Workplace IT

How is Instructional Technology Relevant in the Workplace?

More and more, I firmly believe, those in the field of education see the importance of meeting the needs of students from the meeting place-the classroom. A place where our learners spend much of their lives on an almost daily basis for ten months out of the year, many educators are realizing the great positive impact a relevant, meaningful, responsible learning environment can have on students. If you have ventured on social media any at all to see what's going on in classrooms around the world, or perhaps caught a glimpse at a conference (or "unconference", thinking of the new wave of Edcamps...), you may have been impressed at seeing just what students are able to accomplish or appreciate, given the right approach to learning and lesson planning.

However, in order to bring about the right approach to education, we must understand the fundamentals of different methods, models, and theories in order to use the right approach. The field of instructional technology has developed instructional designers who specialize in determining the needs and prior knowledge of learners, sometimes even identifying potential learners, determining the best way to design and develop a lesson, assist with the implementation of the lesson in the most efficient and appropriate manner, and then work to gather and apply feedback to "fill the gaps".

Instructional Technology in the School Setting

Hopefully, we can agree that people have preferences. Do you love reading? Do you love socializing? Do you love music? Even if you answered yes to any of these three questions, you may still differ in opinion from others who said yes. If you love reading, do you prefer reading old-fashioned books or e-books? If you love socializing, do you prefer meeting up with friends and family in person or simply via social media? If you love music, do you prefer playing it yourself or simply listening to others play? No differently, students have preferences of their own, and many educators are embracing this knowledge. Just as theories, models, and technology of instructional design have changed over the years, so it continues to do so. As I believe we can also agree that we want only the best for our children and students, we need to ensure that we are staying current with best practices and keeping a growth mindset where it concerns how we design learning environments in our schools.

Can we expect every teacher and educator in the school system to be an expert in deciphering the best ways to present learning and information to our students? In an ideal world, perhaps so. However, we must live in reality, and the answer is no. Otherwise, why would so many school districts attempt to continuously provide the most relevant professional development to its educators? In practice, school districts are already admitting they agree with the practices of what the field of instructional technology emphasizes.

Therefore, it is pertinent to consider integrating the practices of instructional technology into the school setting. This may be with a dedicated specialist in IT serving as a liaison to school personnel. Again, it is the job of the IT specialist to identify the evolving needs and goals at hand (in this scenario, those issues relevant to teachers, administration, students, and parents). From there, the specialist designs and creates an appropriate solution to meet the needs and goals, and provides feedback throughout the process. As many issues in the school setting move at a rapid pace, the reality is that most faculty and staff in schools are time-constrained and, therefore, not able to fully carry out this process themselves (let alone if there is a lack of understanding in and lack of keeping up with the advancements in theories, models, and technology).

One example of where the IT specialist (and field of IT, in general) comes in handy is with the adoption of the "growth mindset" by Johnston County Public Schools. One might ask, "What is growth mindset? What do I really know about it, whether or not I realize it? How is it relevant to what I do?" These are all good questions, and everyone will come to the table with different thoughts, opinions, and experiences. In order to facilitate the "growth mindset" in the school setting, it is the job of the IT specialist to gather input on the matter and see where everyone stands on the subject. Is there a huge gap in understanding? Are most of the faculty already close to appreciating this mindset? What steps will be best to take in order to bring about a positive response to having a "growth mindset"? These are all questions that a dedicated expert in the field of instructional technology can answer.