Week 4: June 1

• Chat with the Owner
• Appetizers this Week
• Setting the Table
• This Week's Menu: Foundations and Research in IT
  • Manager's Special: Psychology & Epistemology
  • Chef's Special: Research Paradigms for Instructional Technology
  • Soup and Salad Special: Conducting and Reading Instructional Technology Research
• Proceed to the Checkout Counter
• Next Week's Specials

Chat with the Owner

I have read your feedback from last week and most of you seem pretty happy with everything which, of course, makes me happy:-) Many are glad to see the checkout counter to assist in monitoring completed assignments. As a reminder, this will be updated by each Friday. Some have emailed about errors (which we are bound to make from time to time) and I am sure you want them corrected immediately but that is not always as easy as it sounds. The easiest thing to do is to make notes and update them all at once on Friday. Please rest assured that we will correct errors each week as they are pointed out.  If for some reason it is overlooked please send another friendly reminder.

If anyone is still feeling unsure about assignments each week and whether you have completed them then the best suggestion I have is to review the third page of instruction each week.  The checkout counter provides the complete list.  Follow this list and check it off as you complete it.  Also, feel free to send me an email if you have other questions about what is or is not due.

I completed reading and responding to reaction papers and everyone should have received some feedback from me on that. I have just finished reading and replying to the threads from Week 2 and am very pleased with the thoughtful responses many are making. Keep it up! I liked everyone's definitions, but I think my favorite definitions were the ones that distinguished the tools of technology from the field of instructional technology and also included the idea that we use theories and information about learners to do what we do.  These brought home my own beliefs about what I do - I try to use theories of learning and motivation to build instruction so people can learn effectively and efficiently.  This is really the heart of IT. It is always more fun to focus on the tools, the hardware and the software, because they sound impressive to others and many people can relate to them these days.  Believe me when I say that I like the newest gadget just as much as the next person, and I usually cannot wait to get one and learn to use it and see what I can do with it.  But, in the end, if I cannot use it to design, build, or deliver better or more efficient instruction then it is of little use to me.  This little statement leads us nicely into the topics for this week. 

This week we are going to get into foundational theories within our field and conducting research in instructional technology. The specials this week related to research come at a good time as you should be thinking about your topic choice for your research project (June/July Specials) and finding empirical, refereed articles.  If you have not already, now would be a good time to view the research project requirements. There are several parts to this assignment with different due dates so be sure to read everything closely. I usually do not cover the chapters for this week so early in the semester but given feedback from previous semesters I am trying something new and jumping into it early to give everyone as much lead time as possible on their research project. The first portion of this assignment (your selection of four articles for analysis) is due June 15. Time will fly and it will be here before you know it.

Appetizers this Week

• discuss different theoretical frameworks and epistemological beliefs that influence our field and research within it
• identify different research paradigms for instructional technology
• identify several methods of conducting research that relate to the different paradigms
• read and respond to at least 3 peers on each of the 3 specials from last week
• decide on a research topic for your project
• ask any questions you may have related to your research project
• begin your search for empirical, refereed articles for your research project
• be able to identify empirical research in our field
• begin developing an idea of how your research project will be completed

Setting the Table

• Week 3 Comment Card

Call on the Cafe Crew

• Email Dr. Curda
• Email Melissa
• Email listserv and see if a peer knows the answer