Karen Allnutt (allnutt@blue.weeg.uiowa.edu)
Mon, 27 Jul 1998 14:52:46 -0500
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Date: Mon, 27 Jul 1998 14:52:46 -0500 From: Karen Allnutt <allnutt@blue.weeg.uiowa.edu> Subject: [ifets] Re: IFETS - Personal message from forum moderator
Forum website: http://ifets.gmd.de/
Email address for sending message to the list ifets@gmd.de
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As suggested I am posting a brief description of myself and my interests.
I am currently a graduate student in the Instructional Design & Technology
program at the University of Iowa (USA), graduating May 1999. I am also
fortunate enough to have a job on campus actually working with
faculty/staff designing computerized instructional/training materials on
campus. To date I have completed 3 software packages (1 stand alone liver
pathology tutorial, 1 stand alone dental tutorial, and 1 web-delivered
periodontic tutorial). So I am fortunate to be applying what I am learning
as I am learning it, to have the perspective of a student and a designer,
and to interact with people who have been developing for longer than I (I
work in a group of 6 designers).
Of special interest to me is the 'apprenticeship' style of teaching and
when and how computerized/technology enhanced methods of presentation,
practice, and 'testing' apply. Within certain fields/countries/cultures
apprenticeships are the accepted method of professional development. Often
these are professions that have a large 'physical' activity component to
them. Apprenticeship is more than being able to do something 'correctly',
it is also often a 'way of life'. So when and how can technology be
appropriately incorporated into apprentice style education?
My concern is that many people equate technology with superior education.
The 'equation' is not that simple. As someone who is focusing on computer
applications, I acknowledge that there are somethings that computers are
inappropriate (temporarily/perhaps permanently) for using to teach/train
someone with. On the flip side there are somethings that the computer is
definately superior at, much to the consternation of some people.
Another observation is the 'loss of artisan knowledge' that has occured
with the shift from apprenticeship programs and how technology can
'capture' this knowledge for 'posterity' rather than having it lost for
good. Culturally this is especially significant as we move towards being
more of a global society.
Assuming that materials are developed how do you effectively incorporate
them into populations that are unaccustomed to their use?
I admit this is a very sketchy introduction to my interests. IMO one of
the detriments of electronic communication is its decided temporary one
wayness. I can't perceive my recipient's confusion/misunderstanding until
after they have received my post and responded.
Thanks for including me, this looks like a very interesting group of people
to interact with.
Karen
>I invite you to start with, perhaps, a little introduction
>about yourself, as a reply to this email, and some practical
>or theoretical problems you would like to discuss with regards
>to the implementation of educational technology in real life,
>questioning the purpose and contexts of both education and
>educational technology. These informal discussions will feed
>in to identifying themes for formal discussion. Attempts will
>be made to summarise the informal discussions over somewhat
>longer period of time, if some conclusive trends are observed.
>
>Schedule for formal discussions will be announced in advance
>and can also be obtained at forum's website (address at the top).
>
>Forum also welcomes various announcements regarding call for
>papers in journals, conferences, job postings and so on if they
>are related to the forum's activities and of interest to the
>forum's participants.
>
>Finally, the forum depends on its members and their expression
>of frank and honest opinion towards discussions. Please do not
>hesitate to post if you feel it is relevant to forum. Looking
>at the diversity of forum's membership, I am sure we would have
>a very rich and fulfilling discussion on a variety of issues.
>
>Let us have a ferment in the forum!
>
>Kinshuk.
>------------------------------------------------------------------------
>Dr. Kinshuk kinshuk@ieee.org
>Human Computer Interactions Institute
>German National Research Center for Information Technology
>GMD-FIT, Schloss Birlinghoven, D-53754 Sankt Augustin, Germany
>Tel: (49) 2241 14 2144 Fax: (49) 2241 14 2065
>URL: http://zeus.gmd.de/hci/pages/kinshuk.html
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