For my final blog I’m going to address four new directions
and emerging technologies for IDT through the eyes of a future librarian.
1. Distributed Learning
I agree with the text book that distributed learning is both
challenging and an opportunity for growth in the field of instructional design.
“Distributed learning is any educational or training experience that uses a
variety of means, including technology, to enable learning.” (290) Three types
of distributed learning I feel a librarian could use to enhance learning
opportunities (but not limited to) are Webinars, references websites and blogs.
Webinars (synchronous) are a great way
to interact and learn with people globally. It’s just a challenge to be there
in real time. References websites (asynchronous) are good sources for
information and blogs (also asynchronous) are a great way to learn from our
peers on thoughts and ideas. I like blogs because you are not on a time restriction
to learn but you still can interact with others.
2. Reusable Design
In order to apply reusable design to your instruction, you
have to understand what it is. The text book defines it as, “Reusability is
defined as the ability to use same resources multiple times in multiple ways
and in multiple contexts.” (302). There are four requirements or questions I
need to ask to see if my resource falls under “reusable design”. 1. Can I find it? 2. May I use it? 3. Will it
work? 4. Can I use it in a way that works for me? I look at it like recycling brain
power and working smarter not harder.A very basic place I would start looking for a reusable
design for the library is on Google. Google has an advance search area that you
can look up by keyword other peoples PowerPoints that have been created and use
them. It saves so much time then creating your own. The next one I’ve chosen is at promethean
planet.com. We have promethean boards in our school and promethean planet has
100’s of flip charts already created and read to use. The plus side, it’s
already created but the downside, it takes time to sort through all the
different flip charts.
3. Rich Media
When I read the definition of rich media, which is “learning
products that incorporate high-end media such as video, animation, sound and
simulation” (312) it made me think of an avatar. I’ve created and seen awesome
avatars used to teach students basic rules of the library and how the Dewey Decimal
system works. There are several avatar programs, my suggestion would be just
check them out and ask around and see what others used and liked. Then just
pick one and go for it. They are fun and easy to create. I do like this quote
from the text book, “Using good design principles is more important for
low-knowledge learners than for high-knowledge learners” (321). This made me
think of my ESL learners and lower level learner and how an avatar could be
used to engage them in higher level of learning.
4. Emerging Instructional
Technologies
Emerging instructional technologies is just that, up-and-coming
instructional technologies. This area I believe will be ever changing. I think
what I blog today about it will be outdated in 5 years or less. In a library
setting, I think that the most useful EIT would be Web 2.0. The best site I’ve
found with Web 2.0 information at one place is http://www.go2web20.net/. This site seems
to have it all. My mind does become on overload looking at all the Web2.0 tools,
I do tend to get overwhelmed. The best advise I’ve been given is to pick one
thing and use it. Master it and then move on to something else. Don’t try to
use too many Web 2.0 tools because then you will end up not using any of them
due to frustration and brain overload. Some good Web 2.0 library online tools I
would suggest are (but not limit to) Google survey, Blogs, Wikis, YouTube and
Facebook.