Week 1 Thoughts

After completing the reading assignment, discuss one thing that you found interesting or surprising and one thing that you still have a question about.

The surprise – and it shouldn’t be – was the success of the training videos for WW 2.  I am a big fan of the flipped classroom model – instructional content at home and “homework” problems with teacher.  I just assumed you learned how to do x, y, z from the military manual.  But the quote from the German general about how they were not prepared for the quickness of the learning done by the U.S. is one points of view strongly supporting using new-fangled media for educational purposes.

I still have a question about equity.  Spector tells us to “Do nothing to impair learning, performance, and instruction.”  To not widen the digital divide (p. 15).  How do we do this?  I tried to find a cartoon I had read some time ago.  A teacher fish was leading a school of young pupils.  Encouraging everyone to keep up, but slowing down for the slowest fish.  Behind them a shark was eating the students at the back of the line…How do we reconcile this?  I think edtech is great, I love the flipped classroom, the web based formative assessment tools…How do we ensure that every student has access?  Do we sacrifice the education of those that have and are willing for those who do not have but are equally willing?  I struggle with this and it opens a whole other can of worms…

Readings

Foundations of Educational Technology, J. Michael Spector 2012

Reiser, R. A. (2001). A history of instructional design and technology: Part i: A history of instructional media. Educational Technology Research and Development, 49, 53-64.

Reiser, R. A. (2001). A history of instructional design and technology: Part ii: A history of instructional design. Educational Technology Research and Development, 49, 57-67.