Section 5 Trends & Issues Various Settings

1.       Chapters in Section V identify trends and issues in IDT in various contexts: business & industry; military; health care education; P-12 education; and post-secondary education.

Select at least 3 of these 5 contexts and compare/contrast the IDT trends and issues.

Military

Trends                                                                                  Issues

New Technology                                                              Funding

Responsibilities                                                                design constraints

Partnerships                                                                      training

Lifelong learning

P-12 Education

Trends                                                                                  Issues

NTeQ model                                                                       Technology Integration

ASSURE Model                                                                  Collaboration

Evaluation                                                                           Training

Research based                                                                    funding

Post-Secondary Education

Trends                                                                                  Issues

Faculty and training                                                              tension and timelines

Instructional Design Model                                                  funding

Plan and delivery information

Leadership

Service

Integrate technology

Information that is is similar are funding, all given by the government and directed to train the person or students.  There is necessary time line that is set to get the information to use for protection, graduation or for grading or teaching to get to the next level in a position.  They types of models used vary in each area it really doesn’t say if the post-secondary used research based training.  Trainers’ job descriptions are not exactly the same either.

Then explain how they are similar or different from the IDT trends and issues in the context in which you work.

My IDT

Trends                                                                                  Issues

Technology                                                                      faculty and training                                        

Plan and delivery                                                             funding

Research based                                                                Timelines

                                                                                         Collaboration

                                                                                         Integrate technology

In the public school where I work the issues are the same as in the P-12.  The major issue in my opinion is the faculty training when the new technology is brought the campus.  Teacher use the technology only when necessary or forced to use it if they are not comfortable with the computer. When also affects the integration of the technology with lessons.  Each instructional design is supposed to be research based but in education the trends go so fast that none of the issues will be solved if it doesn't give the quick fix.

2.       Chapters in Section VI discuss global trends and issues in IDT. As the world’s population grows exponentially, we face unprecedented challenges that have implications for learning.

 How and can we prepare our youth to address the problems of living in a world with 9 billion people when the earth’s resources cannot sustain that many?

2A. we must take the stance that using less has to become more. This to me is a political issue that some do not believe. We are aware of our problem but, we do not own up to the creation of the problem.   We need to truly teach our children to integrate the past with the present.  This happens every time the lights go out on a campus.  A true teacher can teach without the computer and the web vs. one that breaks into a breakdown of what do we do now? We are not taking care of the earth and its resources or teach our youth the true consequences of what is happening because we are not.  Technology although is wonderful but it is also a culprit of the destruction of our ecosystem. Let’s get back to the basics use the technology to teach them boy/girl scouts techniques so when the computer or electricity goes out it won’t be a shock.

2B. Does our current education system, curriculum, and instructional practices help learners foster the complex problem-solving skills necessary to tackle these issues?

No, the present educational system teaches them to look up someone else’s solution and use it not to use trial and error.  Some of it also says there is only one answer to the problem when there may be multiple choices.  We have lost our free thinkers.  It is said and the teachers hands are tied by tests that regulate the curriculum and graduation and teacher’s pay checks in Texas.

 Are there methods and practices used in European and Asian countries that we should use here in the US? Why or why not?

We are already using the methods that Europe is using in my opinion.  We use the individualized learning with learning disabled students and our Talented and gifted students.  Some schools have adapted the curriculum to programmed lessons on purchased websites upgraded from CD’s.  So there is no Magic Dust.   It is all the same thing just a name change. RTI is the new name for what was already happening.

Computers and internet activity is now almost the norm in school districts but teachers are not required to pass an equivalency test to use or teach technology unless it is your area of expertise in education .