Week 2: Reading 3

On the IT Forum: April 2004 archive, contemporary learning architects discuss the term learning architect. I'm thinking about terms like learning facilitator or instructional architect. In the vein of designing learning - design can mean to have as a goal or purpose; intend. So a few quick substitutions later, could a learning designer be one who has learning as a goal or purpose? Keep substituting, because the word architect is synonymous with designer. This is only one path. I think the selling point of the field is that it is dynamic, fluid, and everyone seems to have a point a view -- isn't that kind of what Rieber was getting at, anyhow?

Can an Instructional Technologist inspire learning? Is igniting a spark of interest in a subject matter making learning happen?

Being a graphic designer, my favorite definition for design has to be a secretive plot or scheme. But that's another story.

Week 2: Reading 1 & 2

A dozen frequently asked questions about IT is an excellent resource on the current state of IT that points in turn to more resources on IT. Basically, IT, as a field, was established during WWII as a systematic means to train many people rapidly in the armed services. It's roots are in behaviorism, but more recent research is in cognitive theories. There are many roles that an Instructional Technologist can take on in a project, their abilities are vast as a group and specialized individually.

In The Proper Way to Become an Instructional Technologist, Lloyd Rieber (who is outstanding in his field) shares his personal, convoluted path towards becoming an Instructional Technologist and invites reflection on

• non-traditional vs. traditional IT paths
  
• preparedness to face IT jobs post training
  
• satisfaction in the field
  
• things IT professionals do
  
• things IT professionals need
  
• affect of accordion skills on IT performance
  

Class 1: Thoughts on Instructional Technology

• Tools and methods to convey ideas to other people
  
• Teaching with multimedia in artificial, synthesized environments
  
• Creating environments where students teach themselves at individual pace
  
• Empowering other people with the knowledge and avenues to increase that knowledge
  
• Distance education, user-centered design, student-based learning, online communities, forums, malleable interfaces, personalized spheres of learning, connected, online, interactive