BSU EDTECH Student Blog

Educational Technology Course EDTECH 501

INTRODUCTION

My learning in courses at Boise State University enables me to answer my questions regarding the slow adoption of technology in our educational system. Why is improving learning outcomes with the integration of instructional technologies more difficult than increasing the bottom line in business with the implementation of information technologies?

GROWTH

In Foundations of Educational Technology (fall 2009) I learned to use Zotero and Delicious for social bookmarking and to use the sharing features of Google Docs.  I read numerous journal articles that contributed to my understanding of why educational technologies have, thus far, had limited impact on how our school systems operate compared to the impact  information technologies have had on how our society communicates and conducts business.

Key issues that slow the adoption of educational technologies include:

• Lack of faculty support
  • Many teacher training sessions are limited in scope and ineffective
  • Instructional design and technical support positions needed for educational technology implementation are not funded
• Lack of faculty incentive
  • Effecctive use of technology is not a performance criterion
  • Designing and preparing technology enhanced instruction which can lead to increased learning outcomes is more time consuming than writing and delivering  lecture-based instruction
  • Unlike corporate employees, teachers are neither compensated for overtime nor rewarded for improved outcomes
• Inadequate teacher preparation
  • Most teacher education programs require only one course in educational technology
  • Many instructors are not skilled in collaborative, constructivist teaching strategies which best facilitate integration of widely used, economical web-based technologies into learning activities
• Lack of clear policies for higher education distance education programs
  • How is “seat time” determined for asynchronous higher education programs?
  • How must distance learner identity be verified during student exams?
  • How do intellectual property laws apply to online instruction?

GOALS

I entered the master of educational technology program after discovering my passion for learning and applying innovative technology applications could be expanded from using computer applications to improve business processes to using technology to improve teaching and learning strategies.  My goals are to gain expertise in educational software applications and courseware development, gain experience as a trainer/ instructor and gain project leadership skills required for successful implementation of educational technology projects.

CONCLUSION

To complement this blog reflection, I will provide links to the following assignments when I submit my final coursework portfolio.  These assignments demonstrate the AECT Evaluation Standard for educational technology programs.

Research Synthesis Paper

Technology Use Plan

School Technology Maturity Evaluation

Professional Development discussion post

Digital Divide discussion post