News

10/28/21: Webinar

Preview of the AECT 2021 Convention

Webinar link:

https://bit.ly/30xYf64

Presenter:

Heather Leary, Ph.D.

Brigham Young University

Facilitator:

Yu-Ju Lin, Ph.D.

Purdue University

Topic:

In this one-hour webinar, Dr. Heathy Leary will highlight the various Research & Theory Division sessions at the upcoming AECT 2021 convention. She will cover RTD concurrent sessions, featured research, the Early Career Symposium, the inaugural Theory Spotlight Competition, and more.

7/26/21: Finalists in the inaugural Theory Spotlight Competition

We are thrilled to announce our finalists who will be presenting at the inaugural Research & Theory Division (RTD) Theory Spotlight Competition!

We received 37 fantastic proposals and had the tough job of choosing these 7 finalists. Can't wait to see these excellent presentations in Chicago at AECT 21!

5/11/21: Webinar

Stepping into our Past: A Critical Historiography of Instructional Design and Technology (IDT) Historical Literature

Webinar link:

https://bit.ly/3xcr0RK

Presenter:

Rebecca Clark-Stallkamp

Ph.D. Candidate Instructional Design and TechnologyVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Facilitator:

Yu-Ju Lin, Ph.D.

Purdue University

Topic:

In this one-hour webinar, Rebecca will talk about a historiographic analysis conducted on IDT historical scholarship. Historiography is a hermeneutic methodology used primarily by historians to analyze the history of the history of a field of study. This research was conducted in order to move the IDT field towards a more inclusive understanding of IDT’s historical past with new consideration for race, sexuality, class, and gender.

4/1/21: #AECT21 RTD Awards nominations are open

The Research & Theory Division is accepting nominations for the 2021 RTD Awards. Find details on each of the nine awards on the RTD website.

The submission date for nominations and supporting materials is April 30, 2021. Please contact Dr. Eunjung Grace Oh (ejgraceoh@gmail.com) with any questions.

3/25/21: #AECT21 RTD Theory Spotlight Competition

We are thrilled to announce a brand new session at the AECT 2021 annual convention: the Theory Spotlight Competition, sponsored by RTD. Join us by pitching your ideas that answer: “What theories should learning design and technology (LDT) researchers consider to provide context, explanation, and critique to the field?”

Proposals are 1,000 words in length are due April 30, 2021. Proposals should introduce and describe the theory, provide examples of how the theory has been or could be applied, describe the connection between the theory and the AECT mission/values, and provide an overall argument for why LDT researchers should consider using the theory.

Accepted proposals will be presented and judged at AECT 2021. Experts Dr. Xun Ge, Dr. Enilda Romero-Hall, and Dr. George Veletsianos comprise the judging panel. Presentations will also be featured in a volume on EdTechBooks and AECT’s video library.

RTD Webinar

Presenter:

Royce Kimmons, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, Instructional Psychology and Technology

Brigham Young University

Facilitator:

Yu-Ju Lin, Ph.D.

Purdue University

March 18, 2021

Webinar link:

https://bit.ly/3sSLsEm


In this one-hour webinar, Dr. Kimmons will talk about data analytics and how massive user activity provided by open textbooks may enable unprecedented opportunities for supporting continuous improvement and design research. In their open textbook platform, he and his team utilize clickstream analytics, experimental A/B testing, and other methods to learn from an ever-increasing audience of formal and informal students (1) to improve textbook quality and (2) to inform the field on emergent design research results.

3/5/2021: AECT Election Results

Congratulations to all the newly elected AECT leaders, and especially those who will join the Research & Theory Division board during the annual convention in November 2021. We're looking forward to seeing where you'll take us next year!

3/3/21: #AECT21 RTD Call for Reviewers

The Research & Theory Division is looking for reviewers for the 2021 convention proposals. Please sign up to be a reviewer today!

Sign up at https://convention2.allacademic.com/one/aect/aect21/

3/1/21: #AECT21 RTD Call for Proposals - DUE April 7, 2021

AECT's Research and Theory Division (RTD) promotes the development and advancement of theory; promotes, presents, and disseminates rigorous research and scholarship; advocates the study of social and cultural issues in the field; and supports, fosters, and mentors emerging scholars. Studies that embody excellent research methods in any area of interest to AECT members may be appropriate for submission to RTD. Topics related to the convention theme of “Homecoming Homestaying: A Return to Learning Through Innovation” that provide a foundation of fellowship and tribute as we recognize the innovations driving solutions and change are welcome and encouraged. Topics such as the relationship between research and theory, innovative research methods, ethics in research, challenges associated with conducting research, and the position of educational technology as a field in the context of related fields such as the learning sciences, cognitive science, and psychology, might be of interest to RTD members. Proposals that use rigorous quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods are particularly warranted.

RTD invites proposals from all session types (e.g. concurrent, panel, poster). We encourage authors to submit their work in the following categories:

  • Category 1: Completed Study

      • Report findings from a study that is complete.

  • Category 2: Work in Progress

    • Report the progress of a study currently underway (e.g., as a poster session).

  • Category 3: Research Methodology

    • Report innovative research methodologies in educational technology.

  • Category 4: Theory

    • Report on the development and application of theory relevant to the field

When submitting your proposal, please state in the abstract the appropriate category for your work. For example,

  • "This proposal reports a Category 1 Completed Study on ..."

  • "This proposal reports a Category 2 Work in Progress on ..."

  • "This proposal reports a Category 3 Research Methodology ..."

  • “This proposal presents a Category 4 Theory …”

Questions regarding proposals for the RTD should be directed to the division’s 2021 Conference Planner, President-Elect, Heather Leary at heather.leary@byu.edu.

-----> Submit proposals at https://convention2.allacademic.com/one/aect/aect21/

All proposals are due April 7, 2021

2/15/21: #AECT21 Early Career Symposium applications - DUE April 30, 2021 May 14, 2021

Applications are now open for the Research & Theory Division Early Career Symposium (generously sponsored by AECT). Come learn from fantastic mentors and network with peers November 2-3! Applications are due April 30, 2021 May 14, 2021.

Visit https://sites.google.com/view/aectrtd/early-career-symposium for all the details.