Instructional Technology

How to Use the Website

This website is intended for librarians and other professionals working in colleges or universities, who are looking for information sources about technology, instruction, and the space in which the two overlap. The information collected here is culled from various types of resources--books, journals, and websites. Most examine the subject of instructional technology through an interdisciplinary lens, while some present a more focused analysis from the point of view of either discipline of higher education/pedagogy and technology.

The RESOURCES page functions as a selective bibliography on the topic. It includes both print and electronic resources. The resources reflect the multiple considerations of an instructional technologist, from the definitons of educational/technology terms and practical lesson design and technology integration, to the theories and philosophies behind the discipline. Also, links to a number of professional organizations, online communities, and listervs can be found here too.

The TOOLS page contains multiple links to instructional technology tools--both free, open-source products and commercially licensed software. This page's function is to help acquaint the instructional technologist with the tools of the trade, especially emerging technologies.

 

The Importance of Instructional Technology

Technology is constantly challenging educational institutions, and has been since the “technological revolution” starting the mid-to-late 90’s. The way we teach is changing. College and university accreditation agencies and standards organizations are or already have updated their requirements to reflect the impact technology is having on schools and the society at large.

Students need to leave school having, at minimum, basic tech skills, as well as knowledge on how to use technology for organization, communication, research, and problem-solving, in addition to having a subject-specific area of expertise.

Despite the challenges organizations face integrating technology, students can be taught such skills through lessons embedded in course curricula. With the necessary support and resources, educators can develop curricula that include the use of technology to teach tech skills, information literacy and research skills, and specific subject-area knowledge and skills.

eLearning

Information and communication technologies (ICTs) that can be used not only to support, but improve learning and teaching, are referred to as learning technologies (or education technologies) and the practice is often referred to as eLearning.

The goal of eLearning, just like more traditional forms of pedagogy is LEARNING, (not just using technology).

Levels of integration vary from basic support outside of the classroom to blended learning, where technology is an integral part of the course, to distance education, where technology is the sole means of information transmittal for learning to occur. The key is to choose the most appropriate ways of using technology to foster learning within each context. In other words, from the technologies we have available to us, what should we use, when, with whom and why?

Considering who your users are will help you make those choices, as they are your most important priority.

Tool Types

What are some examples of the tech tools available to colleges and universities?

* Course Management Systems (i.e. Blackboard, WebCT,or ANGEL—comprehensive, one stop shopping for course management)
* Streaming Audio and Video (think: music library, video-taped lecture posted on Web, animated library tutorial video, podcasts)
* Assessment/Survey Tools (quiz and test taking tools online)
* Presentation Tools (PowerPoint and the like)
* Discussion Tools (instant messaging)

AND

* Web 2.0 Apps (collaboration and participatory tools) blogs, wikis, social networking, photosharing, or bookmarking sites, etc.

There is much overlap between categories!

 

Benefits

JISC identifies 6 benefits to eLearning:

* Connectivity – easy access to information on global scale

* Flexibility – learning can take place 24/7, anywhere

* Interactivity – learning not static; can be immediate and autonomous

* Collaboration – use of discussion tools to support collaboration outside the classroom

* Extended opportunities – materials can reinforce and extend learning beyond classroom

* Motivation – multimedia/web 2.0 resources can make learning fun!

Furthermore, technology can be used to accommodate a variety of learning styles, needs, and abilities.

 

Challenges

There a number of barriers to integrating technology into curricula. These include:

* Fear of change
* Fear of depersonalizing education
* Resistance
* Lack of expertise in ICT use
* Lack of time for learning and gaining proficiency in its use
* Lack of access to needed equipment/resources
* Lack of incentive

There is a need for training and the development of new skills. Educators need to embrace the changes their role and then reassess the curricula and teaching methods they use.

Solutions?

* Resources
* Training
* Support
* Advocacy

It also includes:

* Marketing Services
* Reflective Practice
* Evaluation

This is where the role of instructional technologist, or any type of intermediary, comes in! While filling these necessities will not solve the issues and challenges of integrating technology into college course curricula institution-wide, having someone in such a role can help bridge the gap at the human level.