There's Got to Be a Better Way to Do This

;

iTECH DIGEST Volume 4, Number 3, Summer 2014

Volume 4, Number 3 Summer 2014

“There’s Got to Be a Better Way to Do This”: A Qualitative Investigation of Informal Learning Among Instructional Designers Stephen C. Yanchar and Melissa Hawkley Brigham Young University (Editor’s note: See full text for reference and experiences associated with everyday, citations.) informal learning among instructional designers and developers, or the difference this Studies of instructional design practice kind of learning makes to their practice…. have, in recent years, begun to illuminate the The overall purpose of this study, then, was to complex nature of work in the field…. While explore everyday, informal learning among prior research has offered insight into design instructional designers through a research expertise (versus novice practice) and topics strategy designed to be sensitive to the mean- pertaining to formal designer training, there ingfulness of those experiences. has been no focused exploration of the in situ ! efforts of instructional designers and develop- Participants in our study were employees ers to learn ‘‘on the fly’’ as the contingencies at an instructional design center at a major of projects seem to demand. That is, there has university. Our study included six partici- been no in-depth examination of the meaning pants—three women and three men—with This article is excerpted from Educational Technology varied degrees of experience as instructional Research and Design, published online first, April 10, designers and developers; however, all 2014. Read the full text by logging in at the AECT website, http://aect.org/, and clicking on Publications. continued on page 4

CALL FOR PAPERS JOURNALS ISSUES IN FOCUS

Check out calls for papers, Members have instant online The column this month proposals, and participants. access to a wide variety of discusses Pearson’s Digital Get involved. journals. Ocean report. Page 2 Page 5 Page 61

;

iTECH DIGEST Volume 4, Number 3, Summer 2014

Online Registration Calls for Papers, Proposals, and Participants Is Now Open Call for Proposals. Need Call for Manuscripts. funding to develop a research AECT, in collaboration with proposal? Consider applying Springer, has announced a for a Collaborative Research new series of books and Grant. The purpose of the monographs under the title, grant is to provide monetary “Educational Communica- 2014 AECT support to enable association tions and Technology: Issues members to develop research and Innovations.” International project proposals that include The purpose of the series active collaboration among is to extend AECT’s ongoing Convention researchers, research institu- publications with Springer November 4-8 tions, and AECT. Informa- and to offer the Springer Jacksonville, Florida tion at: http://aect.org/. Briefs innovative format to AECT authors and contribu- “Learning, Design Call for Papers. The AECT tors. For more information and Technology” flagship practitioner journal, potential authors are asked to TechTrends, is seeking manu- see: http://aect.org/. script submissions, including Association for from international and newer Call for Videos. “We Are Educational authors. For more informa- AECT” is an opportunity to Communications and tion, see the Instructions for share how members define Technology Authors online by clicking on AECT. What’s your “elevator

320 West 8th Street Publications on the AECT speech” description of Suite 101 website: http://aect.org. AECT? Think of this project Bloomington, IN 47404-3745 AECT’s premier research as making your “elevator journal, Educational Tech- video,” 3-5 minutes (or U.S. Toll-Free: nology Research and shorter, 15-60 seconds), 877-677-AECT Development (ETR&D) also something you might share Local Phone: welcomes submissions on on your smartphone with a 812-335-7675 topics of interest from new new colleague who asks, and experienced researchers. “What’s AECT all about?” Email: Complete directions can be [email protected] Call for Speakers/Writers. found at: http://aect.org/. Website: Looking for a keynote http://aect.org/ speaker or someone to write for your publication, or want iTECH DIGEST to be that speaker or writer? Copyright © 2014 Association for Educational Check out the new AECT Communications and Speakers/Writers Bureau on Technology the homepage: http://aect.org/. 2

;

iTECH DIGEST Volume 4, Number 3, Summer 2014

Tablet Technology as a Moving Target

Donovan R. Walling Chapter 2 in Designing Learning for Tablet Classrooms: Innovations in Instruction

On November 2, 1936, the British Broad- ers work with classrooms of students, whether casting Corporation (BBC), operating out of kindergartners or coeds, with tablet computers the Alexandra Palace in London, began trans- in everyone’s hands…. The potential power to mitting the first regular, high-definition, pub- transform teaching and learning is more likely lic television service. It is estimated that about to be realized if dedicated student tablets 500 television sets would have received the arrive in conjunction with tablets for teachers. first broadcast…. On April 3, 2010, Apple A growing number of school districts are revolutionized the portable computer world moving in this direction—in spite of the when the company launched the first-genera- relatively high cost and some noteworthy tion iPad. The slim, handheld computer fea- policy ramifications— because the payoff in tured a 9.7-in., full color, liquid crystal touch- increased student learning is substantial. screen display. Some 300,000 iPads were sold ! on the first day they became available…. Tablet computers are revolutionizing the Today tablet technology is as controversial as notion of what a computer is, increasing early television. Enthusiastic proponents see technological capabilities while downsizing Digital Age education propelled by tablets as scale and price. The tablets that are on the a door into a new dimension previously only market today and those new and improved hinted at…. Opponents, however, question versions that will arrive tomorrow can po- whether the door to this new dimension in tentially level the education playing field for education ought to be opened more cautious- students of all socioeconomic backgrounds ly—or perhaps not at all. while simultaneously expanding what and ! how students learn. Tablet technology is a Tablet computers at present represent a moving target, but it is one worth following. pinnacle in intuitive technology. Intensive instruction is not necessary for most users, at Editor’s note: Designing Learning for Tablet Class- rooms: Innovations in Instruction offers K-12 educa- whatever age, to pick up a tablet device and tors, teacher educators, and prospective teachers philo- quickly learn how to use it in basic ways…. sophical and practical insights into designing and de- Therein resides the power and learning po- livering instruction using iPads and other forms of tab- tential of tablet computers. It takes little ima- let computer. Courtesy of Springer, AECT members gination to realize how much more powerful have online access to this new book, published in February 2014. Read the full text at http://aect.org/. learning might become when engaged teach- Click on Publications.

;

iTECH DIGEST Volume 4, Number 3, Summer 2014

“Better Way”…continued from page 1

iTECH DIGEST is published participants but one had been employed at this institution for at quarterly by the Association for least several years…. We conducted two semi-structured in- Educational Communications and Technology. terviews per participant, in order to become familiar with their regular work responsibilities and to see how informal learning Stephen Harmon may have been involved in their efforts to perform their duties President competently. Two interviews allowed us to gain sufficient ex- posure to our phenomena of interest and delve into topics Phillip Harris Executive Director fairly intensively. Time between interviews varied, due to participants’ schedules…. All interviews were transcribed Donovan R. Walling according to a predetermined protocol. iTECH DIGEST Editor !

✶ Designers in our study reported learning topics such as technology (e.g., software, online resources, etc.), course content, people skills, design strategies, and details regarding AECT Mission specific projects in order to create effective learning experi- The mission of the Association ences. This everyday, informal learning was not viewed as for Educational Communica- tions and Technology is to optional or as an occasional necessity; in more ways than one, provide international leadership it was described as integral to the work of designing in this by promoting scholarship and field at virtually every level. Design and learning of the sort best practices in the creation, we have explored here are, in this sense, inseparable; design use, and management of could not happen without such learning; and such learning—in technologies for effective teaching and learning in a wide all its breadth and variability—covers a large proportion of range of settings. what designers do. For this reason we have suggested that instructional design might be best viewed as a multifaceted form Goals: of learning and that the results of design work might be view- • Define the disciplines and ed, most fundamentally, as an expression of what designers professional activities that comprise the field of have learned, both in general and what they learned on that educational communications specific project. With regard to this important form of learn- and technology. ing, we have observed in our sample that it is often implicit, • Serve and represent innovative, continuous, and involves the formation of judg- professionals in the field and ment and practical wisdom. support professional growth. • Advance scholarship and ! practice that contribute to Viewing learning and design this way has several im- and enlarge the knowledge plications for practice in the field. One major implication is base of the field. that…the work of instructional design should not be overly • Promote policies that ensure technologized and conceived as the application of a routine the humane and ethical use of educational communi- process. Projects entail unique circumstances and designers cations and technology at all will need to make the necessary adjustments to those circum- levels, from the personal stances—that is, adjustments involving maintenance learning, through the international. innovative learning, or both. In this sense, the designer would be seen as making an important contribution to any design, as their efforts to learn in situ would be a primary force behind what is finally designed. 4

;

iTECH DIGEST Volume 4, Number 3, Summer 2014

Call for Writers and Topics Member Access Publications AECT to Launch New Educational Technology Research and Policy Brief Series Development (ETR&D) Bimonthly An AECT Strategic Plan goal is to increase ISSN: 1042-1629 (print) the association’s visibility by positioning AECT ISSN: 1556-6501 (electronic) as an expert international resource on teaching Journal no. 11423 and learning for policy makers and stakeholders. Springer US AECT is embarking on a series of policy briefs as one effort toward this goal. TechTrends These succinct documents Bimonthly will be designed to inform ISSN: 8756-3894 (print) readers—state and national ISSN: 1559-7075 (electronic) legislators and education Journal no. 11528 department officials, for Springer US example, both within the United States and abroad—about important policy issues and Instructional Science topics. An International Journal of the Learning We are seeking our members’ help in re- Sciences sponse to these questions: Bimonthly ISSN: 0020-4277 (print) • What are the key policy issues and topics ISSN: 1573-1952 (electronic) in our field? As the AECT Policy Briefs Journal no. 11251 are developed, your suggestions will Springer Netherlands help extend the series and keep the focus relevant and up to date. International Journal of Designs for • Who are the experts we might invite to Learning draft a policy brief? Are you such an Quarterly expert? AECT Policy Briefs will be ISSN: 2159-449X written by articulate, well-informed (electronic) members and colleagues. We are AECT looking to you to help identify those potential writers. Journal of Applied Instructional Design Quarterly If you wish to submit a Policy Brief for ISSN: 2160-5289 consideration, please review the Policy Brief — (electronic) Structure and Guidelines and download the AECT sample brief at http://aect.org/. Please email your suggestions to Steve Visit the AECT website http://aect.org/, log Harmon, AECT President, and Phillip Harris, on, and click on Publications for instant AECT Executive Director, at access. [email protected].

;

iTECH DIGEST Volume 4, Number 3, Summer 2014

Issues in Focus Drowning in the Digital Ocean In February, Pearson, the testing giant that Amendment (PPRA), and other relevant data- deems itself “the world’s leading learning security measures. It’s a valuable resource for company,” published a report, “Impacts of the school and university personnel and institu- Digital Ocean on Education.” The report tional policy makers. speaks glowingly about moving from “items Critic Diane Ravitch, in a recent blog post, in isolation to activity in context,” from “as- framed the issue with acerbic pessimism: sessment isolation to educational unification,” We are about to take a dive into and from “individual paradigm to social para- the Digital Ocean, whether we want digm”—all resulting from new capacities to to or not. Big data will tell Pearson collect and analyze data. Big Data. and other vendors whatever they The authors expound: want to know. They will know more As technology facilitates about our children and grandchildren movement toward collecting than we do. information from more natural Elsewhere I’ve referred to the proliferation interactions, the social nature of of standardized testing (and concomitant data everyday lives will become apparent collection) as Big Test. Big Data, Big Test— in the data collected. (p. iii) they’re analogous to Big Oil, which people In an ideal world this notion might sound associate with the Exxon Valdez oil spill of benign. Coming from a corporate giant that 1989 or the Deep Horizon spill of 2010. Big already has its tentacles in the lives of students Test is creating a test spill that is doing similar and educators to an unprecedented degree, it environmental damage in schools, and the sounds more like a tsunami-grade invasion of spillover will significantly affect universities privacy. Unless safeguards are instituted at all over time as well. But the more insidious levels, critics aver, personal privacy rights are consequence may be the long-term damage to likely to drown in the Digital Ocean. personal privacy of Big Data. Big Data collection and use by corporations Schools and universities need to examine such as Pearson pose privacy risks that only and take action on privacy issues before lately have begun to be taken seriously. everyone drowns in the Digital Ocean. In February as well, for example, the U.S. Department of Education increased pressure DiCerbo, K.E., and J.T. Behrens. (2014, February). on schools and universities to review and re- Impacts of the Digital Ocean on Education. London: form their procedures for outsourcing student Pearson. Protecting Student Privacy While Using Online data. The department issued a 14-page advi- Educational Services: Requirements and Best sory, “Protecting Student Privacy While Using Practices. (2014, February). Washington, D.C.: U.S. Online Educational Services: Requirements Department of Education. and Best Practices,” through its Privacy Ravitch, Diane. (2014, April 4). “Pearson Want to Help Technical Assistance Center (PTAC at You Swim in the Digital Ocean.” Diane Ravitch’s Blog. dianeravitch.net. http://ptac.ed.gov). Walling, D.R. (2014, March 11). “Big Test.” Advancing The document provides advice conditioned Learning and Democracy. by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy advancinglearning.blogspot.com Act (FERPA), the Protection of Pupil Rights 6