Rick Mickelson's Profile

Here's what's profoundly different now: This time the transformation will
come whether entrenched interests like it or not.

learning spaces, two ITs are involved: instructional technology and
information technology. Information technology professionals—applications and
network support specialists—often focus on operations. With the goal of
providing secure, reliable technology, systems are often "locked down"; users
have minimal control over their computers. Instructors and instructional
technology professionals—instructional designers and professional development
specialists—tend to explore new ways to use technology to enhance learning.
Their mind-set is more experimental, exploratory, and nonstandard than
operational, sometimes conflicting with the approach of information
technologists.

Both groups have legitimate approaches. Instructors need to experiment with
their instructional systems. In today's hacker and virus-infested world,
however, systems need to be safe and secure.

Professional development and support of instructors using new learning spaces
are key components of making space successful.

• Stop having the subjects introduce themselves. Really, stop it! The biggest
  cliché in audio slideshows is the “Hi, my name is…” intro. Instead, use a lower
  thirds title.