AECT Standard 5
"AECT Standard 5 (Research): Candidates explore, evaluate, synthesize, and apply methods of inquiry to enhance learning and improve performance (pp. 4, 6-7). Indicators:
Theoretical Foundations - Candidates demonstrate foundational knowledge of the contribution of research to the past and current theory of educational communications and technology. (p. 242)
Method - Candidates apply research methodologies to solve problems and enhance practice. (p. 243)
Assessing/Evaluating - Candidates apply formal inquiry strategies in assessing and evaluating processes and resources for learning and performance. (p. 203)
Ethics - Candidates conduct research and practice using accepted professional and institutional guidelines and procedures. (p. 296-7)” (AECT, 2012)
Assistive Technology Use In The Universal Design For Learning
Context & conditions — Assistive Technology’s use in the Universal Design for Learning was a project created in the spring of 2023. It was created in Lancaster South Carolina. This project drew upon my background as someone who is visually Impaired and uses assistive technology in everyday life.
Scope — The goal of this project is to help others learn how and why assistive technology’s use in instructional design is key to visually impaired students’ success. This was created for a school project. This project is a final piece of the whole unit.
Role — I was solely responsible for this project’s design and development. I was not the SME for this project on the universal design side. I was the SME on the assistive technology, visually impaired side.
Instructional Design — In this project I set goals to help design and develop content that would assist instructors. (Morrison, 2019) (Richard, 2018)
Related performance indicator(s) —
This project is reflected in the AECT standards 1 and 3. It required a theoretical foundation to research and understand the material before evaluating and designing the project. (AECT, 2012)
Reflection —In the Spring of 2023, I started my final semester with Dr. Arslan Ari in EDET 735. This project was very research-oriented. This was a great learning experience for me in my growth as an instructional designer. To be able to learn about a type of learning design and how it emphasizes the design of including assistive technology was a new concept that changed how I looked at my older projects. I realized through this project that my older work, though I use assistive technology on a regular basis wasn’t all disability accessible. The only change I would make would be more time to develop this project further.
Technology Survey
Context & conditions — The technology survey was created in the fall of 2022. The data was acquired from stores in both North Carolina and South Carolina. This project utilized my skills and knowledge as a store manager within the Follett Higher Education Group.
Scope — This project was created to keep retail locations up to date with technology. This was created for my work out of my own curiosity. This project was a large part of the unit.
Role — I was solely responsible for this project from design and development. I was the SME.
Instructional Design — This project analysis needs and goals for the technology plan from the store side. This was designed and developed to address the felt and expressed needs of employees. (Morrison, 2019)(Richard, 2018)
Related performance indicator(s) —
This project addressed AECT standard 5. It required some internal research into what had been updated and when. This was all part of the survey and data collection. This knowledge helped create the recommendations that are part of the project. (AECT, 2012)
Reflection — In the Fall of 2022 I took EDET 650. This class built on what we had already learned. The technology survey was created using many of the techniques I had learned in other classes but used for a different end goal. Utilizing these skills for a proposal of a physical procurement plan was beneficial to see the translation of skills into this kind of project. The biggest thing I would change about this project is the amount of time I had to work on it. The re-word survey questions. I learned with a more hands-on project that allowed me to find the big picture need within my own company and then conduct surveys to see if other stores agreed.