Over the next few months, I will explore how educational technologies (EdTech), like artificial intelligence (AI), augmented reality (AR), and video-based instruction (VBL), integrate into open education courseware to establish presence and interactivity for self-directed learners. I would like to investigate how EdTech impacts the teaching presence and what can be done with technology to mimic or create aspects of a social presence when both the teacher and other learners are absent from a course. Further, I would like to understand how to evaluate and select technology for the purposes of establishing presence in open courseware. Prior to beginning my literature review, I need to consider how I intend to disseminate my research findings as part of my rationale for pursuing this research. 

These days, much of what I do in education revolves around instructional design (ID) and multimedia production. I love technology and really enjoy using my creativity to design and produce digital educational products, and plan to do so for the foreseeable future. Accordingly, my passion for EdTech and innovation has steered me in the direction of technologies like AI and augmentation to enhance my instructional design practice. I want to explore the possibilities of such EdTech to not only better myself as a designer and innovator, but also to contribute to the ID research community in any way I can. Once my research is complete, my first goal is to have my findings published in an academic journal. 

There are all sorts of requirements for publishing research, but as a starting point, I need to make sure my research embodies logical reasoning, uniqueness, and professionalism. I need to do my due diligence to identify what has already been covered on my research topic and what gaps exist to warrant my inquiry (Wisconson Lutheran College, n.d.). My meta-synthesis needs to address a real problem of practice, garnering it useful to other designers and researchers (Wisconson Lutheran College, n.d.). Further, my findings need to withstand the test of time; meaning, I need to present findings that are unique enough to ensure future technological and research advancements will not make my research obsolete. Lastly, my research approach, literature review, methodologies, etc., will need to be planned and implemented in accordance with best practices if I am to succeed (Wisconson Lutheran College, n.d.). 

In consideration of my career trajectory, I value the publishing option for a few reasons. First, having my paper published will boost my credibility with clients. Whether I’m pursuing private corporations or public institutions for ID work, having a published paper as part of my professional portfolio is an excellent way to demonstrate competence within my field. Second, many of the moderate-to-high-end academic journals have large readerships; this will undoubtedly help to get my work acknowledged and reviewed. Further peer-review will only help me become a better researcher. Third, I have experience as a conference keynote speaker in another field, and I would like to again, one day, utilize my public speaking skills to present my findings in an EdTech conference presentation. Having a published article to feature in my presentations would help generate interest and engagement amongst delegates. Lastly, but the list could really go on and on, I would like future opportunities to conduct research, and having a published article would likely serve me well when applying for grants. 

I feel confident in my ability to produce unique, well-supported, and well-produced research, and thereby would like to aim for moderate-to-high-end EdTech journal publishing opportunities. Accordingly, I will investigate such EdTech journals to determine their specific publishing requirements to better my chances of success. Further, I will attempt to connect my research theme (e.g. using AI to establish teaching presence in self-directed courses) to the journals I admire in an attempt to ensure compatibility between my research and the publisher’s preferences. That said, I will not skew my research for the sake of publishing; rather, such admiration will merely guide certain aspects of my research approach. 

 

References

Wisconsin Lutheran College. (n.d.). How to write and publish an academic research paper. https://www.wlc.edu/uploadedFiles/Content/Academics/Student_Success_Center/ResearchPaper.pdf