Is it time for us to take back our field? A question for AECT members.

The Trend

I read with interest today's announcement that William & Mary has hired its first associate provost of e-learning initiatives. This is a disturbing trend; not that universities are adding high-level online/e-learning administrative posts. I am happy that universities are showing more support for and feeding the e-learning cash cow. And, I certainly don't question the abilities of the individual selected by the college.  I take issue however with the academic backgrounds and training of these new e-learning leaders. As I read these announcements, I rarely encounter the names of my AECT colleagues.  All-too-often, the selected individuals come from all walks of academia, except the learning sciences.
Therein lies the problem, it seems. AECT members, the researchers and practitioners who know more about teaching and learning than anyone else on the planet, are not represented in these upper-level positions.

The Solution?
Granted, university administration is certainly not for everyone. However, I would think (and hope) that more of us (AECT members) would be "throwing our hats into the ring." We continually complain that as THE leaders in our field, our message is not getting out. Perhaps, by aggressively pursuing leadership positions, we can take back our field? Maybe this is something that we might address at a 2015 AECT International Convention session? Let's keep the conversation going.

Reflections on the Association for Talent Development (formerly ASTD) - Kansas City 2014 Conference

Yesterday, I attended the day-long Kansas City ATD 2014 Conference in Overland Park, KS. Being my first ATD-KC conference, here are some of my observations through the lens of someone who has spent many years in higher education:

1. Corporate training and development professionals seem to be keenly interested in finding ways to create a healthier, happier workplace. Paul White's keynote, Using The 5 Languages of Appreciation to Detoxify Your Work Environment highlighted this interest.

To my higher education colleagues: When was the last time someone from your college/university displayed any concern for your workplace happiness or genuinely recognized you for your contribution to your organization? (Other than the obligatory X years of service certificate/pin, complete with a PPT flashback showing the most popular movies, songs, celebrities, and news stories X number of years ago).

2. Corporate training and development professionals seem to be genuinely interested in helping their organizations' employees make successful transitions, whether it's joining the organization as a new employee, making a lateral move, accepting a new role, changing offices, or even transitioning to retirement. The Transition Coaching session by Mickie Schroeder and Jeffrey Jans highlighted this.

To my higher education colleagues: When was the last time someone from your college/university provided quality support (orientation program) for joining the university as new faculty or staff member, or quality support for you transition to another role at your college/university? (Most of us fall into 1, the complete the paperwork in HR, 2. here are your office keys, 3. welcome to X university category, I suppose?)

Other conference topics included Coaching, Integrated Talent Management, Performance Management, Knowledge Management, Leadership Development and Supporting Engagement and Retention.

All-in-all, it was a refreshing look at workplace issues that are too-often overlooked in the world of higher education (pay attention university administrators and HR professionals). In addition, I met some extremely bright and talented individuals, and I look forward to meeting more at future KC-ATD meetings, as well as at next year's conference. Many thanks to the KC-ATD board and conference planners for their hard work on the 2014 conference!

Leaving ESU and moving to Baker University

Earlier this year, I announced that I will step down from the IDT department chair position at Emporia State University. The plan was to teach 3 master's level classes each semester, research, do some writing (and perhaps grants) and just fade away, like an old soldier (see General Douglas MacArthur, 1951) - http://youtu.be/M87s_I-c-Xw?t=7m42s

That was the plan ..... until I was approached with a rare opportunity at Baker University.....

On July 1,  2014 I will be be leaving Emporia State University to begin work at Baker University as Professor and Director (and creator) of a new doctoral program in Instructional Design and Technology.  The Baker University undergraduate programs are housed at the beautiful Baldwin City, KS campus. My office and doc program will be housed at the Baker University School of Education/School of Professional and Graduate Studies facilities in Overland Park, KS (KC Metro area). I am sad that I will be leaving my wonderful ESU IDT faculty colleagues and master's students.  However, I am happy that I may be able to help many of my former and current ESU IDT students, and future Baker students achieve their goal of advanced graduate study at Baker University.

Will it play in Emporia?

Will it play in Emporia?

When discussing how tech will change higher ed, don’t forget small state schools.

An interesting piece and title in Slate (especially interesting to those at Emporia State University) by Paula Krebs, dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at Bridgewater State University.

She makes some valid points about the importance of small regional universities to our society and how regional universities will need to embrace new technologies (and most importantly methodologies) to survive. 

The problem, according to Krebs -

"While so many of us have been defending the value of a liberal arts education against the desire for us to deliver “skills,” we’ve too often been holding out against change in general—and technology in particular."

The forecast -

"The schools that don’t figure out what technology can do for their institutions and their students, who relay on their current methods of instruction and assessment, will be left behind over the next decades."

The outlook for instructional technologists/designers working in higher education is bright -

"....the kind of instruction we need will depend on faculty development, on faculty members being trained by their institutions to teach differently with tech."

Thoughts?  Anyone?  Anyone?  Post your comments below.

President's Farewell Message

As we begin our 2013 AECT International Convention in Anaheim, the end of my term as president of AECT approaches. This has been an eventful year for our association, its leadership, and most importantly its members. AECT could not exist without its many dedicated members who faithfully serve AECT each year.

In an effort to update you on all the work that was carried out this year, I have compiled a list of the things YOU accomplished during the past year. And please forgive me, if I fail to mention some of your accomplishments, as there are so many:

1. Formed a Strategic Planning committee, conducted town hall meetings and (with input from our divisions and members) drafted a new AECT Strategic Plan that members will have a chance to further vet at our Anaheim convention.
2. Initiated a web site partnership with MultiView that generates $1,000 per month in revenue.
3. Established a credit card convenience fee and encouraged members to use checks and other methods to pay for membership/convention registration, creating potential savings of $16,000 for AECT.
4. Celebrated a productive 1You/New2 member drive adding over 350 new members to AECT.
5. ectFoundation sponsored another successful auction and continued its support of AECT convention interns, scholarships, and other activities.
6. Developed a new AECT Leadership Intern policy manual.
7. Updated the AECT Division Officers Handbook.
8. Updated the AECT Policy and Procedures Manual.
9. Revised the AECT Employee Handbook
10. Hosted a successful 2012 International Convention in Louisville, KY
11. Discontinued sponsorship of the International Student Media Festival (ISMF), saving AECT approximately $35,000 per year. 
12. Drafted and approved a Certificate Endorsement Plan.
13. Facilitated numerous GSA and division webinars.
14. Formed a new partnership with Wiley Learning Institute to produce and deliver webinars highlighting AECT members/authors.
15. Created the new division, Culture, Learning and Technology (formerly MIM affiliate).
16. Created a web editor position, providing support for the AECT web page and increasing AECT's social media presence.
17. Appointed a Special International Affiliate Emissary.
18. Modified accounting from a fiscal year to a calendar year.
19. Relocated the AECT office to a new and improved office.
20. Created a monthly consolidated budget report.
21. Conducted a successful Summer Leadership Conference and Leadership Development Day in Bloomington, IN.
22. Sponsored AECT's first overseas conference - AECT-ICFER Conference in Taiwan.
23. Created a partnership with ASTD to trade publicity for each others' conferences in newsletters and web sites.
24. Approved ICEM as an affiliate of AECT.
25. Created our first Convention mobile app with Crescerance, saving $8,500 in printing costs.
26. Introduced the use of Google Hangouts for our 2013 Convention.
27. Developed a new title, procedure, and application for selecting AECT convention interns.
28. Announced the AECT book and briefs series "Educational Communications and Technology: Issues and Innovations" with Springer.
29. Conducted a member survey.
30. Accepted proposals for the 2015 AECT Summer International Symposium.
31. Accepted a proposal for the 2014 AECT Summer Research Symposium.
32. Welcomed META (Malaysian Educational Technology Association) as an international affiliate.
33. Composed a Procedure for Investigation of Allegation of Violation - AECT Code of Ethics.
34. Transformed ETR&D's International Review section into Cultural and Regional Perspectives.
35. Approved the ICEM convention internship.
36. Crafted an Affiliate Sponsored Convention Intern Policy.
37. ETR&D, TechTrends, IJDL, and JAID maintained their reputation as high-quality, high-impact journals. (TechTrends topped 100 pages).
38. Published the 2012 AECT International Convention Proceedings.
39. Announced the publication of the 2013 Media Yearbook and a new book by the Division of Distance Learning.
40. Published the Fourth Edition of the Handbook of Research on Educational Communications and Technology, Proceedings for the 2010 and 2012 Research Symposia, 2013 Media Yearbook, and
    Encyclopedia of Terminology for Educational Communications and Technology.
41. Four AECT past-presidents edited Learning, Problem Solving, and Mind Tools:Essays in Honor of David H. Jonassen.
42. AECT past-presidents and members traveled the world, representing AECT and extending AECT's international presence.
43. Documented 13 new interviews for the AECT History Makers project.
44. Approved a $10 dues increase for regular and retired members (effective January 2014) that will help fund AECT initiatives and member benefits.
45. Increased convention University Reception participation to 18 universities.
46. Introduced the AECT Member Book project providing space in AECT publications for promotion of member-authored books.
47. Introduced the AECT Position Paper project.
48. Introduced the AECT Member Video project.

Indeed, an impressive list. You are to be congratulated for yet another exceptional year! Normally, I would mention your accomplishments at our general membership meeting in Anaheim.  Unfortunately, I won't be able to join you for that meeting, as I will be leaving LAX for Beijing on Tuesday evening (October 29) to represent AECT at the 10th Anniversary of the Beijing Forum, hosted by Peking University. As much as I looked forward to enjoying our convention in Anaheim as past-president and as difficult as it was for me to make this decision, the opportunity to represent AECT at such a prominent international forum outweighed all other options. I will surely miss seeing my many AECT friends and colleagues Wednesday through Saturday. However, I hope that I can return from Beijing with some new opportunities for AECT and its members. 

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve as president of the finest association of its kind. It has been an honor to serve and work side by side with such amazing individuals.  President-Elect Steve Harmon, convention co-planner Zeni Colorado, division/committee planners, and AECT staff have organized another outstanding convention. I wish you all a great time in Anaheim and a successful year under the capable leadership of President Harmon.

With appreciation,
Marc

Top Five reasons to attend this year's convention

The 2013 AECT International Convention is only two weeks away and there's much to celebrate! I have developed my own .................

TOP FIVE reasons to attend this year's convention:

5. Where else can you enjoy a $40 luncheon and $70 per gallon coffee?

4. Incoming President Steve Harmon and the convention planning team have organized another outstanding convention experience.

3. AECT members gather yet another year to catch-up with old friends/colleagues, meet new friends, and attempt to impress each other with their research prowess and PowerPoint skills.

2. This is our LAST convention in Anaheim....at least for a while. (Call me crazy, but I kind of like Anaheim. But then again, I live in Kansas....enough said.)

1. This is our LAST Halloween convention!  (Last year's signed pumpkin petition did the job).

Do you have some more reasons to add?  Post them in the comments section below or on our AECT Facebook page!

Check out the schedule at - http://convention2.allacademic.com/one/aect/aect13/

Don't forget that we've got an app!! 

Apple iOS Devices: http://bit.ly/11DstzJ
Android Devices: http://bit.ly/12iuUmd
Windows Mobile Devices: http://bit.ly/18O8D71

With our app, developed by Crescerence (http://crescerance.com/), you get access to all the important facts and information about the convention anytime, anywhere.

Features of the 2013 AECT International Convention App:
 
• About the convention - Access information about the convention
• Schedule –Events-at-a-Glance are available, integrated with your device calendar
• Maps - Get directions to the convention hotel and within the vicinity
• Click and Share AECT – Snap photos and share them on social networks
• Featured Speakers – Get to know more about the speakers
• AECT Membership - Learn about AECT and its membership benefits

AECT Books and Briefs Series - Educational Communications and Technology: Issues and Innovations

An important publishing opportunity for AECT members! 

AECT, in collaboration with Springer, has created a new series of books and monographs entitled "Educational Communications and Technology: Issues and Innovations.” The series editors are J. Michael Spector (University of North Texas – mike.spector@unt.edu), M. J. Bishop (University System of Marlyland – mjbishop@usmd.edu), and Dirk Ifenthaler (Open Universities Australia – dirk@ifenthaler.info). 

To submit a proposal for a book or brief/monograph, complete the proposal form and send it to lead editor Mike Spector.

The purpose of the series is to extend AECT's ongoing book publications with Springer (e.g., the Educational Media and Technology Yearbook, the Handbook on Research on Educational Communications and Technology, and the AECT Research Symposium edited volumes), and to offer the Springer Briefs innovative format to AECT authors and contributors. Briefs are short monographs (typically 50 to 100 pages) on a tightly focused topic of current interest by one (or possibly two) authors (for more detail, see http://www.springer.com/authors/book+authors/springerbriefs?SGWID=0-1720013-0-0-0). Contracts for books and briefs will be negotiated between AECT and Springer.

AECT Briefs Series

A monograph in the AECT Briefs series (a refereed publication by AECT) will provide an introduction to a focused area in educational information science, technology and communications, or provide an overview of theories, research, issues, core concepts, emerging technologies, or an analysis of key literature in a particular field; a typical source for such a work is a recent dissertation; a monograph could also provide one or more of the following:

· A timely report of state-of-the art analytical techniques and instruments,

· An overview of a testing and evaluation method,

· A snapshot of a hot or emerging topic or policy change,

· An in-depth case study,

· A detailed report of a program evaluation,

· A review of research/literature,

· A report/review study of a survey, or

· An elaborated conceptual framework pertinent to educational information science and technology.

Brief authors will receive a divisional concurrent session and one night of free hotel accommodations at the AECT International Convention (maximum of 2 authors, but if series editors agree to more, then the first author will decide how/if to split). 

AECT Books Series

A volume in the AECT Books series may be by one or more authors or editors. Edited works are accepted as well as those authored by one or two individuals. Edited volumes may be developed based on panel presentations at the annual AECT convention or other such prominent venues; or they might be based on recent collaborative research and development efforts. Books in the series should be on a topic of interest to the disciplines and groups of professionals represented in AECT. Members of an AECT division are especially welcome to submit proposals for such works.

Book authors will receive a Presidential session at our AECT International Convention and free convention registration (maximum of 2 authors/editors, but if series editors agree to more, then the first author will decide how/if to split). 

Authors will be restricted to AECT members or those who become members upon acceptance of a manuscript so as to preserve the AECT brand associated with this series. Wide circulation is guaranteed, thanks to the efforts of Springer.