Instructional Design Position

Good Day All!

My Background:

Currently I am not working a full time job. I work part time for a community college building classes and hiring new instructors. This particular college wanted to "re-vamp" their continuing education class options. Previously, I taught middle then high school, and coached UIL swimming at the high school level for 3 different 5A schools.

I am enrolled in the ETEC (Educational Technology) program at TAMU-Commerce and am expecting to graduate in May 2013. My weakness, I felt, was technology and that is what influenced my choice of majors. I am now dabbling with the idea of getting my librarian certification immediately after I graduate and becoming an elementary Media Specialist (Librarian). This year, having more free time (resigned from teaching May 2012) I have been helping in 2 different elementary libraries. I have fallen in love- too bad it was after I was 2/3's way through my degree ;). If I were to transfer to ETEC/Lib Science, I would be lacking 9 classes. This is the same amount of classes I would have left if I graduated, then started. Since I am not 100% what I want to do post-graduation, it is more beneficial for me to finish as an ETEC major, and then get the certification.


My other desire (the reason I initially enrolled in this program) is to become a post-secondary instructor, preferably for online classes. I have really enjoyed these online ETEC classes, and have had really good professors. I am leaning to applying for a position as an ETEC instructor in a college/university. In my undergrad classes, I had some online professors that were not-so-helpful and made the classes VERY frustrating- to say the least.

I would prefer to design instruction, and possible develop it as well. I am very creative, and explain new ideas well. The times are changing- and instructors need to jump on the bandwagon to stay effective. I have never worked in the private school sector, and feel that I would rather stay with what I know- public school, whether it be elementary or post-secondary.

There is no way that I will gain all the skills I need for either of these jobs with only my graduate level classes. I will continuously take workshops and ask questions; one can never know enough.

Organizations that will best support my continued learning would be:
**FYI: section 6, chapter 26, Trends and Issues in Instructional Design and Technology**

ETEC Instructor Post-Secondary:

Educational Technology: http://www.bookstoread.com/etp
Educational Technology, Research and Development (ETR&D): http://www.aect.org/Intranet/Publications/index.asp#etrd
Educational Technology and Society: http://ifets.info/others/
Educational Technology Review (ETR): http://www.aace.org/pubs/etr
Distance Education: http://www.odlaa.org/publications/publications.html
American Journal of Distance Education (AJDE): http://www.ajde.com
Society for Applied Learning Technology (SALT): http://www.salt.org
Quarterly Review of Distance Education (QRDE): http://infoagepub.com/products/journals/qrde/index/htm
plus many more..

Elementary School Librarian (Media Specialist):

International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE): http://iste.org
International Technology Education Association (ITEA): http://www.iteaconnect.org
International Forum of Educational Technology and Society: http://ifets.ieee.org
Association for Educational Communications and Technology (AECT): http://www.aect.org
Association for Media and Technology Education in Canada (AMTEC): http://www.amtec.ca
TechTrends: http://www.aect.org/Intranet/Publications/index.asp#tt
T.H.E. Journal: (non refereed Articles of real educators): http://www.thejournal.com
plus many more....

I DO feel that it would be great to join many of these organizations before graduating- because it could help me decide exactly what path to take. Why take the 7 extra classes (for the librarian certification) if I choose a different path?

Association for Educational Communications and Technology (AECT): This organization links professionals with common interests to educational technology and its application in learning. There are several different counsels so all needs/specialties can be met. The AECT hold a summer conference that has job placement as well as several hundred presentations. This organization would be beneficial for both jobs I am interested in... And it also publishes journals for other sites I have listed in each category.

Society for Applied Learning Technology (SALT): This organization is for professionals in the field of instructional technology. There is an annual convention that covers topics from distance education to interactive instructional delivery. Becoming a member of this organization could really solidify whether I wanted to become an ETEC instructor, and whether I feel I would be successful in this career choice.

I am excited to continue my path to a new career, and cannot wait to see what the future holds!