In this episode, Rob and Jared discuss using mental models so instructors can think through best practices for educational technology. Contact us at ctlpodcast@cedarville.edu with any questions. You can also visit our blog at cedarville.edu/focusblog for additional resources. We would love to get your feedback!  Please fill out our survey to help improve our podcast and serve you better. 

Building mental models can help educators approach using technology in their courses. One such mental model is “the planning cycle” which begins with identifying needs and determining whether they are real needs or felt needs. Once the real needs are identified, SMART goals can be created based on those real needs. After goals are established, it's important to create an evaluation to determine if you met those goals.

In education, the Backward Design approach illustrates these principles well. With this approach, an instructor starts by identifying their objective. To create appropriate objectives, an instructor must understand students’ current knowledge and ability levels. Objectives need to be measurable to be effective, and determining how students can prove they meet the objectives can be challenging. However, colleagues can be a help in this endeavor.

We would love to get your feedback!  Please fill out our survey to help improve our podcast and serve you better.

Resources 

Understanding by Design: Wiggins and McTighe 

Understanding by Design: Ryan Bowen