Section 7: New Directions for Instructional Design and Technology

Part 1: Five Examples of Distributed Learning

1. Hybrid Classes: 

Hybrid Classes for Middle School Students

I use hybrid classes in the school I work at now.  I teach ICT to middle school students and we use an e-learning platform similar to e-college.  I explain/model the projects in class and the students have some time to finish it in class and if they don't they have to go and do it for homework.  Many colleges and universities have also offered more hybrid classes.

Hybrid Classes for Teacher Professional Development

One school offers hybrid classes, known as the Teacher eLearning Project (TeL).  It began at the start of the school year with a module that consisted of a daylong face-to-face session followed by an eight-week online session. The first year of TeL focused on the mathematics teachers who had a total of three modules to complete; in the second year, science/technology teachers had two modules.

Skills Based Training

Almost every job required skills based training upon being hired, especially jobs where you operate special equipments such as factory workers.  I used to work at a bacon processing plant and I went through about two weeks of on the job, skills based training.  It involved a classroom setting and a onsite setting.

Knowledge Based Learning

I also use this type of learning when I teach technology classes.  Most of the software programs I use to teach students about technology have some of the same features as previously learned ones.  This knowledge based learning helps students understand the new program.  They can use what they already know about the program to help them while they learn the new elements.  

Virtual Classes

Virtual Classes are become widely used by colleges and university.  It allows students to get the degree without having to be physically in the same place.  I am a big supporter of virtual classes because I live in South Korea and unless I moved back to the United States I wouldn’t be about to get my degree.  

2. Reusability in Education

After thinking about all the classes I have taken over the years I think the class with the least amount of reusability would have been when I was in the Army studying telecommunications on WWII equipment.  No one used this equipment anymore but we were training on how to operate and fix it.  I know now, after being an educator myself for a number of years, that we were learning trouble-shooting skills.  I believe the class would have been more helpful in the field if we were able learn about more up to date equipment early on in our training.  

3. Rich Media

Using rich media in the classroom can be a powerful tool for learning.  Students have different learning styles and using media that encompasses audio, and visual aids with text and graphics will help students learn.  I am a visual learner and after watching this video below I was able to comprehend the content much clearer than just reading about it or hearing.  

4. Nanotechnology

This subject amazes me.  It’s hard to believe having something so small be able to do so much.  I like to work with my hands and fix things.  One of my hobbies is working on old cars.  The parts are big and easy to take apart and fix.  In the future and even now the automotive industry is using nanotechnology.  

The basic trends that nanotechnology enables for the automobile are

• lighter but stronger materials (for better fuel consumption and increased safety) 
• improved engine efficiency and fuel consumption for gasoline-powered cars (catalysts; fuel   additives; lubricants)
• reduced environmental impact from hydrogen and fuel cell-powered cars
• improved and miniaturized electronic systems
• better economies (longer service life; lower component failure rate; smart materials for self-repair)

  

5. Broad and Inclusive Road of Technology

Technology is expanding quickly and being using in many different way.  Technology allows for greater productivity.  New application are being used for computer technology every day.  Processing speed is increasing and the cost to produce technology is decreasing.  Nanotechnology is being used to help in the medical field, and many others as well.  I believe that technology will continue to increase in the number of uses.  I am fascinated by the field of technology and there is no end to the vast uses for it.  The video below is from TED talks.  I use TED talks as a one of my resources for learning about the advances in technology.  I highly recommend it.