The end of the journey? More like a stop along the way...

As I started on the mission to earn an advanced degree in Instructional Technology, I did so with the goal of using my newly-acquired knowledge to better inform my day-to-day work in the information technology field.  I’ve been an “IT guy” for at least the past decade in my professional life, and while I’ve always had an interest in the training function within an organization, it wasn’t until I got about a year into the program that the pieces of the information technology and instructional technology groups really started to mesh.  Now, after three years’ worth of work, I’m happy to note that I’ve met my goal…but having done so doesn’t mean that I can stop now.  There is still much for me to learn, and many more lessons and courses to be developed through continually practicing and honing my skills, but now I can ground my work in proven theories.

As I’ve progressed through the ITEC program, I’ve become much more thoughtful and intentional in my use of instructional technology.  When I first began, I think I really used technology as simply a means of delivery to get my instructional messages across – think lots of PowerPoints, which although succinct and otherwise well-constructed, didn’t have any research-based, proven theories to guide their design.  After reading countless journal articles and research studies, I’m now able to look at a use of instructional technology, whether it’s single visual or an overall online program, with a much more informed criticality than I could have even two years ago.  The true testimony to how much I’ve really learned and made a part of my daily routine is that I often catch myself thinking along the lines of “…but Mayer would say…” or “that’s not what Sweller and Clark’s research would tell us.”  Having a business background, I’ve been accustomed to having to “let the numbers speak for themselves” when using data to help guide my decisions, and the same now holds true when I make a recommendation about how including an appropriate use of instructional technology can help take a lesson from good to great.

The knowledge I’ve gained from reading about “best practices” in the field, combined with the many “hands on” development activities I’ve been able to do in my coursework, have helped make me better in my current role.  I’m proud of the development skills I’ve learned, particularly with Dreamweaver, Flash, and Photoshop, and although I haven’t had much of an opportunity to use them outside of the ITEC program, I’m confident that I can put together an online presence that doesn’t look like I just picked up “HTML for Dummies.”  I have a much keener eye for the usability of a software application than I did at the start of the program, and I credit this to those professors who have taught me to rationalize and justify every design decision I make.  Especially when it comes to designing instructional visuals, whether for print or on a web page, I’m much more cognizant of how every design element needs to actively contribute to the overall message; while I thought I was a pretty good technical writer before, I’m now careful to ensure that I’m not mixing my messages or taking away from the central points of my writing by including extraneous information.

Simply earning the M.Ed. has made me more credible as someone “in the field,” and at the same time has established me as someone who is willing to make the effort to learn more than just superficially about the profession.  I plan to continue my professional activities to remain engaged with both the theory and practice of instructional technology – I’ve been involved with at least three different instructional technology groups on LinkedIn and other online discussion boards, I’ve attended a few conferences and plan to attend at least two more this year, and I subscribe to three ITEC-related journals and usually read at least one additional journal article each week.  While my formal coursework and studies will likely be complete at the end of this year, I will certainly remain involved with these activities as I work through the candidacy phase of my Ph.D. work and for the foreseeable future.

I’ve enjoyed my time in Kent’s ITEC program, and I look forward to continuing my association with the program itself and with those faculty who have helped me become the ITEC professional I am today.