HKAECT 2014 International Conference
Keynote Presentation: The Changing Nature of Educational Technology: Evolving Professional Practice and Preparation
J.Michael Spector, Ph.D.
AECT Presidential Representative and
Professor, Department of Learning Technologies
College of Information, University of North Texas, USA
mike.spector@unt.edu
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Abstract
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The rate of change in information and communications technologies (ICTs) has been accelerating at a remarkable rate for the last 50 years. This has changed the nature of what counts as information and digital literacy as well as how graduate programs are preparing the next generation of educational technology researchers and practitioners. In this presentation, the nature of changes in ICT will be quickly reviewed with an emphasis on new and emerging technologies. The requirements to be considered competent in information and digital literacy in the 21st century will be discussed. The implications of these changes and requirements for preparing professionals will then be explored. The overall conclusion to be drawn is twofold: (a) the future will likely be quite different from the past with regard to literacy, knowledge and skill development and the role of ICT in living and working.
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Bio
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J. Michael Spector's recent research is in the areas of intelligent support for instructional design, system dynamics based learning environments, assessing learning in complex domains, distance learning, and technology integration in education. Dr. Spector served on the International Board of Standards for Training, Performance and Instruction (IBSTPI) as Executive Vice President; he is on the Executive Committee of the IEEE Learning Technology Technical Committee and is Past-President of the Association for Educational and Communications Technology (AECT). He is the editor of the Development Section of Educational Technology Research & Development, and he serves on numerous other editorial boards. He co-edited the third and fourth editions of the Handbook of Research on Educational Communications and Technology, and has more than 100 journal articles, book chapters and books to his credit (Link).
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