Competency 6: Participate Actively in the Profession
- Identifies and participates in communities of practice within the field of Educational Technology
Representative Artifacts:
https://www.qmprogram.org/myqm/index.cfm?program=3 /
https://www.qualitymatters.org/
a number of related groups on Linkedin.com and facebook.com
Narrative:
For this competency, I’ve included a variety of organizations/networks that I tap into for help staying current with educational and instructional design research. These networks or organizations vary in “formality” and in what they provide. DigitalTeachers.net is a resource that I help curate with my organization, Young Writers Project, that helps teachers embrace digital learning spaces, and digital media projects. As part of that resource, many teachers in the area share their experiences, best practices, and fun new ideas. DigitalTeachers.net is also the home of the Digital Writing Practicum masters course that was previously offered through Young Writers Project. I’ve helped to develop content, provide feedback, and act as a teacher’s assistant during that course, which has allowed me to network with many teachers and administrators in the area, as well as seasoned digital media instructors and designers from all over the world. While the site is a great resource for teachers, this network, and the knowledge created and shared there, are the true high points of that artifact.
The Young Writers Project twitter account is a far less formal network of educators and designers that I’ve curated over my years working for the organization. We follow a variety of accounts, but are always on the look out for new movers-and-shakers in the fields of instructional design, distance learning, and digital media instruction. Engaging in chats with these groups brings up new ideas, new people to connect with, and many opportunities to learn and grow in unexpected ways.
QualityMatters.org is an association dedicated to quality in online learning opportunities. This organization has a somewhat specific aim, especially given that you can select into an age group to focus on. While I’ve not been a member for long, I look forward to participating in their quality assurance courses, and potentially using their review process for courses I develop. I was drawn to this organization because of the scope of instruction that they cover, and the ability to focus on K-12 distance learning development, which is my desired career path. It’s always beneficial to have a network that you can rely on, that understands the ups and downs of the development process, and how to navigate tricky situations. Being in contact with more seasoned IDs, in formal and informal circles, is something that I will continue to pursue.
DeMaio Digital Marketing 
One thought on “Participate Actively in the Profession”