I was a 5th grade teacher for 10 years and have been in the library the last 5. It is clear to me how much influence this field has on the learning that goes on in the classroom. The ideas of how to best teach is the core of teaching. All aspects of the delivery of knowledge should be analyzed and improved. Outcomes, objectives, and the revision process that aims to always find improvements seem like no-brainers, but this process had to be hammered out and improved over the years. Viewing this process as a system (all the parts working together) is quite essential to ensure learning. Lesson plans, for example are ideally put under the microscope of the 5 domains. Lesson plans are designed, developed, utilized, managed, and evaluated in order to deliver knowledge to students. The goals of teaching can be better achieved with the system that evolves and looks to change if changes are needed in order to better achieve the learning goals. All aspects of the delivery of information is looked at and evaluated for improvements. This, to me, is the critical part of instructional design as it relates to human learning. So, my definition would include the process of constant evaluation and necessary revision of the teaching process to ensure better delivery of instruction. This would also include having measurable outcomes and clear objectives.
2.Looking at the Dick, Carey, and Carey model, I would definitely use the "assess needs to identify goals". You have to know your students' strengths and weaknesses. The goals are already given to teachers (TEKS), but you still have to assess needs. Writing performance objectives would be next. Objectives have to be clearly stated and measurable. I think developing instructional strategies and materials would be next in my model. How you are going to teach and what materials will be used are critical to instruction. Assessments would then be used to measure student learning. The results of these assessments would drive any revision of instructional strategies and/or instructional materials. My model would look more circular and not linear like the Dick, Carey, and Carey model. My model would would have the learners and their performance as the focus. Everything would revolve around this. Well-defined goals are critical to success, and the model would also emphasize that learners perform meaningful behaviors, not just rote exercises that have no "real world" connections. Assessment instruments would have to truly measure that students have obtained the knowledge or skills that were the objectives. Data drives the model. Results from assessments would shape and force revision of all aspects of my model. Finally, the team effort needed for this undertaking would encourage input from all members of the team. This will help to ensure problem solving and allow for great minds to work together.
Data definitely drives the machine at my school. The aspects of this model are very evident on my campus. We examine data from a benchmark or mock TAKS test in order to revise instructional strategies and evaluate instructional materials. These assessments cannot be revised on our campus, but the tests that we do develop can then be modified if needed based on the data from student performance..
3. After reading chapter 3, I can relate to the excitement of the new application of new technology to learning environments. The initial excitement and promise of new technology is usually replaced with some apathy and disinterest. The idea of totally revolutionizing education with one new thing seems a bit like pie in the sky thinking. The Edison quote stuck with me. I think the combination of many technologies in the classroom is the key to learning. Different students learns different ways. Teachers need to have different ways to present information. Lecture, internet videos, hands-on materials, computer software, etc. are all important to deliver information to learners. The more avenues of delivery the better. Technology is still a secondary option in my school. It is not a primary way to deliver instruction, but I am showing teachers how to incorporate more technology to make their teaching more effective and interesting to students. By centralizing dvd player, wireless computer, document camera, and document projector on one cart, all of this technology is at their finger tips. This allows for smooth transitions from one part of the lesson to another. This is a first step to incorporating more technology in daily lessons. As the librarian, I can provide materials to them (dvds, on-line videos, databases) that will enhance learning.
I think in the future the use of blogs and social learning will be more commonplace. Blog sites are blocked by our network at school, so students can't access these sites. This will hopefully be changed as the impact of these technologies are better understood and realized. The use of a local server for each school might be an alternative to the worries of blogging on the world wide web. This would keep everything on a local level and help quell the worries of exposing young students to the world wide web and the cyber dangers that can come with that. For middle school and high school, I can foresee more internet and social network learning. The use of more virtual classrooms and chat rooms will replace some traditional classrooms. This will be a more effective "classroom" and will help with the rising costs of education. I foresee libraries becoming more and more digital. I can even see the complete transition to a totally digital library. There would be no need for traditional books. Students would "check out" digital or e-books. They would be downloaded to their iPad or laptop for the usual two weeks that books are. Then they would be replaced by new books they choose. This electronic catalog that can only be accessed now at school, would be able to be accessed from the home.
For adult and higher education, I see more and more use of on-line classes. The idea of going away to college might be a thing of the past as on-line classes becomes more of the norm. The costs of these on-line classes will be more appealing to financially strapped families and students. A bachelor's degree done completely on-line would be common-place. This instant access to information will allow for great changes in how our students are taught and how they learn.
