Instructional Designer

I had a difficult time creating a topic to blog about this week. Like Yan Suo, I have decided to share my symbols of instructional design.

This image is my representation of the main features an instructional designer should have to be successful. I used a series of clip art and pictures to mold him into an instructional designer.
His hair is made of elastic bands to symbolize that instructional designers must be flexible. (Tiffany gave this as an example so it is not that original, but I thought it was important).
His shirt is a person juggling a phone, calendar, and mail, showing the importance of being able to be a multi-tasker and be well-organized.
The left arm near the shoulder shows a megaphone and a computer linking information to another computer, which symbolizes the importance of communication between clients and project personnel.
The hand is a light bulb representing the importance of having interesting ideas.
The right arm is the magnifying glass with the microscope hand showing the importance of analyzing and not missing important details.
The right leg is a bridge representing the way to fill the gap from the current situation to the optimal situation.
The ADDIE leg is pretty self explanatory. It is the model and process instructional designers will use.
The feet brains represent the learning theory, which helps to describe the learning situation. Instructional strategies can be derived from the learning theory to prescribe instruction.

Social- Networking in Education

What is social- networking?









During our class discussion on social-networking in education this week many of us stated we did not believe that it was appropriate for young students. There are many dangers associated with social-networking such as cyberbullying, online predators, and inappropriate posting of pictures and videos. The following link shares the devastation social- networking can lead to if used incorrectly: http://www.nationalpost.com/news/world/story.html?id=974494. Despite the negativity surrounding social-networking it can be used in education to engages learners.





WeLearn is a social-network service that promotes learning and retention of a foreign language (Henry, accessed 11/24/08). The learner can join the group focused on the language he or she is trying to learn. The community learn and share information from each other.







Here is a rather long video from teachertube that explains why people use social-networking inappropriately and how to use it to promote learning. http://www.teachers.tv/video/24687

Spreadsheets

Spreadsheets

A spread sheet is a grid consisting of cells making up rows and columns. Spreadsheets are mainly used for storing, calculating, and presenting information (Jonassen, 2006). Information put into the cells can be numbers or text. Formulas can be entered into the cell to manipulate numbers from other cells (Jonassen, 2006). Critical thinking is necessary to create these formulas for example: finding the .um of B2, B3, B4, and B5 or finding the averaged. The data can be manipulated into charts, graphs, and tables only with in-depth knowledge and calculations of the data.

Thinking Critically with Computers: Databases

Database

Many companies uses databases as a way to organize and store data. Databases can also be used as a tool to engage students in learning a deeper understanding of the content.

The following is a paper written by Brad Ryder: http://www.knowalot.com/nova/developing.htm . The paper does not seem to be published but encompasses methodologies on how to use a database as a mindtool to engage students in critical thinking. First, students need to determine what content he or she would like to use in the database. Second, creating queries, the students will decide what categories are relevant. Third, questions, students will create questions that may be asked of their database. Creating questions promotes critical thinking skills such as assessing information, recognizing fallacies, recognizing assumptions, and inferring inductively and deductively [Jonassen, 1996]. Designing the structure of the database, encourages students to research to find a better understanding of the topic. Creating the questions makes students think deeper about the relationships between each field.

Please notice the references at the end of the paper because they are excellent resources of using mindtools to promote crtical thinking