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Lifelong learning is an important but often implicit part of the job for instructional designers and educational technologists (ID/ETs). While literature discusses improving on-the-job learning experiences of others, relatively little has been written on the lifelong learning practices of ID/ETs. We interviewed 31 professionals to explore ID/ETs’ attitudes towards lifelong learning, motivation for seeking learning opportunities, and learning approaches. The Constant Comparative Method for Naturalistic Inquiry was used to analyze the transcripts. As predicted by heutagogy, the study of self-determined learning, participants demonstrated traits of capable learners who view learning as part of their job and use a range of approaches to plan and continuously reflect on their learning. We recommend that employers promote self-determined learning practices within their organization, and that educators prepare students to be self-determined learners. We further recommend that academia, practitioners, and students contribute to repositories of resources and examples to learn from each other.

The purpose of this research study was to identify the multimedia competencies of an educational technologist by creating a valid and reliable survey instrument to administer to educational technology professionals. The educational technology multimedia competency survey developed through this research is based on a conceptual framework that emphasizes the current definition of the field. Following the conceptual framework, a review of literature and an emergent theme analysis on 205 job announcements in educational technology were conducted. Eighty-five multimedia competencies were derived from this analysis and organized into knowledge, skill, and ability statements. These data were examined using descriptive statistics, internal consistency reliability, exploratory factor analysis, and multivariate analysis of variance. Though the purpose of the instrument was to measure multimedia competencies relevant to the field of educational technology, other constructs on the instrument emerged as more important in the analysis. The results include key competencies, such as knowledge of methods and theories of instruction; soft skills; and the ability to work in a team-oriented environment. A discussion about the results is provided. The instrument was found to have a valid and internally consistent structure.

The transition from the industrial age to the information age has happened and is still happening in our society (Duffy, 2009 ). However, our current educational systems still operate based on the needs of the industrial-age society (Watson, Watson, & Reigeluth, n.d), making them among the least impacted organizations (Reigeluth & Joseph, 2002 ). This misalignment between schools and society takes the form of a discrepancy between what and how we teach students in schools and how schools are organized and operated (Banathy, 1991 ; Hargreaves, 1999 ; Wagner et al., 2006 ). Educational systems should address current students’ needs to facilitate their learning process and better preparethem for their future lives in society (Collins & Halverson, 2009 ). In this article, we explain how we envision the new paradigm of education and what roles educational technologists should play to help transform educational systems to this new paradigm.

The purpose of this study was to investigate an array of environmental factors that can stimulate imagination and explore how these factors manifest in different design phases. The participants of this study were students in the field of educational technology from four universities across Taiwan. The instructional design process was divided into three major phases: analysis, design/development, and implementation/evaluation. Influences in the learning environment were deconstructed into four factors: physical component, organizational measure, social climate, and human aggregate. The results of this study indicated that environmental factors have varying effects during the three phases of instructional design. The social climate was claimed to have the greatest effect on stimulating imagination, followed by organizational measure, human aggregate factor, and lastly physical component. These effects were seen in the development process, especially in phase two and with a lesser effect in phase three.

Perceptions related to “educational technology” have been continuously changing throughout the century. At this point, educational technology seems to be a confusing or an incomprehensible concept for most people. Perceptions of professional educational technologists in the relevant field can provide individuals who build their career in the relevant area with various perspectives. Also practices related to educational technology and relevant opinions of professionals can provide a guiding outline for the research activities being conducted in the field. This research was conducted to reveal how educational technology is perceived as a discipline, and how opinions about applications of educational technology in various countries differ. A total of 71 professionals from 12 universities in six countries participated in this research, implemented through survey method. Results support the idea that functions of the educational technology in various areas are mostly related to learning-teaching processes, and learning resources. Professional opinions on current status of the discipline reflect that there are no considerable differences related to the problems being experienced among different countries.

Learning technologists - who represent one example of the 'new professionals' currently emerging in higher education - are a rapidly growing group whose practices are little understood, even within their own community. In this paper, the questions of who learning technologists are, what they do and, perhaps more importantly,how they do it will be considered by drawing upon work undertaken through a SEDA small grant for research. This has shown that learning technologists may undertake any of a diverse range of activities, including staff development, research, management and technical support. What they have in common is that they work with small groups or with individual academics on sustained curriculum development activities. The paper will include an overview of the research, but will focus on the process through which these collaborations are initiated and structured, and will provide an insight into the values and strategies that guide their activities.

Presents the response of an undergraduate student in a class on media planning and production at the University of Northern Iowa to the following midterm question: Discuss how communication and a sense of community among instructional technologists influence the definition and perception of instructional technology. (MES)

Considers the implications that broadening the definition of learning would have for educators and educational technologists. This special issues addresses the task of redefining learning from a variety of perspectives. The authors draw on different frameworks of analysis, exploring what it means to be learning at levels ranging from the individual to the societal. (LRW)

Discusses responses from an informal survey of what managers want in entry-level instructional technologists. Presents examples of basic expectation for graduates in terms of communications; organizations; technology; planning; and speedy performance. Discusses emerging priorities related to education and training as big business; flexible boundaries; knowledge management; continuous professional development; career management; the Web; and customer focus. (AEF)

Presents a framework for judging educational technology programs that was developed for the Department of Education by the Expert Panel on Educational Technology. Highlights include clearly articulated goals; developing learning and thinking skills; equity for educational excellence; promoting organizational change; measurable evidence of effectiveness; and usefulness to others, including adaptability, sustainability, and scalability. (LRW)