1. What attracted you to apply for the award?
Actually, I did not apply for the award but was
nominated by a former President of the AECT International Council, formerly
the International Division. He knew that, across much of Asia, it
is considered poor form for one to promote oneself, thus it was unlikely
that I would have submitted such an application. He felt that the
value of what we were doing at Tam Kang University was, in fact, worthy
of submission as an exemplar of theory into practice. The award presented
me was from the leading professional organization in Educational Technology
and being recognized by ones peers for the work one has done was very gratifying.
In Asia, teaching and learning styles are different then in the States,
not many students have the chance to practice what they learned.
I would like to share what we did to help our students in Taiwan.
2.Could you give us a brief description of
your practice submitted for the award and describe what made it an exemplary
project? What makes it an applied educational communications and
technology practice?
Based on the learning theory I brought back from
University of Arkansas, I was encouraged to plan, design, and establish
an e-learning laboratory. It reflects the way I learned and, given that
we are training trainers, was considered the best way for our students
to learn using real case studies before they entered industry. I want my
student to have a better chance to learn and practice as they develop their
expertise, before actually going into a training position. The e-learning
Lab is a nonprofit organization; its purpose is to help students to get
practice in industry while they are still in school. Students learn very
quickly during the real case study problem solving process. They
find out what they still need to learn in the class then often register
in other classes they need to help them to learn more theory or even take
an additional minor if necessary.
3. How did you design and develop your practice
and what was the nature of the performance data regarding its effectiveness?
I interview students who are willing to join
the e-learning lab, so we can get to know each student better, then know
in which team they can best fit. I use a variety of learning theories in
the e-learning laboratory, i.e., project based learning, problem based
learning, corporative learning, and self-directed learning. From each project,
students learn new techniques to solve problems and to complete their assigned
projects. In each project during the problem solving process, students
meet and discuss the problem and define its scope. I then help them
solve each problem. They not only learn how to accomplish the project
steps but also how to solve the problem that emerges during this process.
We have developed several case studies thus far, i.e., how to help public
school teachers use technology in teaching; how to train industry-based
trainers design curriculum; and how to design materials for helping patients
in a hospital environment.
Recently we began a teacher education program,
designed to teach technical school instructors how to create web-based
learning. I work with students through their assignments to ensure that
the following elements are included: needs assessment, trainee analysis,
task analysis, development of an objectives' hierarchy, description of
the treatment, project management schedule, scenario design, script design,
storyboarding, prototyping, graphic design, photography, video production,
audio recording, animation generation, programming, eCourse integrating,
job aids design, tech manual production, instructional design, e-course
delivery. My students and I proceed through every step and from these
processes they learn what they need to enter business and industry for
work as a professional. After this practice some of them found out they
need to take additional courses before they graduate. In these three
weeks we have everything ready to give those teachers a workshop.
Students use their summer vacation, not for recreation, but to enthusiastically
learn more in anticipation of the next case. Last summer we had six students
graduate. They were hired in human resource departments, instructional
design departments and as an instructional designer in a different company.
They called and e-mailed me, expressing their appreciation for the
e-learning provided them and for the opportunity
to find a job in their area of expertise.
Now they are excited about bringing back e-learning
case studies to help more students.
4. What did you learn from the award process?
It is an encouragement for me to help more students,
and keep working on further refining an improving what occurs within our
e-learning laboratory and its curriculum.
5. What are your practices now?
Now, we are working on the development of an
Interpretive Structure Model, how to solve organizational problems by using
ISM. During the Atlanta AECT conference some associates and I presented
and a part of the presentation included a description of this model and
its related processes. Hopefully an article about this model will
appear in the 2001 AECT Conferences Proceedings.
Again, my sincere thanks to the International
Council for awarding me this honor.
Ping-Yeh Tsai
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Outstanding Practice Award by a Student of Educational Technology
Award plaque to be presented at the next annual AECT conference. A description of practice also will be published on the I.C. website.
The Outstanding Practice Award by a Student recognizes a student in the field of educational communications and technology who has applied educational communications and technology practices in an exemplary manner. Documentation of practices, appropriate for the nature of the practice, should be provided with the nomination letter. Self-nominations are welcome. There may be multiple awards in any given year. The awardee will receive a free conference registration, free award dinner, and free books.
Deadline for nomination is September
1, 2003.
Award will be presented at the
AECT/NSBA, Atlanta conference.
Qualifications:
1. Nominee must be a member of AECT or a have letter of nomination from a current member of AECT.Nomination Requirements
2. Nominee must be the principal person if a group is involved.
3. Nominee must have done work while a student within the past five years.
1. Signed nomination letter by a member of AECT.Definitions:
2. Letter from AECT member seconding nomination.
3. List of materials used for the practice.
4. Detailed description of practice.
5. Performance data regarding effectiveness of practice.Nomination or seconding must be by an academic official with oversight of this practice, such as Adviser or Department Chair.
Send Nomination to:
A. Johari, Ph.D.
MultiMedia Design Department
Cameron University
2800 West Gore Blvd.
Lawton, Oklahoma 73505
abbasj@cameron.edu; 580-581-5522