Activity 1.2 - Introduction

Hi everyone

About me? I've been working with computers in education for about 20 years now. Originally began by overseeing a community based project that was designed to promote computer literacy for both children and adults in a Library / Art Gallery (Canada). Then it was off to work in an EFL - CALL lab in a Persian Gulf based institute.. That morphed into work as an EFL instructor in a fully networked learning environment where all students have laptops . Only recently I've moved to becoming an Educational Technology Specialist in the same institution. This is a significant change for me because my role is now to promote more effective teaching and learning methods amongst my previous peers ..and not help undergrad students realize clearly defined "language outcomes". The expectation is that much of this improved effectiveness will be realized through the use of ICT.

About elearning? In general, I really enjoy the ability to connect with people of really varying backgrounds but who all demonstrate a similar keen / common interest in "mastering" an indepth understanding of elearning. Sucessful completion of the course should help me realize the last 30 credit hour course I need to complete my MAODE degree.

Activity 1.1 - Introductory audio

How do you feel about the label - elearning professional?

About the label - elearning professional - I'm not clear about what it really means and I don't get much help from the prodcast either. It just gives rise to more questions. Kirkup comes the closest to how I would expect the term professional to be used. One's actions are grounded by ethical standards, but then on top of these are a set of values that have been drawn up by the profession itself, a code of practice collectively determined by the professionals (often via an association). They also strive to regulate themselves .. awarding professional credentials to those who meet a set of standards (predictably) determined by other "elders"(more experienced, learned professionals?) and recognizing those who go on to promote further progress in the profession..(again often via some sort of association).

But then Robin Goodfellow's small "p" vs big "P" definitions of professionalism and even more so Jones comment on how the term professional has been redefined today to mean something again quite different throw a wrench into all of this. Today's "modern" professonal or what sounds to me more like a "semi" professional is much less self regulated and instead more directed by those who "manage" them. I've only just recently been hired as an Educational Support Specialist and see this tension confronting me front and center - trying to bring a professional point of view (gleened from my MAODE studies) to addressing needs and issues where I work.. yet at the same time I'm directed by management to follow a very detailed agenda and sometimes one that even spells out what resources are to be used to realize it. In some ways I feel I'm being asked to assume the role of an elearning professional when convenient... then an elearning technician when convenient. "Quasi professional"?