Page 34 - Educational Technology A Primer for the 21st Century

1.2 The Scope of Educational Technology 21
evaluation. An evaluation plan typically includes a formative evaluation plan (e.g.,
a fidelity of implementation study that typically documents progress and includes
interviews and observations) and a summative evaluation plan (e.g., an impact
study). As mentioned previously, an evaluation plan is often developed early in the
effort. In this case with the online logic course aimed at improving reasoning skills
to help high school graduates succeed in college, the impact study needs to involve
graduates several years after they have completed the new course.

1.2.8 Support

Support for an educational technology effort runs throughout the process. Deter-
mining support requirements and needs occurs early in the process. Identifying key
personnel and training them begin early and continue throughout design, devel-
opment, and deployment. Educational technologists as well as system specialists,
programmers, and various staff are likely to be involved in providing support for the
online logic course. Students need to know whom to call when they encounter
problems. In this case, if the problem involves logic and solving problems, then a
tutor might need to be identified and trained.

1.2.9 Training

As previously suggested, identifying training needs and then helping prepare and
implement training materials and sessions are important in ensuring the success of
an innovative educational technology project. Tutors and staff support personnel
obviously need to be trained in order to properly support the new course. Moreover,
training students in the first week or so of the course might be required in order to
ensure that students know what is expected and can perform all of the necessary
actions and activities required in the course. Many innovative educational tech-
nology projects fail due to poor communication and inadequate preparation and
training of key personnel (Rogers, 2003).

1.3 Dimensions of Educational Technology

Not only is educational technology a multi-disciplinary enterprise but is also
multifaceted, having a number of dimensions to take into consideration in light of
the processes discussed above and the roles to be discussed below. One of the
things that makes educational technology such an interesting profession is the
diversity of people, problems, needs, technologies, and solutions that are involved.
If one thrives on challenges and complexity, then educational technology is well
worth pursuing.