LDT511 U1 WOL - Where am I ON THE CURVE???

WOL BLOG Entry for LDT 511: Unit 1:  We were asked to write about the following topic:

• Where you believe you fall on the Diffusion of Innovation Curve? Justify with examples.
• How does this impact your approach to learning design and technology?
• How your position on the curve might change as you gain more experience in the field
• Discuss strategies or steps you plan to take to build your knowledge, confidence, and the way you view new and emergent technologies.
• How understanding where you are on the curve can help you guide learning design and technological integrations effectively as a practitioner.

My Position on the Diffusion of Innovation Curve

 I believe I fall somewhere between the Innovator and Early Adopter, however for some topics I’m more in the Early Majority or even Late Majority stages of the Diffusion of Innovation Curve. I’m always looking at new or different technologies and trying to learn new approaches to save time, money and work for my designs, but I’m still really cautious about evaluating new technologies, looking at the impact.  Also considering the technology and its  impact on learners and the learning environment.  Topics such as security and privacy are constantly on my mind.  In many cases Innovators don’t give enough consideration to how to protect people’s privacy and how the technology might be used maliciously.  So, I’m really all over the curve.  I guess it just depends on the topic.

• I am involved in online professional development communities trying to figure out the next new technology and keeping in mind how I might best use it as a teaching strategy.
• I am always interested in trying new software and apps and developing those applications.
• I am building my own smart home system using a variety of IoT devices.
• I’ve played around with the API for generative AI to figure out how to use it on a couple projects I have been working on.

I believe that Innovators and early adopters have many responsibilities which is why I almost consider myself a  Laggard when it comes to privacy and security.  I just don’t believe that with new technology comes reduced privacy.  It reminds me of a cartoon that the grand kids loved to watch.  It had babies riding around on a conveyor belt and they were all wearing red and the announcer came on and said.   "Blue it’s the new red" All the babies said "oooooohhhh!"  They pushed a button to change the color of their outfit to Blue.  I don’t want a company or government to tell me what I want or don’t want based upon my browser history or some profile that they have created about me.

When it comes to early adopters or Innovators, they are the first people to use new products and technology, they have a couple responsibilities.

• Providing feedback to product developers, through alpha and beta testing programs
• Helping to spread the word about new products and technologies, talking to friends and colleagues about the technology.  Getting it out there.
• Being risk tolerant.  Which is a huge topic.  Nothing ever works the first time.

How My Position on the Curve Impacts My Approach to Learning Design and Technology
My position on the Diffusion of Innovation Curve impacts my approach to learning design and technology in a number of ways.

• I don't use technology for technology's sake. I only use technologies that I believe will create a better environment or enhance a students' learning experiences.
• I am also mindful of the importance of digital equity. I want to make sure that all of my students have access to the technology they need to succeed.  In this day and age everybody has access to a computer, but it might be 10 years old.
• I am also open to feedback from my students and colleagues. I am always looking for ways to improve my use of technology.

My position on the curve impacts my approach to learning design and technology in a number of ways.  I am always looking for new and innovative ways to use technology to improve learning. I am also interested in helping others to learn about and use new technology.

Second, I am aware that not everyone is as comfortable with new ideas and  technology as I am. When designing learning experiences, I want to make sure to provide a variety of options for learners, including those who are less comfortable with technology. I also try to make my learning experiences as user-friendly as possible.

Third, I am constantly curious about new technologies. I do this by writing articles and blog posts, attending conferences and workshops, and talking to other people who are interested in the subject I’m researching. I believe that it is important for learning designers to stay up-to-date on the latest technologies in order to design an effective learning experience.

How My Position on the Curve Might Change as I Gain More Experience
I believe that my position on the Diffusion of Innovation Curve will continue to evolve as I gain more experience in the field. As I learn more about new technologies and how to use them effectively in the classroom.

As I gain more experience in the field of learning design and technology, I expect that my position on the curve will shift slightly. I am likely to become more conservative in my adoption of new technologies. This is because I will have a better understanding of the potential risks and benefits of new technologies, and I will be more aware of the potential impact that new technologies can have on learners, but again it will depend on the item.  I think AI and regenerative AI should be in all courses, however because of my limited exposure to the topic I might be jumping the gun prematurely.  I guess time will tell.

Strategies for Building My Knowledge, Confidence, and the Way I View New and Emergent Technologies

 
Some of the strategies I plan to use to increase my knowledge, confidence, and the way I view emergent technologies include:

• Continue to actively participate in online learning communities and professional development opportunities.  (IETF, IEEE, MEF)
• Read books and articles about new technologies and teaching strategies.
• Experiment with new technologies, and seek feedback from my students and colleagues.
• Collaborate with other educators who are using new technologies in their classrooms.
• Attend conferences and workshops on educational technology.

How Understanding Where I Am on the Curve Can Help Me Guide Learning Design and Technological Integrations Effectively as a Practitioner

Understanding where I am on the curve can help me to figure out how to  integrate new ideas effectively.

• Choosing the right technologies for the learners and objectives.
• Help design experiences that are accessible to all learners
• Anticipate and address the potential challenges of using new technology.

For example, one of the projects I’m working on for my master’s final project is how to teach a complex topic online.  I’d love to be able to create a course on Wireless technology or on Deep packet inspection.  With a group of learners that are not familiar with a particular technology, I will need to provide more support and guidance. On the other hand, if I am designing a learning experience for a group of learners who are very familiar with VMs and online troubleshooting technology, I can challenge them with more complex tasks and use more sophisticated technologies, such as AI.

SUMMARY

Overall, understanding my position on the Diffusion of Innovation Curve can help me to be a more effective and reflective practitioner when it comes to learning design and technological integrations.

References

Copley, T (2023) "Teaching Complex Topics Online" Google Docs, https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vT8DEwtIdvr6Yl0qoc0VLYEy7sqtQxSUusoWfwgfgCpjvx5BgPm2aNZoChaRR45DkOw8n0S_6p-z_9-/pub. 2023-10-21.

Rogers, E. M. (1995). Diffusion of innovations (4th ed.). New York: Free Press.

Stanton, A. (Director). (2008). WALL-E [Motion picture]. United States: Walt Disney Pictures.

Udell, C., & Woodill, G. (2019). Shock of the New: The Challenge and Promise of Emerging Learning Technologies. ADT Press.