Technology Now and Then

I recently bought a new (at least new to me) house.  Of course we brought all of our technological "stuff," like the Wii, televisions, computers, and so on.  For several years, I have only had a mobile phone, because there hasn't been a need for a landline.  My son Isaac and I were standing in the kitchen the other day.  He is eight.  He looked up at the wall where there is a phone jack.  Apparently the former owner had at some point had a phone hanging on the wall in the kitchen.  Isaac pointed at it and said "Mom, what's that."  I think I somewhat embarrassed him, unintentionally of course, when I laughed out loud and told him that it was where you plug in a phone.

The purpose of this little story is to provide an example of the world in which our future leaders live.  Many children live in homes without landlines and a rotary phone might as well be a dinosaur.  Technology is everywhere in our homes and schools.  Teachers in all levels of education create their lessons, enter their grades, and communicate with parents and students via the internet, facebook, text messaging, and other social networking applications.  I once worked in a school district where the server burned in a small electric fire.  Everyone was beside themselves, because we couldn't get emails from administrators, post grades for students, or worst of all, make a phone call!  The phones were all run through the server!  I was taking parent messages on my mobile phone!

The internet, computers, and projectors have become almost commonplace in the classrooms of both child and adult learners.  I think it would be safe to say that the future of instructional technology and technology in education will incorporate more social networking, blogging, and new innovative applications.  Although there is much to be said for the structure and patience that come with the learning from a good book, when learners have access to the classroom in the palms of their hands, what teacher wouldn't want to use it?

Dick, Carey, & Carey Model of Instruction Revised

This image is a revised graphic of the Dick, Carey, and Carey Model of Instruction.  The two changes that I saw necessary were the "write performance objectives" and "revise instruction" segments of the model.  Although these tasks are both necessary, it seemed that the development of performance objectives is certainly important if they are ever to be written, a task that should be implied.  In regard to the revision of instruction, it may be an opinion on which most educators would agree that revisions tend to be followed by adaptations.  Naturally these efforts are all made to meet the needs of the students.

Defining Instructional Technology

Instructional technology is the creation, utilization, and implementation of technological resources in an ethical, learner-centered setting.  Specifically in public school, the instruction of technology must incorporate the training and development of a staff prepared to utilize and enhance what forms of technology are actually available as well as providing students with opportunities to enhance technological skills on which many have been building since early childhood.    

   

ETEC 561 Blog

I have never created a blog before, but I have always enjoyed those created by friends.  I think this is going to be a great way to diplay our work throughout the course.  I look forward to viewing the blogs of my classmates.