Graduation

Yesterday I graduated with an MS degree (Master of Science) in Instructional Psychology and Technology (IP&T). Many people have no clue what IP&T means. Instructional Psychology and Technology is a branch of study concerned with understanding the ideas, principles, and theories related to the improvement of instruction. I think that the mission statement of the department makes it quite clear:

• Pursue knowledge and skills in instructional design, research, measurement, evaluation and theory
• Apply knowledge and technology to solve instructional problems
• Strive to live, learn, and teach by the spirit.

I took several classes in instructional design, in statistics, in measurement, in evaluation, and learned about learning theories. Most of my classes were fascinating and there were many more I wish I could have taken (and would have if I had continued on the Ph.D route). It is crazy to think that I started here at BYU just two years ago and now I am all done. In the process, I have met many incredible people, had lots of growth experiences, and learned many things. I really feel so blessed by Heavenly Father to have been given this wonderful opportunity.

The graduation was at 8am, although I was supposed to be there at 7am. We filed into the room and after an opening hymn and prayer, two students receiving their Baccalaureate degrees spoke (BORING!!!) and then after a musical number by the School of Education choir, my Department Chair (Dr Andy Gibbons) spoke. We then received our degrees and then filed out of the room. There were refreshments outside and everyone mingled and chatted. Rob and I stayed a while and then went to take some photos. We then got home at about 11am.

It is a weird feeling not to be a student anymore because I have been one for so long. But, it will be good to focus on my boys and not have to worry about my thesis or anything school related, although I am just finishing off a paper to submit to an academic journal next week. That will be my fourth publication this year. (There were two last year as well.)

Receiving my degree

Some of my professors: Dr Sudweeks, Dr Graham, Dr West, Dr Gibbons 

Outside one of the entrances to BYU

What I am studying...

People often ask me what I'm studying. I have struggled to articulate this clearly in the past, but now that I've been attending classes for the part 2 months, I feel that I am in a better position to describe exactly what I'm studying.

I am in the Instructional Psychology and Technology Department in the David O. McKay School of Education at Brigham Young University. I am studying Instructional Technology. This is a branch of knowledge focusing on the principles and theories related to the enhancement of instruction. It is concerned with the design and development of instruction that will lead to deeper learning. So, in essence we are taught the knowledge and technologies necessary for investigating instructional issues in order to improve learning.

In order to understand instructional technology better, it is essential to know what the word technology means. Technology is the application of scientific knowledge in the solving of a problem or need. That is, it applies knowledge in a practical way with the aim of improving productivity. There are hard and soft technologies: hard technologies generally refer to tools or hardware (such as computers, textbooks, whiteboards, calculators, overhead projectors, and so on), which have some tangible form; while soft technologies refer to methods and procedures (such as teaching methods, instructional templates, and so on), which do not have a physical form. If a teacher decides to use problem-based learning, for example, instead of a transmission model (a teacher simply relaying information to the student), he or she is using a soft technology to facilitate the students’ learning. Instructional technology uses both kinds of technologies to solve its problems, related to improving learning through instruction.

The Learning Sciences, on the other hand, is a field purely interested in what occurs within a learner as they learn. That is, how learning takes place. Their aim is to understand learning and build new theories regarding how learning occurs. Instead, instructional technologists are not just interested in the theories relating to how people learn, but rather they want to determine ways to improve learning. So, learning theories are important within instructional technology because they inform the design and development of instruction, but this is not their focus. Rather, they seek to use the knowledge and theories of how people learn and various technologies in order to help individuals learn better. This occurs through the design and development of instruction as well as the evaluation of whether or not the instruction is effective and how it can be improved. This is why in one of my classes I am studying design and in another class I am learning about evaluation.

Instructional technology does not have a specified beginning. While some state that instructional technology began in the eighteenth century when educators began using maps and scientific apparatus (hard technologies), others maintain that instructional technology began in the early nineteenth century when educators used projected images in order to supplement their lessons. However, it really was during the Second World War that the use of audio and visual instruction was advanced due to the need for training in both a systematic and efficient way.

Currently, instructional technology is a growing field which uses technology (both hard and soft) in order to solve educational challenges. Since it is a dynamic and emerging field, it still seeks its own definition. Many refer to it as educational technology and determine that educational technology is synonymous with instructional technology. However, traditionally, educational technology refers to K-12 situations, while instructional technology refers to a broader set of situations beyond just school and other educational settings. Others have defined educational technology as a domain in education involved in solving problems relating to all aspects of human learning, where solutions are not be restricted to instruction, but could, for instance, provide a classroom management solution. So, to those who accept this definition of educational technology, instructional technology is just a subset of educational technology because it provides solutions to problems in learning related to instruction. But, more often than not, both terms refer to activities and concepts centered on instruction and there is less of an emphasis on problems involved in all aspects of education.

It is interesting that some people felt that the scope of instructional technology was too narrow and they broke away from instructional technology and began exploring how to enhance performance, rather than learning, and explored solutions other than just instruction. Their domain is called Human Performance Technology. Due to the focus on performance, human performance technologists primarily deal with corporate environments.

I have always been fascinated with education and I feel that gaining more knowledge in instructional technology, I will be a better educator because I will have both the knowledge and the skills to design, develop and evaluate instruction in order to facilitate learning.

Seasons at BYU

So, I experienced the end of Summer...and now it is the Fall. Each season I am going to take a photo in the same spot outside the McKay building so you can observe the changes as the the seasons change.

Summer

Fall

Winter

President's Leadership Council Presentation

Karl Maeser and I (well, not the real Brother Maeser since he's dead, but Rodger Sorenson did a great job acting as him!!)

John Hillton III (fellow PhD student), David Wiley (faculty at BYU in the IP&T dept), me, Brother Maeser.In action! I'm speaking. :)

FW de Klerk at BYU

So today I went to a forum where FW de Klerk (former president of South Africa) gave a talk, entitled, "Bridging the Gap: Globalization Without Isolation." He spoke about America's role as a global political leader in establishing peace throughout the world. He echoed a lot of the thoughts I have had recently.

Anyway, it was kind of weird to hear such a strong Afrikaans accent after being here for nearly 2 months. :)

Great opportunities!!

So, I'm having some pretty good experiences here at BYU.

(1) One of my jobs is as a "research assistant" (technical title) at the Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL). Recently I was told I have just been made the head graduate evaluator. The CTL is involved in hundreds of design projects (products and consultations with faculty) for BYU with the hope of improving instruction and learning. Each of these products and consultations need to be evaluated. This involves surveying students and faculty and reporting on the results. So, I am in charge of all the evaluations that take place. I will have an undergrad team under me whom I can use to assist me in these evaluations. Pretty overwhelming but such a great opportunity, especially since I'm just taking an introductory evaluation class as part of my program. So, now I'm able to put all this theory into practice. In addition, I have been tasked with the responsibility of re-designing the evaluation process of the CTL in order to make it more effective. I've had two meetings with some of the "big" guys in the CTL and so far, it is going well. They like my ideas. :) It is going to be a process though.

(2) The President's Leadership Council (PLC) is a group of BYU Alumni who do a lot to build BYU in various ways. I don't know too much about them, but they are going to give a project over a million dollars over the next few years (I'm not sure how to explain it). Each department had to send in a proposal for how the money should be used on a proposed project. Five would then be selected to give presentations. The School of Education (and specifically the Instructional Psychology and Technology Dept) was chosen as one of the five. Two students from my department were chosen to do the presentation to the PLC - I am one of them! :) So, this is taking place on October 17...we've been meeting almost every day to put the presentation together. Yesterday we did our first rehearsal in front of an audience and from today we're going to be meeting everyday in order to practice. I have to learn my part of the "speech" off by heart. Hopefully it will go well. I just think it will be an awesome experience!!!

BYU

So I'm getting to know Provo a little better. Of course it is much smaller than Cape Town (it has a population of about 115,000), but not having a car and being on foot makes it feel VERY large. :) Fortunately it is only a short walk (15 mins) to the Mckay building where all my classes are held.

To me, it is funny how everyone talks about the Utah Valley (in which Provo is situated), but it is a very wide valley and so doesn't seem like a valley to me...Hout Bay is more like a valley in my mind. The mountains on the east (I've learnt to describe everything in terms of north/south/east/west because that is what Americans do) are called the Wasatch Front....certainly not as pretty as Cape Town's mountains, but I'm glad I at least have mountains close enough that I can look at everyday.

BYU has a pretty campus...I love the VERY green grass and the flowers everywhere. I'm beginning to think that the campus is about the same size as UCT or a bit smaller. I'm not entirely sure. But, most days I'm just in the Mckay building. Anyway, I guess within a few months it will be covered in snow for several months.

The work load is INTENSE. The amount of reading we have to do daily is incredible. I'm a bit behind, but I don't think it is a major problem - I'm not too worried about it. We also have loads of small papers to write, almost daily, which have to be submitted as soon after the class as possible. We also have a number of very large assignments due sometime in the next 2 months...right now I'm not sure when I'm going to get the time to do them because of the work I have to do daily. I'm also working two 10-hour jobs (to cover my living expenses and saving) and so that takes 20 hours out of the week when I could be studying. but, I'm coping. I need to actually try get to bed earlier and I think I will have more energy. I just end up trying to work till I have finished most of what I'm meant to do for the next day. Most graduate students work between 20 and 30 hours a week, so that is really common. They all talk about the difficulty of keeping up with the work, so at least my experience is not unique.