The Hong Kong Association for Educational Communications and Technology (HKAECT) conference was established in 1989 to promote the advancement of educational communications and technology for the public’s benefit, and to advance professional quality and standards of educational technology. The June 2019 conference was held at Chu Hai College of Higher Education. Conference attendees were from many Asian counties such as Thailand, Taiwan, Mainland China, and Hong Kong, as well as several major US cities, and represented both the K-12 school systems and higher education in their regions.
The theme for the 2019 HKAECT conference was “shaping the future of education, communication, and technology.” I was honored to co-present with Beth Teagarden-Bair, assistant director of programs at the University of Miami, in two interactive workshops on topics related to instructional design and teaching practices: relational leadership as it relates to promoting lifelong service and meaningful learning, and applying narrative technique and student-generated media to help promote critical thinking and student agency in online learners.
During the question and answer session our goal was to help participants better understand how to move away from static learning, something that was a source of frustration for many of them. We discussed best practices for designing engaging online courses, in particular to support the many Asian instructors who struggled with little support or practical knowledge an instructional designer would typically have. This meant most were trying to use technology to engage students, but without the backbone knowledge of how to implement educational technology to enhance the learning environment. Participants left with the foundations to rethink how they were designing their courses.
Springer Publishing, a sponsor of the conference, chose to coincide the release of their new book by the same title with the start of the conference. I am a co-author of chapter ten, Applying Narrative Technique and Student Generated Media to Promote Critical Thinking and Student Agency for Online Learners, along with Beth Teagarden-Bair. You can learn more about the text on their website.
As associate dean of the Distance Learning Institute at the University of Miami my team and I can help you improve your online courses, or develop your curriculum for distance learners. You can learn more about us and the Instructional Design and Technology Certificate online, or give us a call at 305-284-4000.
About the University of Miami Division of Continuing and International Education
The Division of Continuing and International Education at the University of Miami aims to empower people to reach their full potential through lifelong and lifewide learning. With more than 70 credit and non-credit programs, the Division focuses on creating continuous learning experiences that transform individuals, organizations, and entire communities. For more information, please visit dcie.miami.edu or call (305) 284-4000 and connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.
