Tech-Driven Training for Today

Applying Leadership/Technology Frameworks to Bridge the Digital Divide in the ATS Who are the stakeholders that you would reach out to first to develop a technology integration plan? My Call-to-Action identified the digital divide at the USAF Aircrew Training System (ATS) as it relates to aircrew trainees' digital literacy levels and the instructors' inadequate digital competency. For the KC-135 ATS at Altus AFB, I would begin by reaching out to a diverse group of stakeholders who directly or indirectly influence the training outcomes. This includes pilot and boom operator instructors (the frontline implementers), courseware developers (instructional designers like myself), subject matter experts (SMEs), and ATS program leadership. I would also include representatives from Air Education and Training Command (AETC), system administrators who manage the LMS and CBT systems, and select student trainees to gather indirect input through instructor feedback. For a broader perspective...

What do you notice about the experiences and path(s) taken by the interviewee(s) that result in their elevation to decision-making roles and educational technology experts? In their online publication titled Igniting Your Leadership with Technology , Bstachowiak and McClay (n.d.) include an interview with teacher and educator Elizabeth Thomas. Throughout the interview, Thomas’ passion for teaching is evident as she progresses from being an eighth-grade math and science teacher to the director of educational technology at the school where she works. Her discovery of technology combined with teaching was a crucial element that united both aspects — revealing their combined potential to transform the roles of teacher and student. It was this epiphany that ignited her passion for influencing others and supporting teachers through professional development. Thomas’ experiences highlight her deep commitment to education and motivation to inspire learning in students. In recognizing the import...