21st Century Learning Infographics

For the purpose of this assignment, I chose to create a series of infographics demonstrating some of the ideas behind 21st century learning and our national educational system’s need and path for achieving it.

I chose not to create a narrated presentation as I have done this multiple times thus far in this class and thought it necessary to gain some skills in a different medium. I had initially planned to write a white paper, as this is a form of publication with which I do not have experience. I reconsidered, though, because I thought it would be more beneficial to learn some techniques in visual data display. Just this past month, I was struggling with this concept when contributing to a report at work. This is clearly not one of my strong suits, and I want to improve in this medium so I can put it to use in my career.

I read many of the posts by others in the class regarding their experience with various free infographic software. After doing a little exploring of my own, I determined that I wouldn’t be able to achieve a long, comprehensive graphic with the limited free software at my disposal. I therefore chose to create three separate graphics, using the beta version of an online software called easel.ly (www.easel.ly) Descriptions of each are below:

1.) Illustrating the Need for 21st Century Instruction

A timely analysis of the recently released PISA data which demonstrates our nation’s educational shortcomings relative to other nations.

easel.ly

Web link: https://s3.amazonaws.com/easel.ly/all_easels/260030/Need/image.jpg

2.) Characteristics of the 21st Century Learner

An overview of the general disposition and learning preferences of American millennial learners. Adapted from a blog post by Dr. Sarah Elaine Eaton, educational researcher and practitioner.

easel.ly
Web link: https://s3.amazonaws.com/easel.ly/all_easels/260030/21stCenturyLearners/image.jpg

3.) The 9 Competencies of 21st Century Educators

An examination of nine skills, ideas, and strengths that modern educators should embody in order to ensure authentic learning experiences.

easel.ly

Web link: https://s3.amazonaws.com/easel.ly/all_easels/260030/Competencies/image.jpg

By choosing these three topics and this sequence, I attempted to convey the idea that there is a readily apparent need to improve our educational system in order to remain relevant in a global society, as well as to appropriately meet the needs of an extremely diverse and rapidly changing student population. Lastly, I provided a partial remedy to the diagnosis through identifying skills needed in effective educator preparation.

Overall, this assignment served as a great learning experience for me. Though I much prefer writing over the tedium of accurately spacing, coloring, and arranging graphic information, this method forced me to consider how to effectively put forth as much important information possible from a wealth of ideas and data. This was definitely a beneficial experience and served as a great way to cap the end of this very informative semester.

Works Cited:

Eaton, S.E. (2011, December 7th). 21 characteristics of 21st century learners. Retrieved from http://drsaraheaton.wordpress.com/2011/12/07/21st-century-learners/

Greenhill, V. (2010). 21st Century Knowledge and Skills in Educator Preparation. Partnership for 21st Century Skills.

National Center for Educational Statistics (2013). Selected findings from PISA 2012. Retrieved December 4, 2013 from http://nces.ed.gov/surveys/pisa/pisa2012/index.asp

The rubric for assessing the infographics (possibly the toughest portion of the assignment for me, considering my utter lack of knowledge on this topic) is below:

Category	Absent	Emerging	Proficient
Structure	There appears to be no logical pattern to the way data or information is arranged.	Points of emphasis are apparent, but clearer and more rigid structure would improve readability.	Data, information, and overarching concepts are easily understandable. A logical flow of information is present.
Appeal	Unappealing or unreadable color schemes are used. Lack of variation in graphics or objects.	Colors and graphics are utilitarian. Concepts are somewhat enhanced by choice of color, graphics and objects.	Vibrant, eye-catching words, images, objects color, etc. are used to enhance the information presented
Content	Data and information is sparse and of no real value. No source is provided.	Data, information, and concepts are evident but not presented in full. No purpose is apparent.	Rich data, information, and overarching concepts are readily apparent. All sources cited and URLs provided.

Technology Use Planning Overview

1. Start with defining technology use planning--how would you describe it?

Technology use planning is the process of observing and identifying the needs of a school, district, school system, etc. and creating a foundational framework with objectives and strategies for meeting the identified goals. It is akin to diagnosing a problem and devising a solution. The diagnosis, however, should not just be that a certain environment is lacking in technological devices and capabilities, an easily rectifiable situation if adequate funding is available. Technology planning should identify measurable goals that are achievable through the use of technology.

2. How might the new National Educational Technology Plan 2010 be an effective and powerful resource for technology use planning?

Though I am fairly unfamiliar with the process of technology planning, I am struck by the thoroughness and insightfulness that the 2010 NETP provides. It is logically formatted and structured, beginning with the statement of overarching goals for the American educational system as a whole, and then outlines the processes through which technology implementation can help reach these goals. The creation of the document involved a number of experts in the field as well the input of the public. The plan sheds light on the potential of a number of different educational technology solutions.  

3. Do you agree with See about tech use plans needing to be short, not long term?

I wholeheartedly agree with this sentiment, as technological innovation moves at an incredibly rapid pace. This pace can quickly out-date technology plans, and the implementation of certain tech strategies can create unforeseen problems in the future; a reassessment of technology plans on a more frequent basis, though an endeavor requiring a lot of time and effort, can help to refine the tech strategies for schools and help them navigate a constantly changing landscape. As See (1992) notes, long-term technology plans may potentially lock a school’s or district’s budget into outdated technology. Not only do long-term technology plans have the potential dedicate funds to outdated technology, it may also not account for budgetary changes that can occur within a five year span, usually caused by forces outside of the school’s or district’s control.

4. What do you think about his comment that "effective technology plans focus on applications, not technology?"
5. Do you agree/disagree?

I touched on this a bit in my answer to the first question, and I definitely agree with this statement. I think it can be easy for a district or school to measure technology use by the number of computers or other devices in use, etc., but not how the capabilities afforded by the hardware will be applied in a learning environment. Ultimately, the driving factor behind planning technology use in schools should be the improvements in learning that will be brought about by the technology itself. A recently released book by Frederick Hess and Bror Saxberg, Breakthrough Leadership in the Digital Age (2013), is centered around this idea.  

6. What experiences have you had with technology use planning and what have you seen for outcomes (both good and bad?)

I have not truly seen much in the way of technology planning, and this is my first time reading about the process in general. I have reviewed the technology plan put in place by my former district in 2007 (which has yet to be reviewed) and it does seem to be very vague in nature, as well as cover an inordinately long amount of time (seven years.) Perhaps this is why I did not see technology as an emphasized factor in instruction or see a wide availability of devices and hardware during my time there. This assignment has shown me that technology planning is a very interesting and critical process and one that I could see myself becoming heavily involved in over the course of my career.

Works Cited

Hess, Frederick M., Saxberg, Bror V. (2013). Breakthrough leadership in the digital age: Using learning science to reboot schooling. Newbury Park, CA: Corwin Press.

See, J. (1992). Developing Effective Technology Plans. The Computing Teacher,19(8). Retrieved from http://www.nctp.com/html/john_see.cfm

Digital Divide

This assignment allowed me to reflect on my time at two different school districts and explore some of the trends I observed at each in much greater detail and in the context of digital divide issues that we have been researching over the last two weeks. Among the things that resonated with me through conducting this research is the idea of how interconnected the public and private worlds are when it comes to digital access. The ITU report, Measuring the Information Society 2012, uses terms like "penetration", which I thought had previously reserved for corporate speech, but to combat such an epidemic requires the work of advocates in education, government, private industry, and nonprofit organizations. It is also quite jarring to think about the huge numbers of people across the globe who have none of the experiences that most Americans would cite as essential to securing a good education and job. Overall it was a fantastic learning experience for me.

A narrated version of the presentation is embedded as a YouTube video above, and the Google Presentation version, with a script included in the speaker's notes, is embedded below:

Tech Trends

Please refer to this Google Doc to view my paper on learning analytics.

This assignment was incredibly useful and pertinent to what I'm currently doing at work, as we look to research and write on the most influential technological and digital learning trends that are reshaping education. This assignment helped me delve more deeply into a trend that I've had a passing interest in and that I've read about many times in the press; I had not, however, looked into the peer-reviewed research on the subject. This process helped me clarify my purpose in how I may want to research this topic further in the future, as well as see more clearly how stakeholders view such an abstract concept coming to fruition in the educational sphere in the next few years.

EDTECH Research

My instructional objective with accompanying annotated bibliography for our EDTECH Research assignment can be viewed at this link.

I enjoyed this assignment because research is something that I do and work with on a regular basis. I had no idea how much more refined Google Scholar had become in the years since I was a research assistant in grad school. If it can continue to be refined and expanded, it could ultimately do away with the need to visit sites like EBSCOhost and JSTOR to find empirical research. I was also blown away by the citation features, both in Google Drive and Scholar. It drastically reduces the work involved in putting together a works cited list or bibliography. The tedium of formatting citations has always been one of my least favorite things about research so this was a welcome surprise.

RSS in Education

I enjoyed this assignment because it allowed me to hone some of my skills in Camtasia Studio, which I enjoy getting to work with in my everyday job. I use RSS occasionally for personal use but must admit that I'm still kind of stuck in my ways in terms of visiting bookmarks for pages that I've been reading for years. One thing that I did not mention in my video is that Feedly has an excellent mobile app that I use frequently when I find myself in a waiting room or some other place with virtually nothing to keep me occupied. I'd like to keep searching for ways to use RSS in my job and possibly aggregate full-text journal articles rather than news and blog posts.

Elements of Educational Technology

Click here to read my take on the two most important elements within the AECT definition of educational technology.

I enjoyed this assignment because it allowed me to geek out on some of the theoretical underpinnings of the field of EdTech as well as see some of the history involved in the evolving definitions. I've been employed with a K-12 online course provider for about 10 months, and will very soon be transitioning fully to a research role within the company, so it's exciting to read documents like these and see how they align directly with what I do an everyday basis.

Before coming into this job and this class, the concept of educational technology was kind of an abstract, nebulous concept to me. Having been a classroom teacher for only one year in a very disadvantaged school district, I simply thought that educational technology dealt somehow with incorporating computers in instruction, and was something that I struggled with due to a lack of resources. Now that I'm gaining a fuller understanding of the concept, I can see how someone in my position could have overcome those barriers more easily in an effort to more effectively facilitate learning.

Welcome!

Hello, my name is Justin Bruno, and I currently live in Howell, Michigan and work for the Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute, a division of Michigan Virtual University. At MVU, we provide online coursework for K-12 students in Michigan as well as across the country. I'm interested in EdTech because I'd like to eventually go on to pursue a doctorate in Ed Tech to further my career in research. I've always been interested in EdTech, even back when I was working as a teacher in Louisiana. The school at which I worked was sorely lacking in its tech usage, and I'm now excited that in my new career I can help influence policy and practices in regard to the use of EdTech. In my spare time, I enjoy playing golf, hanging out with my girlfriend, camping, getting outside with our dog, and talking with my friends who still live in the New Orleans area. I'm really excited about the course and the things I'll be able to learn and utilize in my career.

This Learning Log will serve to exhibit the artifacts that I compose over the course of my EdTech 501 course. Hopefully the things I'm producing are worthy of living on the internet ;)