OLTD Program Outcome Addressed:
The piece of evidence that I have selected is my seminar plan that I developed when leading a tablet computing group. This was one of the major assignments in OLTD509 and comprised the whole of the second week in the course. My seminar was completed within the third week and this plan was designed to outline the activities that would be part of that seminar.
The critical challenge question that this piece of evidence addresses is the second one, specifically, how I can inspire, initiate and implement sustainable integration of emerging technologies in my own practice and the practices of others. This, along with previous seminars, really gave me the opportunity to develop and execute a number of important skills taught over the whole OLTD program. Specifically, creating engaging tasks that can be completed asynchronously has been an overarching goal of mine throughout the program. Within OLTD509, the emerging technology of tablet computing was certainly something that I wanted to consider. The initial instructor-led seminar provided me with a potential definition of an "emerging technology" and I feel that an iPad fits nicely into this sector. Indeed a small, but growing number of classes are utilizing tablets in their ongoing practice which falls into the approximate window of an emerging technology.
I have had experience in the past working with primary and middle school teachers to implement an iPad cart into a group of classes. Throughout this process I learned a number of skills and important points to consider which I brought forth in my tablet computing seminar. The key components of the iPad integration were captured in the four tasks that I gave to my seminar participants. These were largely based on what I learned over the two years of working with iPad integration inside a primary school classroom.
I created the first task to address the potential barriers in integrating this emerging technology. Discussing both sides of the tablet argument and being able to consider, and possibly mitigate the potential downfalls, would allow my colleagues to make an informed choice with respect to tablets in their own classes.
I believe, through the comments I received after the seminar, that the video in the second task was both inspirational and informative. Specifically, the idea of creating a workflow for teachers and students to execute a complex task was a new idea for some of the seminar participants. For myself, in researching workflows, I certainly see the many that I already utilize and some areas for improvement within them. I obtained a number of excellent examples with which to further my own practice and the practice of others when I work with teachers and tablets in their classes.
Overall the idea that we need to consider how to inspire, initiate and implement an emerging technology resonates strongly with me. As a technology coordinator, one of my primary roles is to ensure that emerging and innovative technologies are available and considered by my colleagues for use in their classes. Furthermore, all sides must be considered both by myself before I submit a specific technology for consideration but also by the colleagues who will be implementing it into their teaching. By being asked to create a seminar on a new and emerging technology I was able to fully investigate the details surrounding the implementation of such an initiative and turn these details into a coherent series of activities for others.
In the future, this seminar will certainly inform the order and content that I provide to others when I am discussing not only tablet integration but also the integration of any new and emerging technology. The parallels between the specific activities that I selected for tablets and the overall ideas of considering a technology, working out how best to utilize it and considering how to implement it in a variety of classes is an important workflow in and of itself.
- Demonstrate basic competency with design and implementation within a variety of online learning environments and tools
- Plan learning opportunities most suitable to the strengths and challenges of a variety of environments
- Develop and design intentional learning activities suitable for the appropriate environment and the learner
- Share engagement strategies and tips
- Critically assess and evaluate resources for best practice in online learning
- Examine current research around best practices and emerging practices
The piece of evidence that I have selected is my seminar plan that I developed when leading a tablet computing group. This was one of the major assignments in OLTD509 and comprised the whole of the second week in the course. My seminar was completed within the third week and this plan was designed to outline the activities that would be part of that seminar.
The critical challenge question that this piece of evidence addresses is the second one, specifically, how I can inspire, initiate and implement sustainable integration of emerging technologies in my own practice and the practices of others. This, along with previous seminars, really gave me the opportunity to develop and execute a number of important skills taught over the whole OLTD program. Specifically, creating engaging tasks that can be completed asynchronously has been an overarching goal of mine throughout the program. Within OLTD509, the emerging technology of tablet computing was certainly something that I wanted to consider. The initial instructor-led seminar provided me with a potential definition of an "emerging technology" and I feel that an iPad fits nicely into this sector. Indeed a small, but growing number of classes are utilizing tablets in their ongoing practice which falls into the approximate window of an emerging technology.
I have had experience in the past working with primary and middle school teachers to implement an iPad cart into a group of classes. Throughout this process I learned a number of skills and important points to consider which I brought forth in my tablet computing seminar. The key components of the iPad integration were captured in the four tasks that I gave to my seminar participants. These were largely based on what I learned over the two years of working with iPad integration inside a primary school classroom.
I created the first task to address the potential barriers in integrating this emerging technology. Discussing both sides of the tablet argument and being able to consider, and possibly mitigate the potential downfalls, would allow my colleagues to make an informed choice with respect to tablets in their own classes.
I believe, through the comments I received after the seminar, that the video in the second task was both inspirational and informative. Specifically, the idea of creating a workflow for teachers and students to execute a complex task was a new idea for some of the seminar participants. For myself, in researching workflows, I certainly see the many that I already utilize and some areas for improvement within them. I obtained a number of excellent examples with which to further my own practice and the practice of others when I work with teachers and tablets in their classes.
Overall the idea that we need to consider how to inspire, initiate and implement an emerging technology resonates strongly with me. As a technology coordinator, one of my primary roles is to ensure that emerging and innovative technologies are available and considered by my colleagues for use in their classes. Furthermore, all sides must be considered both by myself before I submit a specific technology for consideration but also by the colleagues who will be implementing it into their teaching. By being asked to create a seminar on a new and emerging technology I was able to fully investigate the details surrounding the implementation of such an initiative and turn these details into a coherent series of activities for others.
In the future, this seminar will certainly inform the order and content that I provide to others when I am discussing not only tablet integration but also the integration of any new and emerging technology. The parallels between the specific activities that I selected for tablets and the overall ideas of considering a technology, working out how best to utilize it and considering how to implement it in a variety of classes is an important workflow in and of itself.