Here's a professional organization that I want to follow. The organization is known as ITSE or the International Society for Technology in Education. ISTE "...is the trusted source for professional development, knowledge generation, advocacy, and leadership for innovation." They are nonprofit membership organization. The organization serves to improve teaching, learning, and school leadership by advancing the effective use of technology in PK–12 and teacher education. They also have a conference that I may be interested in attending. It is known as NECC.

Some things to look for on the exam:

• Learning sciences
• Human performance technology
• Learning theories (constructivism, behaviorism, cognitivism)
  
• Ven diagram showing areas of overlap between learning sciences, HPT (uses training as one of the tools in its toolset and considers hiring, physical location), and instructional design

Career Reports

ITSE - International Society for Technology in Education

Michael Bush - Foreign Language Professor & Curriculum Developer
Teaches several courses at BYU. Concerned with with using technology in learning--use technology for what technology does well, and use teachers for what teachers do well.

Ric Ott - Director of Research and Evaluation
Loves his job. He says it's fun! I guess that's because he loves data.

Career Report

Manager of Training at the MTC


The Manager of Training at the MTC oversees the training and learner for missionaries while at the MTC. There are 4 Training Managers at the MTC, and they report to the Director of Training. Besides magazines, he follows and participates with the American Society for Training & Development.

Starting salary range: $50,000 - $70,000


Corporate Trainer Definition from Wikipedia

“…a specialized skill development position in a corporation where the goal is to help improve the "soft skills" or "people skills" of the workers in the corporation. The term is generic and could be applied to nearly any skill whether technical, physical or otherwise, but is most often used to refer to soft skills like getting along with others, effective communication, motivation, leadership, management, etc. Also, the role is not solely reserved for corporations, other organizations such as on profit groups can make use of a corporate trainer's services.”

Utah Pay for Curriculum Specialist

http://monster.com

Utah Pay for Training Assistant Level I

http://Monster.com

US National Average for Employee Training Manager

http://cbsalary.com

Lighting Design for Schools and Universities in the 21st Century

Lighting Design for Schools and Universities in the 21st Century

By Randall Fielding, Fielding is a partner with Fielding Nair International an educational planning facility, and founder and editorial director of DesignShare.com. This article touches on some of the 25 design patterns in The Language of School Design, by Nair and Fielding.

“Effective design is grounded in a firm knowledge of how we do learn, which involves both analysis and synthesis and is alternately sequential and simultaneous.”

“…we learn when we feel secure and cozy, and also when we feel challenged.”

“..an effective learning environment… has little in common with the rows of classrooms and desks…”

“Identifying patterns of learning activity and design prior to laying out a building is a good way to ensure an effective solution—one that takes advantage of the full range of human capabilities.

“Learners that feel a sense of connection and personal identification with a small learning community (150 students or less) attain higher test scores and have a significantly greater graduation rate.” This can be done by breaking down the environment into smaller buildings or clusters of spaces. Then have the entry to each community individualized with a signature element that is highlighted, reinforcing its unique identity.

“The lighting should vary to reflect the character of each space.”

“Myth #4: Neutral colors are best.”

Uniform lighting “…has nothing to do with how we learn…”

“…natural light is perhaps the single-most important element in the learning environment. Research shows that in daylighted classrooms math scores improve by 20% and verbal scores by 22%.”

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Reading these articles on flexible spaces to help in learning makes me wonder why the IP&T program doesn't have better furnishings. At the MTC we tested several chairs and tables to see what will work best for the missionaries. Everyone--missionaries, teachers, and staff--dislikes the tablet chairs. It's important that the furniture is easily moved. At the MTC we are going with comfortable chairs, probably with wheels, and tables that are about 5' x 20". That way the missionaries can put their books on the tables and spread them out. Two missionaries will be at each table. This will allow for individual, small group, and large group learning activities.

IP&T ought to look into some of these options for their classrooms.

Careers in IP&T

ISPI certifications are available. The certifications will help in showing you have certain competencies. I wonder, do I really need a PhD? Sounds like the one who administers the evaluations has the master's degree. The PhD, seems to be more strategic planning.

Sixty percent of Independent Study instructional designers spends time tracking projects and coordinating with graphic designers, programmers, etc. Twenty-five percent of the instructional designer jobs were for consulting. "Your job is to influence the culture of our company." Project management is a necessity for instructional design.

Need to have good interpersonal skills to work with the clients. To get better he watches people teach his material. He had not formal education in instructional design. Education was in business. He started up the business, seems like a one-man band.

A dean doesn't get to teach as often. Sometimes faculty are torn between responsibilities of research vs. teaching or focusing on the students. I know I am not interested in being faculty. BYU undergraduates should seek out a faculty and be mentored.

The Moral Dimensions of Instructional Design

Conscience of Craft
One's desire to do their best, to produce the best product he can.

Conscience of Membership
What one owes to the profession. Poor work can reflect not just on the person, but on the profession as well.

There was a time a part-time employee played a game while on the clock at work. The employee worked in the IT dept. Well, someone caught that employee and then IT had a reputation that "they all play games". That one student's actions hurt the whole group.

Conscience of Sacrifice
One does not act simply on self-interest. Putting forth the effort.

Conscience of Memory
Draw more on who designers are as people. Draw on ones past experiences.

Conscience of Imagination
Creativity, innovation in design. Instructional designers ought to help the learners improve their imagination. And designers must improve their own imagination.

Code of Ethics vs. Moral Principles
Code of ethics is avoiding things that are wrong, perhaps rules. Code of ethics is someone looking in on you.

Moral may not necessarily indicate a right or wrong choice. Moral ethics is you looking in on yourself. It has to do with your intent, or drive. These moral principles should guide our selves as designers.