library.  I would have like to do more observations of librarians teaching lessons to give me a sense of how things should work in a library.  I did learn valuable information that has proven to help me in my current job as a librarian.  I find reusability to be a great asset to me as an elementary school librarian.

• Using book trailers is a media rich tool to get kids excited about reading is one of my favorite tools.  My students get very excited about the books I show them using book trailers.  They give them a very brief and limited summary of the book along with pictures and music.  I choose the Hunger Games books trailer based on its current popularity. 

• Nanotechnology could help me keep the books in the library in better shape.  Kids are rough on books and the books don’t hold up for very long.  If the materials that made up the covers were more durable and waterproof the books would be easier to keep clean and in good condition.  I often have to take a new book out of circulation because a students has spilled something on it or the book has come apart.   Nanotechnology could help make a more durable material to cover books with and keep the books on the shelves longer for students to enjoy. 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  The "broad and inclusive road" is the best thing for the future of instructional design and technologies, in my opinion.  The straight and narrow is to restrictive and does not allow room for growth within the industry.  Technological design and instruction is changing at a very rapid pace and we have to to try to stay up with it.  If we do not adapt and change with the technology we are doomed to fail.  The ever changing field of instructional technology is an opportunity for all  to grow and teach our children in a way they have never been taught before.  Technology is changing the way we educate our children and we have to adapt the way we design our instruction to meet the needs of today's learner. 

Blog 6

  Disney Pixar is looking for an individual who will consult with a variety of groups and individuals to identify opportunities for learning and development to enhance the experience and effectiveness of employees across the studio. S/he will work closely with Pixar University and Pixar’s HR team to develop and implement custom quality learning experiences and educational programs for a variety of audiences, using methods and techniques that serve a highly creative, inquisitive, and collaborative population. S/he will be responsible for delivering training as well as coaching and preparing others in the skills necessary to deliver staff development training.

o    This position will develop and maintain effective working relationships with all levels within the organization and utilize a hands-on approach with tactical as well as strategic assignments. S/he will collaborate with a variety of individuals and groups to provide meaningful and memorable learning and development experiences.

o    I have all the qualifications that the job requires except for educational consulting experience.  Other than relocating to California this sounds like a job that I would like and be good at


The Manager of Workplace Learning and Development serves as a training and performance management generalist/senior consultant. The position exercises leadership and provides expertise in adult learning; training curricula design; and development of leadership and professional development programs. The Manager assists employees in mastering competencies needed for effective performance and career development. The Manager will develop a variety of learning programs that address technical, behavioral, soft skills and compliance content. He or she will develop training programs utilizing a variety of delivery methods including electronic training, webinars, live-facilitated, and other formats/mediums. This position works closely with other HR directors and managers to design learning strategies and workplace interventions. The individual creates comprehensive project plans to drive implementation of learning strategies.

o    Major Responsibilities: • Drive development, implementation and maintenance of training curricula through project plans, use of technology and other media • Facilitate course sessions as assigned; obtain trainers for assigned courses; routinely train other trainers, and ensure quality of training facilitation. • Design needs assessments; develop reports that include learning metrics, profit and loss data, and other management information. • Plan and execute leadership and professional development activities • Coach managers and employees on human performance effectiveness and productivity tactics • Manage maintenance of Learning Management System (LMS). • Supervise professional staff.

o    I have several of the skills required for the position.  I have not dealt with profit and loss data.  I have not coached adults on human performance and effectiveness and productivity tactics.  I would learn how to do these things as quickly as possible.  I already do a majority of these tasks in my day to day job.

Education and Training Program Manager

o    The Education and Training Program Manager is responsible for new business development as well as maintaining relationships with businesses and organizations seeking to utilize education, training and professional development services. The position responds to inquiries and works with business leaders to understand educational and training needs. Additionally the Program Manager frames and delivers a solution in a fast paced, creative and highly entrepreneurial manner.

o    Having a strong background in sales or marketing is a requirement for this position that I don’t have but would like to learn.  I have curriculum design experience and a great sense of humor.  I have often thought I might like a job in higher education.  I would have to move to Southern Michigan for the position. 

Professional Organizations

Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE):

Mission: The Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE), founded in 1981, is an international, not-for-profit, educational organization with the mission of advancing Information Technology in Education and E-Learning research, development, learning, and its practical application.

Membership: $125 per year

Publications: AACE has five print journals they are online as well

Conferences and Meetings: Global Time Online Feb. 7-9, Society for Information Technology and Teacher Education will be held in Austin March 5-9 2012

Professional Publications are online peer reviewed journals.   Contributions for all journals may include research papers, case studies, tutorials, courseware experiences, evaluations, review papers, and viewpoints.  I was not aware of AACE before today. 

As I was browsing the website I found some very useful material that will help me in my career.  I would love to attend the conference in Austin!

American Educational Research Association (AERA)

Mission: The American Educational Research Association (AERA), a national research society, strives to advance knowledge about education, to encourage scholarly inquiry related to education, and to promote the use of research to improve education and serve the public good.

Membership Cost: Regular members are $150.00 per year, Grad students are $80 per year.

Publications: Studying Diversity in Teacher Education, Handbook of Education Policy Research


Conferences and Meetings: 2012 Annual Meeting - Vancouver,British Columbia, Canada Friday, April 13 - Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Domains (Table 27.7):

Standard 1: Design
Standard 2: Development
Standard 3: Utilization
Standard 4: Management

Competencies (table 27.6):

1.       Focus on results

2.      Looks at situations systematically and consider larger context  

3.      Collaborate with partners, clients and experts

4.      Analyze the work and work place systematically

5.      Design the requirements of the solution systematically

6.      Be systematic in the implementation of the solution

These are the six competencies that I would include for the job description of a performance technologist.  I would have to really study the competencies and add information that I would require when hiring for the position. 

Trends and Issues

Rapid Prototyping

A fashion designer wants to design a new pair of jeans for women who are short and curvy.  They need to have a prototype before they can take their product to the manufacturer.  The designer hires an analyst to help her create a digital image of the jeans before creating a physical pair of jeans.  The designer can create the rapid prototype by using an actual model to get the measurements need for the digital image. 

Rapid prototyping is a process that is constantly being used in education, in my opinion.  Teachers are always having to create lessons and change them mid-lesson based upon whether they are working or not.  With new curriculums and resources the teachers have to create lesson plans that they have not tested and are always adjusting them based on student needs.  Rapid prototyping should be used in education often due to the constant changes in the methods of expectable teaching.  It seems that every year something new is implemented and teachers are changing the way and what they teach.

Step-Up-to-Excellence Staff Development

When presenting the new methodologies to the staff I would use technology to present instead of the sit and get method.  Teachers will also have their laptops with them to work along through the process with me.  I would give the teachers piece of the methodology and ask them to put them in the order that they think they go in.  Once the pieces are in order we will discuss as a whole group the correct order and why it goes in the order it does. 

Faculty Center for teaching with Technology

·         Find innovative ways to use technology to achieve their teaching goals

·         Faculty and Staff Services

·         Media services, Multimedia Development, Instructional Design Unit, and Two-Way interactive video.

Training and Development

·         Employment Development

·         Faculty/Staff

·         provides several programs for both managers and employees to help them improve their abilities and skills as employees

Policies, Procedures, Statements, and Notifications

·         Rules and Procedures

·         Faculty/Staff

·         Provides all the rules, policies, and procedures for the different university departments and programs.