Professional Development Resources for Instructional Technologists
What Does an Instructional Technologist do?
From Learn.org: “An instructional technology specialist facilitates technology use at schools and universities through a variety of interactive methods… An instructional technology specialist helps integrate technologies, such as computers, hardware, and software, into educational settings.”
Instructional technologists collaborate with instructors and instructional designers to identify the best uses for technology in instruction, considering many factors, including cost, usability, security, accessibility, and ability to meet the specific learning or teaching goals.
Organizations (Information, Networking, and Professional Development Opportunities)
- American Educational Research Association (AERA)
- Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE)
- Association for Educational Communications and Technology (AECT)
- Association for Talent Development (ATD) – previously known as the American Society for Training & Development (ASTD)
- EDUCAUSE
- International Society for Educational Technology
- International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE)
- IEEE Technical Committee on Learning Technology (TCLT)
- LinkedIn Instructional Technology Group
- Society for Applied Learning Technology (SALT)
- WICHE Cooperative for Educational Technologies (WCET)
Resources for Users/Administrators of Specific Learning Management Systems
Canvas
- Canvas LMS Community (user guides, discussion boards, release notes, special interest groups)
- California State University System’s Canvas Common Interest Group
Moodle
- Moodle.org Community (Topic-based discussion boards)
- MoodleDocs (Moodle documentation)
Blackboard
- Blackboard Community (knowledge sharing, interest groups, provide feedback to Blackboard product management)
Brightspace (Desire to Learn)
Journals and Newsletters
Peer-Reviewed
- American Journal of Distance Education
- Current Issues in Emerging eLearning (UMass Boston)
- Design and Technology Education: An International Journal
- Distance Education
- IEEE Transactions on Learning Technologies
- International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education
- Issues and Trends in Learning Technologies (University of Arizona)
- Journal of Teaching and Learning with Technology (Indiana U)
- Linking Research and Practice to Improve Learning (AECT)
Not Peer-Reviewed
- EDUCAUSE Review
- The Teaching Professor: Using the USA2 Framework to Make Informed Instructional Technology Decisions
- Educational Technology Magazine
- eLearn Magazine
- Learning Solutions Magazine
- Technology and Learning
- THE Journal
- EdTech Magazine
- Education Technology Magazine
- Center for Digital Education
- Edutopia
- Campus Technology
Accessibility Resources
The resources below provide information related to accessibility of instructional materials and tools.
- CSUN Universal Design Center — Excellent resource for information on making course materials and websites and making purchasing decisions for instructional technology tools
- University of Washington Accessible Technology — Excellent resource for information on tools and resources for accessibility
- Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.1)
- W3C: Web Accessibility Initiative: Introduction to Web Accessibility
- Accessibility and privacy statements for learning tools at Indiana University
- Accessibility and Privacy Information for Technology Tools (Winona State)
- Scorecards to evaluate tools and apps:
- Tech Snacks Blog — Evaluation of Web 2.0 Instructional Technology
- Information about International Access to Instructional Technology
- Inside Higher Ed: China's Limitations on Distance Education
- Online Learning Consortium: Blended Course Design for Students in China: Challenges, Problems and Design Solutions
- Which countries are restricted from using Canvas?
- Restricted countries or regions for Zoom
