ETEC 561 Getting an IDT and Succeeding at it

Section 6: Getting an IDT Position and Succeeding at It

This section of your textbook focuses on jobs in the profession of instructional design and technology: lessons and tips on how to get one and organizations that can support the job search and continued learning in the IDT field. Many of you already have a job in the field or in a related field; however, based on this week’s readings, you’ll reflect on where you are, where you want to go, and what you need to learn or do to get there. Begin your post for this week with some background: what is your current job, what program are you enrolled in, what brings you to that program, and what do you expect when you graduate (change jobs? obtain a promo.

Currently I am in the one year internship for special education teacher certification as the teacher for a behavioral stabilization unit in an elementary school for Dallas ISD.  Last school year, I served as a teacher assistant as I traveled to where I was needed most to work with particularly troubled students in behavioral units in the Dallas ISD. I am in a Master’s Degree program for Educational Technology. My electives in my master’s program are special education courses typically required in a special education program. Currently I am completing a course about working with students with behavioral problems. I completed a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and ultimately aim to be a behavioral specialist. There is a natural marriage between technology and students lacking behavioral control. It is not a magic cure but a tremendous asset. I have observed it is an underutilized tool. The knowledge I obtain in the educational technology program gives me an advantage of knowing sources and uses of technology by actually using it. I will be in a position to not only help students learn but introduce teachers to tools which they might incorporate into daily use.

Next, describe the kind of work that you want to do and the type of organization or institution in which you want to work. Use the WorkMatrix in the chapter titled “Getting a Job in Business and Industry” to help organize your thoughts. Do you most desire first, second, third, or fourth level service? Or would you rather design or develop instruction? What features of work are important to you? What economic sector do you want to work in? Based on these intentions, explain what you need to learn. What skills and qualifications do you need? Will you obtain the skills you need in the required courses in your program? What electives might you need to take to help you develop skills specific to your aspirations?  

My aim is to work with troubled students who have been labeled as behavioral problems. I must help them believe they can learn as I introduce them to ways to use technology to facilitate their development. This may be within the school system or independently as a consultant. After I complete my master’s degree and teacher certification program, I will pursue a behavioral specialist certification. I will advance my experience by continuing to work with students labeled as behavioral problems. I am most pleased that I am able to complement my studies by working with those who often simply suffer from living lives in constant stress, riddled by poverty, in some cases abuse, and more cruelly, indifference or discouragement. The distinction between acceptable and unacceptable behavior means little. They do not have any prior knowledge of what is acceptable and are deaf to cautions and typical school disciplinary processes.

  

Finally, what organizations would best support your continued learning after you graduate? Do you think you would benefit from joining those organizations before graduating? Explain why or why not? 

The best organizations to support my continued learning are educational institutions, perhaps enrolling in a doctoral program or a behavioral specialist program.  Most of all I would like to be in a Clinical Psychology Program.  Very difficult to become a reality for now.

From my work I can identify best practices for the students assigned to behavioral units.  I am a member of the American Psychological Association and subscribe to Monitor on Psychology and American Psychologist publications. These provide global perspective and real-world research results. To keep myself aware of the latest uses of available technology or new developments in educational technology, I recently joined the International Society for Technology in Education, I expect it to be most beneficial also.