For the competencies “Develop a personal vision of inclusive educational practice,” and “Identify the relationship of discipline to the broader field of education”, I have chosen my “Initial/Revised Ed Tech Definitions” from EDCI 513 as an artifact. In this artifact, I express my original and revised definitions of learning design and technology (LDT). These definitions show my growth in the field of LDT and how I can present information to help multiple types of learners. This reflection and definition also show my growth and understanding of fair trade and ethics when using copyrighted materials for educational purposes. Before taking EDCI 513, I knew there were copyrights and that some material I could use and reproduce for educational purposes, but I learned when and where I am allowed to use materials and when I need to get permission. Before that was a gray area that I did not fully understand and I chose to cite or pay for everything to ensure I would not get in trouble later on. This artifact also shows that I had basic knowledge of LDT and implementing technology into education, and that knowledge has grown to encompass the layout of the material has a big impact on how well some students can process or break down that information. This class and definition truly impacted my learning practices. Even now as I am in the classroom, I look at some of my files and material and ask if I should layout the information in a different way on the handouts or take time to present the information in a different way to help the students be able to grasp and retain the information.

 

For the competency “Critically evaluate theory and practice,” I have chosen my “Annotated Bibliography” from EDCI 52002 as an artifact. In this artifact, I researched articles that provided insight into writing and publishing textbooks. These articles revealed the time, rewrites, and even contract negotiations that are part of the textbook writing process. I knew writing a curriculum or textbook could take a year or two, but depending on the content, this process could take years. One article mentioned that even though the text was written, he still had to revise and update the information to keep the book current. Another article mentioned contract negotiations when writing a book with several other authors. I knew there would be contracts to sign, but this article enlightened me to also consider who else would be involved and if I would need to ensure certain protections were listed in the contract. These articles enlightened me on more of the behind-the-scenes details of textbook writing and how to avoid headaches later. I was so wrapped up in the idea of just getting information on paper that I figured the details would work themselves out. After this bibliography, I am more informed and I can be mindful of some issues that could arise.