The International Young Scholar’s Seminar at the Department of Technology Application and Human Resource Development
On June 2, 2023, the Department of Technology Application and Human Resource Development at National Taiwan Normal University invited Lin Chu, a doctoral student at Indiana University Bloomington, to conduct a seminar. The seminar focused on the importance of technology education in Taiwan and shared experiences of pursuing a doctorate in the United States.
Lin Chu holds a master’s degree in children English Education in Taiwan and is currently pursuing a doctorate in Instructional Systems Technology (IST) at Indiana University. Her primary research areas include Computer Science Education, Computational Thinking, and Data Science.
When the seminar began, Lin Chu invited the students to think about the importance of technology education in Taiwan from the perspective of a technology education expert. She encouraged them to consider the instructional design model of needs analysis, implementation of technology education, and assessment of outcomes. She asked the students why technology education is crucial in this era and what makes it important for Taiwan.
Doctoral student Hsuan Ning Chang at the scene responded that technology is rapidly advancing, and the ways of learning technology are constantly evolving. Therefore, it is vital to improve and innovate technology education. This field deserves the government's investment and attention. Additionally, Taiwan lacks natural resources, making the technology industry a 'protective industry' for the country. With resources concentrated in the development of technology, technology talent becomes crucial for Taiwan's future. Hence, technology education should not be underestimated.
Lin Chu responded that in addition to the reasons mentioned by Hsuan Ning, Cheryan et al. (2017) also suggested that one of the factors contributing to the gender imbalance in the modern technology field, such as engineering and computer science, is the limited exposure to these fields during early childhood. Therefore, extending technology education to high schools, junior high schools and elementary schools would also help balance the gender ratio in the technology field.
Lin Chu then shared with the students the considerations that may be needed when implementing technology education. She used the first step of the Direct Instruction Model, which is 'clearly explained teaching tasks' as an example. In this step, teachers can share with junior high school and high school students why starting to engage in technology education from now on can make a difference in the world.
Lin Chu gave an example of inviting students to depict their perception of engineers and categorize them, which helped understand students' stereotypes about engineers. Then, she introduced several successful individuals in the technology field who have broken stereotypes, which could enhance the learning motivation of junior high and high school students in the technology field. Lin Chu believed that this approach could effectively enhance and accelerate students' learning process.
After implementing technology education, assessing the outcomes can help teachers examine whether the instructional design needs improvement. Lin Chu reminded the students that as technology educators, they should constantly ask themselves three questions: 1. How can we ensure that students have acquired the necessary knowledge, skills, and attitudes? 2. Can students apply their learning outcomes outside the classroom? 3. How can we extend students' learning beyond the class or semester?
In the second half of the seminar, Lin Chu shared her experiences and insights during her doctoral studies in the United States. Her experiences included various document preparations, scholarship applications, the responsibilities and salary of a teaching assistant, and the requirements for completing a doctoral program. Lin Chu also thoughtfully shared how to balance learning, work, and personal life in a doctoral program. As many doctoral students have their own jobs and families, their situations differ significantly from traditional students. Lin Chu emphasized the importance of resting whenever possible, spending time with family and friends when available, and being brave to seek adjustments and assistance when needed. She emphasized that it is crucial to have a balanced and healthy lifestyle.
Finally, Lin Chu recalled her recent experience of organizing a conference in the United States. She mentioned that during the process, she had the opportunity to interact with scholars and students from different nationalities, cultures, and races. Due to their diverse perspectives and working habits, as well as various unexpected situations, organizing the conference was not easy and encountered many challenges. Despite the hardships, she was grateful that it successfully concluded, and she gained a lot of learning and inspiration throughout the process.
Through Lin Chu's lecture, discussions, and interactions, the students present gained a clearer vision and direction in the field of technology education.