Category Archives: Professional Development

Reading about Learning Science, Psychology

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This post was inspired by a question I saw on Twitter (thanks, @Ryan_Eikmeier!): “Can anybody recommend a text that summarizes current research in learning science, the science letters in stone of learning, that is?”

My response included several books that together cover most of this territory, but I couldn’t put my finger on just one item/volume that would cover it at all. My recommendations are below. Please add yours to the comments area!

Psychology of Learning for Instruction – Marcy P. Driscoll

  • I have an early version of this, but it looks like a new edition is on the way. This book is a solid, easy to digest, overview of learning psychology. Major learning theories are presented in detail. This one has become a handbook.

Trends and Issues in Instructional Design and Technology – Robert A. Reiser and John V. Dempsey

  • This book adds to the previous, bringing technology and instructional design and strategies into the conversation. A number of notable chapter contributors give this one a nice scope, including industry, and some general guidance on competencies for those entering the field.

Learning in Adulthood: A Comprehensive Guide – Sharan B. Merriam and Rosemary S. Caffarella

  • My response to Ryan included this as a ‘classic for adult learning theory’.  A good reference and a different perspective from the previous two. Also provides an overview of learning theories detailed in Driscoll’s book listed above.

The original question specifically asks for texts. While the books do offer collections and summaries, they certainly aren’t as current as journals and other publications with shorter production times. Another post, perhaps…

photo credit: myfear, Flickr

Year 2 – Blogging in 2010

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This blog is one year old as of this month! I’ve enjoyed the process of writing it (including figuring out what to write about) and learning more about blogging in general along the way.  Personally, this endeavor has become a sort of creative outlet and a source of self-directed professional development. Now that my ‘voice’ is starting to take shape I feel the need to set a few basic goals to grow and improve the project from this point forward.

In 2010 I’ll strive to:

  • Post once per week – I know that the pros advise more, but this is a little more realistic given all else I need and want to do in a week.
  • Comment on three blogs per week – There are so many out there that I read occasionally, but want to read more frequently. I have been negligent in commenting on others’ posts when I look for comments on my own.
  • Learn more about SEO and WordPress – It would be a nice bonus to build some kind of readership and keep my site looking and sounding as professional as possible.

So here we go…more to follow from me. Please share your writing/blogging tips and suggestions. Here are a few of my favorite posts on other blogs. I revisit these occasionally and they motivate me to keep writing:

Problogger

Chris Brogan

Web Distortion

ShermanLive

photo credit: John Althouse Cohen, Flickr

Update (1/17)! I just registered for WordCamp Miami in February. I have completely lucked out on the location and timing of this event. Looking forward to attending and letting you know what I find out.

Professional Conferences – ID, IT, Distance Ed…

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Sometimes my employer funds these trips, but I have funded myself just as often. I like conferences, but I don’t love conferences and two-a-year is usually my goal, especially if I can present. I realize it’s usually a bonus to be able to attend these and I try to select them pretty carefully. Recently I was asked to recommend events related to Instructional Design/Instructional Technology/Multimedia Development. The list below was the result and I thought I would pass it along here. The events marked with an asterisk (*) are ones I have actually attended and recommend. Others I have heard about and would like to get to at some point.

  • EDUCAUSE – a number of regional events also available. I am planning to attend the one in the Southeast next year.
  • USDLA
  • E-Learning Guild – check out DevLearn. A colleague of mine (Hi Nathan!) went last year and it sounds terrific, although he was very ‘Adobe’ when he got back ;)
  • AACE * – check out E-LEARN and ED-MEDIA…and SITE if you are in teacher education.
  • AECT
  • ASTD
  • SLOAN-C *- a big fan of SLOAN-C, especially the emerging technologies symposium, small and focused.
  • ITC
  • Distance Teaching and Learning Annual Conference * – University of Wisconsin – Madison, a great mix of people and topics, and a well-run event.
  • SALT * – I’ve been to the one in Orlando, small (in a good way) and a nice mix of education and industry.
  • ITTSEC
  • AERA * – Big, really big.  Focused on the “R” (research). Lots of interesting Special Interest Groups.

There are so many more conferences out there. Some with really specific niches…. what’s your interest? Second Life? Faculty Development? Open Education?…. Here are several links set up for searching for more…

Trends —- I’ve answered survey requests from a few of these organizations recently. There are changes coming I think. More virtual events (more on these in another post). More regional events. Less “glamorous” locations. More registration options (i.e. by-the-day). Will be interesting and very possibly improved in a lot of ways.

Your Favorites???

Update! (2/16/10) – @etcjournal has posted a very nice list of conferences on their Educational Technology & Change site. Take a look at this for upcoming events in 2010 complete with links. Online conferences are noted as well.

Update! (2/24/10) – ThinkingCap is also tracking eLearning conferences you can search by month. Check out the “Call for Proposals Deadline” tab. Very helpful!

Update! (5/21/10) – Just discovered this list via Twitter. 750 Educational Technology and Related Conferences. You can download the list as a Word.doc.