Definition of Instructional Technology

1.                  It seems to me throughout the years as technology became more and more as a way of improving thinking and achievement, the definition of Instructional Technology matured to embrace the new aspects of instruction.  Instructional Technology has evolved from just being a visual aid to assist learners, to a process by which “looking at instructional problems and examining feasible solutions to those problems” p.3, to lookin g at instructional technology as a “systematic way of designing, carrying out, and evaluation the whole process of learning and teaching in terms of specific objectives” p.4, to educational technology, to “cognitive and constructivist learning theories having a major influence on the design practices” p.5, and to “the study and ethical practice of facilitating learning and improving performance” p.6. 

            Instructional Technology in my classroom provides a visual supplement to instruction, enhances student engagement, also provides links them to the changing world.

2.                  I really like the model that Dick, Carey, & Carey created.  It has the main stages of instructional design that I think is important to approaching teaching.  I like that it is systematic making the model reusable.  If I had to remove any piece it would have to be design because it seems to me to be the same or even a subtitle to develop.  My development of the model wouldn’t quite be intertwined and I would start with evaluate.  I believe a model has to start with the end in mind.  What goals and objectives of the students?  What am I going to assess the students on?  What learning is to take place?  What skills will the students develop?  The learning environment is evaluated.  What environment would promote maximum learning?  How you’re going to get there is created, exercises, activities, and/or projects.  Lastly, the design is implemented in the classroom. 

3.         Technology today has shaped the way we look at the world, communicate among each other, and the way education is being taught.  It was a time when education was concrete and the result was to be ready for the work force.  Technology has broaden our horizons and thinking as a result of bridging the gap between people, cultures, and nations.  Education has taken on a new curricular which emphasizes keeping up with new technology that will expose the students and advance their technological skills.  This new technology is important because it aids the teachers in trying to keep the students actively engaged in learning.  The students lack of attentiveness results from the “instant access” world.  So the idea is to try and take the strengths of the students’ ability to adapt to new technology and incorporate it into the classroom.  Technology is here to stay.  The one thing that I think that is a benefit to having technology is that it has influenced our models of teaching because it bring about abstract thinking.  More and more teachers are turning to a learner-centered environment which feeds into the exploring side of teaching.  Exploring in education has comes from technology, which allows a person to think on a broader scale.  There are several school district that are piloting programs that have textbooks online, communication among students through e-mail, and giving student enough technology so they can be able to interact with the teacher through the technology; turning papers, grading papers, tutorials, quick polls, etc.  The grammar school level will continue using technology as visual aids and exploring solutions.  The secondary students will probably be issued devices like iPads.  Secondary may also go to a more interactive site like Blackboard.  The next level of education will probably see more and more students doing distant learning.  As a result, more people will have the opportunity of a higher education.