Step 1
As a non-educator, I have not really had any formal teaching experience so this post will end up being more of a summary of how I apply five standards in NETS. Being a graphic designer, I believe my job requires the ability and the knowledge of informal teaching and learning. I have to know how to communicate information to different audiences whether it is abstract or straightforward. As well, I have to understand the impact of using different types of media to deliver a message such as how communicating on the web or using PowerPoint differs from communicating on print.

In actual workplace situations where colleagues need assistance, I take notice of how people learn and adjust to their learning needs. Instead of giving instructions, I work with the person so that they can figure (creatively, in some instances) out for themselves what to do, so they can ask their own questions and potentially reach their own solutions with the least amount of effort. Other instances of being able to understand and address different learning styles occurs when I am creating materials such as brochures or product labels where I must focus on the end-user. In a field where users and learners are mainly consumers, assessment usually comes in the form of feedback.

In relation to using technology to engage in professional growth and leadership and promote digital citizenship and responsibility, I believe that it is important to understand the functions, advantages and disadvantages of technology before applying it to a learning situation.

Step 2

While all the points in NETS are important, I would say that for this course, it is important for me to learn more about how to design, develop and evaluate authentic learning experience and assessments (#2) as well as engaging in professional growth and leadership (#5). Although it will be nice to experiment with the learning technologies, I think the assignments in this course will help me understand more about the teaching and learning processes involved with using technology. This would help me become more of a Digital Age Teaching Professional rather than just a Digital Age Professional.

*Originally posted in the ETEC 565A 66B Discussion Boards: May 12, 2009, 3:11PM.