PIDT 2005

So PIDT has to be the most amazing experience I've ever had!!! I like the saying "It's like Professor's Camp". I was able to meet some of the biggest names in our field (Reiser, Ragan, Ely, Schwen, Wiley, etc...), gain advice about how to apply for jobs, and other practical advice. Not only was the conference motivating and informative, I have never had such fun! The skit we put together was just what an dorky instructional designer like myself would enjoy. I was also a finalist for the "bite the bag" game - it was much more difficult than it looked! I'm looking forward to taking all the advice and applying it. To check it out, go to PIDT's Home: http://www.wideopendoors.net/pidt/.

Here are the goals I've set for myself after attending PIDT:
Extend graduation until December 2006 or May 2007
Publish at least 3 articles
Complete my pre-lims by August 31st
Begin focusing my dissertation idea

PIDT 2005

After grading finals...

After grading finals, I feel so sorry for the students that can't seem to read the questions right - can't seem to correctly identify the information wanted. It's sad really; these students have not seemed to have instruction on how to take tests. I'm often shocked at the ability of students - whether over- or under-whelmed. Sometimes students just don't live up to your expectations. As an instructional designer and educator, I have to believe that every student can learn from "close-to-perfect" instruction. However, this doesn't seem to be the case. From my perspective students need actual experiences. It wasn't until I got into the classroom, I really thrived and was able to practice my abilities and skills. Classroom management has to be one of the most difficult elements for teachers. There should be a class in every teacher education program, focusing on just this problem - but they also need to test it themselves. I am of the opinion that every future teacher (especially elementary) need practice interacting with students. Through summer camps or volunteering for an after school program - it should be mandatory for students to manage children. Honestly, even though I am in educational technology, and I believe in the power of technology, nothing can substitute for an actual experience in the classroom. By experiencing education from a teacher's lens (or at least a supervisor's lens) students will have a better view of how to conduct a classroom.

When I compare the projects that teachers created in EDCI 560 (in-service equivalent of EDCI 270 - Introduction to Educational Technology and Computing) to those created in EDCI 270, they just have a profoundly superior way to utilize technology in the classroom. They use functions of animation for moving parts of equations around the screen in PowerPoint to help students visualize the mathematical substitution process. It's just so amazing what teachers can come up with. Granted, teachers have had way more experience in the classroom, but how do you get pre-service teachers to begin to think like these experts? This is a question I am attempting to answer in my dissertation - How do you better prepare pre-service teachers to transfer their skills into practice?

After grading finals...