Where the Educational Technology Graduate Program Leads

We live in a world where information is power, and change is inevitable. The swift changes taking place in the world of education reflect the advances being made in the field of technology.

Technology has also made rapid inroads into education, not just in helping students learn, but also as a tool in aiding instructors to teach. The Master’s program in Education Technology is designed to help you master the concepts and principles of the subject and provide you with the knowledge and skills to shine in a variety of positions.

Some careers options for graduates of this program are:

• Education Specialist: As an education specialist, you direct and evaluate research related to educational programs, set up procedures and protocols to measure progress (of students, groups and the educational institution itself) and ensure learning objectives are met, conduct studies, evaluate data and prepare reports for future improvements, plan and implement budgets and other special educational programs.
• School Technology Coordinator: As a technology coordinator for an educational institution, particularly K-12, you assist the technological needs of the staff, administration, and students by creating multimedia components and implementing software/hardware to supplement instruction and pedagogy, keep up to date with the latest in the field of educational technology, design and implement activities that improve the overall quality of education, ensure that the school and its students are kept in the know-how on the latest in the advances being made in technology, and be able to evaluate technological programs and their positive effects on the educational field.
• Web Engineer: As a web engineer in an educational setting, you must have proficient skill in several software applications and codes such as ASP.net, VB.net, XML Active X Technologies in addition to bringing a basic level of creativity for web communications. In addition, you are involved in overseeing and conducting research and development activities related to web portals and web applications.
• Performance Consultant: As a performance consultant, you formulate strategies to improve and nurture talent and performance and create and deliver reports to process managers. Your reports will involve technological performance indicators, data and metrics that allow for analysis and improvements.
• Distance Education Manager: As the title says, you are responsible for all aspects relevant to distance education, including the design, development and implementation of online, web-based and distance learning programs and the technology to be used in each of them. Many of these positions are found in higher education.
  

***This post was contributed by Kelly Kilpatrick, who writes on the subject of the computer programming college degree She invites your feedback at kellykilpatrick24 at gmail dot com.

This post was edited by De Anna L Fench, eduTech gEEk writer.

Instructional Technology Design: Answering The Challenges Of a New Media Dependent Society

Remediation…I had to revisit the Bolter and Grusin reading on Remediation. In the text, remediation is described as our cultural desire to erase the medium in an attempt to be closer to that which the medium is responsible for delivering.

Very true…many people enjoy the connectedness of web-based, virtual worlds like The Sims and Second Life. A virtual connectedness that, arguably, is closer than that connectedness which experienced in physical reality.

Still, remediation…this word was just not connecting for me. How does it relate to my interests as a new media designer? Then, I came across a very interesting description concerning the refashioning of old media as a way to meet the demands of a new media dependent society:

“What is new about new media comes from the particular ways in which they refashion older media and the ways in which older media refashion themselves to answer the challenges of new media.” (p. 15)

In that moment it HIT me: Instructional Technology Design/Educational Communications Technologies/Instructional Systems Design, or whatever the academicians are calling it this month, is older instructional practices answering the challenges of new media’s influence on education. Online learning, digital learning objects, computer-based training, and simulated learning environments are all examples of how education has refashioned itself to meet the demands of digital design and media.

When I began studying instructional design, I was challenged by others with those dreadful questions: “What is an instructional designer?” “How does educational technology work?” “So, you’re like a graphics person?”

My answer then: “It’s the design of instruction and/or instructional environments such as eLearning and other forms of computer-based training.”

Fair enough.

My answer now: “We answer the educational communities demand for new media-based learning through the form of digital learning environments and digital documentation. Some of us do a little digital authoring and publishing for print instruction, some of us create multimedia learning objects, others manage online learning environments, and a good portion of us manage the inclusion of technology into training curricula for companies and educational systems. Pretty much…We’re diverse, but the foundation of ‘what we do’ is: transition older instruction into newer digital instruction!”

Haha. I doubt I’ll remember that entire professional spiel. But, it will go something like that!

De Anna L Fench
eduTech gEEk writer

My New Content Development Job

Not much activity from me this week, huh?

The latest opportunity is a ~ 4 month contract content development position with Information Mapping, Inc. The Information Mapping method of organizing and presenting content is definitely one of the better forms of standardized writing. As far as my experience goes…

Most of my responsibilities will be technical writing and document design oriented. Of course….these two areas of designing instruction seem to follow me everywhere.

The funniest aspect of this job is the transformation of training documents from Word Perfect to MS Word!

Yes…I said “Word Perfect.”

I thought the industry was moving more toward Adobe FrameMaker for template-based document design needs. So to be working with Word Perfect is a true shocker. Nonetheless interesting. I guess these are the types of jobs that help grow you into a true instructional design/technical writing professional.

I think I even said in a previous post about how all my FrameMaker training wouldn’t even be considered for the next job. Boy, did I hit the nail on the head.

My SME—working with my Subject Matter Expert has also been pretty interesting. It has only been a week, but I already realize the benefits to developing a supportive relationship with good communication.

The project has had a rough start due to many external factors that pre-date the arrival of my team and I. But, you know that’s the nature of the game. Either way I am sooooo on board and ready to work.

My Primary Goal: to develop the best instructional documents with my SME that the new batch of students will find useful during their entire program.

All my years as a student should definitely have prepared me for this position.

De Anna L Fench
eduTech gEEk writer

The Life of a Freelancing ID

In a previous post titled, “Career Choices for an EduTech Star,” I posted a YouTube video that briefly described some of the job titles under which we EduTech Geeks fall. Look at the entire ISD process of analysis, design, development, implementation and evaluation…our skill is truly extensive when you really evaluate what we do.

These past two months my work as a Freelance ID has really picked up, thus creating a desire to share some of the secrets or best ways to land these freelance jobs.

Mostly, I have been doing writing and design & development jobs. Small technical writing and document design seem to be the needed tasks amongst many companies; creating templates for corporate documents is another frequently posted job. Note: Knowing a little HTML/CSS wouldn’t hurt either.

To quickly summarize, the most common freelance jobs for this ID have been:

• technical writing docs/reports,
• desktop publishing (DTP)
• document design and layout of instructional docs,
• compiling packets of instructional information,
• editing instructional content,
• eLearning module design & development,
• presentation design (for instructional content),
• development of assessments & evaluations, &
• MY FAVE = audio/video scriptwriting for eLearning content.

The audio/video scripting, or just plain scripting for audio content, allows me to combine the film/theatre background with instructional design. Its a good skill to have and, usually, the content is already there, you’re just responsible for turning it into a script. I enjoy doing this because it simultaneously adds to both the design and writing resumes.

Good places to add a profile:

• www.ifreelance.com
• www.linkedin.com

Also, consider the creative staffing agencies in your area. I live in Chicago, the city flooded with many creative types, here are a few I know of:

• www.paladinstaff.com
• www.creaitivedir.com
• www.creativegroup.com
• AD AGENCIES!!! Ad agencies are always a good professional contact. Many DTP, document design and web-based design jobs come through their network.

“Your net worth is your network.”…can’t remember who said it, but it rings true. So get out there and get those freelance jobs!!!

The money is great! The networking is awesome! The professional independence is unparalleled!

De Anna L Fench
eduTech gEEk writer