Instructional Technology

(topic 1)

According to the reading, instructional technology is the use of teaching tools and such tools can be as varied and simple as a calculator and as complex -though common- as a computer. There are some tools that I already knew such as web-quests, e-portfolios, blogs and web pages and others that I didnt even know that existed as Teacher tube (that name is rather funny isnt it?)

"Instructional technology is the use of a variety of teaching tools to improve student learning. We usually think of computers and computer software when we think of instructional technology, but instructional technologies are not limited to computers in the classroom."
  
isnt it?)instructional design:
"is the practice of maximizing the effectiveness, efficiency and appeal of instruction and other learning experiences. The process consists broadly of determining the current state and needs of the learner, defining the end goal of instruction, and creating some "intervention" to assist in the transition"

unny is The car metaphore: the engineers can design the car so that it runs certaing amount of kilometers with certain amount of fuel... these engineers can do nothing to make the future owner of this car to "treat" the car as they prescribe so that it runs the amount of kilometers with the amount of fuel they design it to run. In other words, you can desing the learning process and try it make it appealing and take into account learning styles but in the end the student is the responsible for adquiring/using/transforming it.


To make the Instructional Design there are various models but many of them, according to the reading, are variations of the ADDIE model which stands for:
A: analyze-- somehow a diagnosis
D: design --based on the diagnosis, you set the objectives and choose and approach
D: develop ---create the materials
I: implement ---use the materials
E: evaluate ---make sure that the materials helped to achive the goals

There are some other variations but mainly the ADDIE model is the core of them. According to the reading learning theories (constructivism, behaviourism...) play an important role when designning an instuctional materials since they´ll shape the outcome of such materials.


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One of the objectives of the course was to be aware of the ethics when using information gathered on line so I´ll try to write the reference of the reading I used and quoted.... (after a while) all right, I´ve given up...it´s hard to make a reference when there´s no author mentioned... but it was took from Richmond Editorial handout (laughs)