New technology brings new approach to teaching

It's no surprise that innovative technology has revolutionized the way we perform many tasks in our everyday lives, and the use of technology in college education is no exception. The standard university education has been given a much-needed facelift, integrating social media, handheld devices and online courses into its already rigorous curriculum.

The Problem with Design Education

Peter Belanger

 

Design—central to successful technologies—is too isolated from science education, argues design guru Don Norman.


University industrial design programs are usually cloistered in schools of art or architecture, and students in such programs are rarely required to study science or technology. That bothers Don Norman, former head of research at Apple and an advocate of user-friendly design. Having traditional design skills—in traditional artistic pursuits like drawing and modeling—isn't enough, he says, because the creators of good products and services also must have a working knowledge of everything from the technical underpinnings of microprocessors and programming to the policy aspects of information security. 

Intro to Online Course Design

"Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works." 
— Steve Jobs
As an online instructor, you may find yourself involved in numerous roles related to online course design. Whether you are responsible for the conversion or adaptation of a traditional course for online delivery, assigned to teach courses that were previously designed and developed by others, or relied on for content expertise as a member of a design and development team, your understanding of the online course design process is crucial to the development of an effective learning environment for future students.

Resource: 7 Things You Should Know About Educational Design Research

Educational design research (EDR) addresses educational problems in real-world settings and has two primary goals: to develop knowledge, and to develop solutions. EDR tends to evolve through three main phases—analysis, design, and evaluation—each of which may be repeated multiple times.

 EDR is particularly powerful because it addresses real needs in the here-and-now through the development of a solution to a problem, while also generating knowledge that can be used in the future. It can offer researchers and practitioners the opportunity to produce interventions of real value—tools, approaches, theories, and products—tested in the field and shown to be effective.