We’re getting set for Episode #2! In a few hours… if everything goes smoothly…
We’re glad for anyone who is joining us! As per YT views there are maybe 20-25 of you…
Please watch the video or listen to the audio below… or do neither of those things!
Matt’s Notes
Matt’s had a lot going on personally lately, so when Doug sent a Google doc with the notes below… he was grateful… for bringing both focus and possibilities to a topic which was… uh… vaporous prior…
We got some advice from an awesome former TRU colleague about using Zencastr…
However… although Matt’s internet is now the fastest available for his area… there are strong limits on his COMPUTING POWER… so he’s gonna buy that high-powered desktop… soonish-like…
So… Zencastr did not perform optimally… and so… we went with Skype again… but… possibly due to admin issues for the room… we failed to capture the last 7-10 minutes of the meeting… which, in this case is probably OK… cause we were going a bit long… Matt accepts full responsibility for this…
Due to the upgrade in Matt’s internet… it feels like Skype and YouTube both performed more… rapidly… than in the past… but still… MORE COMPUTING POWER is needed…
Doug has suggested that we could probably do another episode before this time next week… and Matt sees no reason not to…
Resources
In addition to those included in Doug’s notes (below), I’ve found these interesting and/or helpful over the past couple of weeks… and/or have mentioned them in the recording… or elsewhere…
Weller, M. (2022). Metaphors of Ed Tech. Athabasca University Press. Available here: https://www.aupress.ca/books/120309-metaphors-of-ed-tech/
Bates, T. (2022). What’s in a name? [Blog post]. Retrieved from https://www.tonybates.ca/2022/09/23/whats-in-a-name-definitions-of-digital-learning/
Bates, T. (2022). Teaching in a digital age (3d ed). Retrieved from https://pressbooks.bccampus.ca/teachinginadigitalagev3/
Wikipedia. (N.d.). Allegory of the cave. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allegory_of_the_cave
I mentioned the Provincial Instructor Diploma Program… offered through Vancouver Community College (VCC): https://www.vcc.ca/programs/provincial-instructor-diploma-program-pidp/
In another blog, I referred to an excellent annual Digital Detox led by Dr. Brenna Clarke Gray… and others on the Learning Technologies and Innovations (LTI) team at Thompson Rivers University. While the Detox has gone on for several years… I’ll offer a link to the latest (early 2022) and trust that if you want more info and resources you can find these through links on this site…
https://digitaldetox.trubox.ca/
Doug’s Notes
The Vapours – (mental condition)
In archaic usage, the vapours (or vapors) is a mental, psychical, or physical state, such as hysteria, mania, clinical depression, bipolar disorder, lightheadedness, fainting, flush, withdrawal syndrome, mood swings, or PMS in which a sufferer loses mental focus. Ascribed primarily to women and thought to be caused by internal emanations (vapours) from the womb, it was related to the concept of female hysteria. The word “vapours” was subsequently used to describe a depressed or hysterical nervous condition.
Wikipedia
According to Audrey Watters (2012), EdTech is a term that encompasses “…research, reading, writing, collaboration, communication, creation, logic, standardization, compliance, hardware, software, money, policy, privacy, accountability, practice, theory.”
*Hollands, F. M., & Escueta, M. (2017). EdTech Decision-Making in Higher Education. Online Submission.
Hey, y’all – “edtech” isn’t a thing. It’s not. It’s poor shorthand for a lot of other things. Say those other things instead.
— Bud Hunt (@budtheteacher) May 17, 2012
We have a naming issue.
Dr. Doug Reid
Instructional Technology Coaches (edtech coaches) is the new phrase being used in K-12 to differentiate from IT support.
“Edtech coaches provided significant support to their school/district administrators in planning and ensuring learning continuity during school closures”
- Helped individual teachers as needed outside school hours.
- Helped individual teachers as needed during school hours.
- Facilitated departmental/grade-level/ school-wide training & PD.
- Provided needed information and resources (e.g., via a newsletter).
- Provided deep coaching.
Additionally these roles can be expect to be responsible for the following technical and/or pedagogical tasks and/or accountabilities:
- Access or better use video conferencing tools
- Use an LMS
- Use appropriate technology tools and strategies for the purpose of asynchronous online lessons
- Select appropriate tools across different operating systems and devices
- Use appropriate technology tools and strategies to teach specific areas of curriculum
- Use appropriate technology tools and strategies for the purpose of synchronous online lessons
- Use appropriate tools and strategies for the purpose of providing relevant feedback in a virtual environment
- Use technology to continue to support students (for non-teaching staff)
- Develop equitable lessons
- Provide social-emotional support to students
Bakhshaei, M., Seylar, J., Ruiz, P., & Vang, M. C. (2020). The Valuable Role of Edtech Coaches during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A National Survey. Digital Promise.
“Every day, we are inundated with stories of how market-facing digital technologies applied to education—what we call “EdTech”—must be at the forefront of a social change that is both inexorable and promising.”
“Nonetheless, EdTech is frequently a congealed form of the flawed idea that education plus new technology is the primary and best solution to social problems.”
“… education’s public stature, principles and values may be eroded by the EdTech industry’s march forward.”
Mirrlees, T., & Alvi, S. (2019). EdTech Inc.: selling, automating and globalizing higher education in the digital age. Routledge.
“The 2017 edition of CNN’s Best Jobs in America has at least four instructional design-related jobs in its top 100 list:
- E-Learning Specialist ranks 29th;
- IT Training Specialist ranks 35th;
- Education Program Manager ranks 68th; and
- Training & Development Specialist ranks 71st. “
“All sectors examined, namely, corporate, higher education, and K-12 continue to devote significant resources to instructional technology, and job prospects for instructional designers, training and development specialists, and eLearning practitioners remain positive.”
Brown, A., & Green, T. (2019). Issues and trends in instructional technology: Access to mobile technologies, digital content, and online learning opportunities continues as spending on IT remains steady. In Educational media and technology yearbook (pp. 3-12). Springer, Cham.
Additional Resources
Matt located all the images in the video at Unsplash.com and music clips from Pixabay.
We appreciate you! And we will be back at you sooner than later…
Podcast: Play in new window | Download