Northern Illinois University
Association for Educational Communications and Technology (AECT)
Association for Educational Communications and Technology (AECT)
Association for Educational Communications and Technology (AECT)
University of Northern Iowa
Editor-in-Chief, TechTrends (AECT journal), Association for Educational Communications and Technology (AECT)
President, Association for Educational Communications and Technology (AECT)
Professor (Educational Technology); previously Assistant/Associate Professor, University of Northern Iowa
Sharon E. Smaldino is a Professor Emerita and former L.D. and Ruth G. Morgridge Endowed Chair in Teacher Education at Northern Illinois University. A pioneer in instructional technology and teacher preparation, she is widely known for co‑authoring the textbooks Instructional Technology and Media for Learning and Teaching and Learning at a Distance: Foundations of Distance Education. She earned her Ph.D. in Educational Media from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale (1987), following an M.A. in Elementary Education from the University of Connecticut, and served on the faculty of the University of Northern Iowa (1986–2003) before joining NIU in 2003. She was President of the Association for Educational Communications and Technology (AECT) in 2004–2005 and served as Editor‑in‑Chief of TechTrends from 2006–2009. citeturn10search1turn6search2turn15search1turn6search0turn9search0
A lesson‑planning model emphasizing Analysis of learners; Stating objectives; Selecting strategies, technology, media, and materials; Utilizing media/materials; Requiring learner participation; and Evaluating/revising. Smaldino’s textbooks popularized and elaborated practical classroom applications of ASSURE for technology/media integration.
Reflective Practice • Journal
Study of adult learners’ critical reflection in an online graduate instructional technology course. Using a Periodic Reflection Tool grounded in activity systems analysis, the authors examined four reflective papers from each participant. Analysis—drawing on instrumental and communicative learning theories—indicated that guided, purposeful reflection helped learners consider multiple aspects of their learning processes and supported transitions to online learning. citeturn17search0
Reflective Practice • Journal
Presents activity systems analysis (from cultural‑historical activity theory) as a structure for scaffolding student reflections in a blended graduate course about distance education. Guided by the framework, participants’ reflections yielded insights for learners and instructors, highlighting how tools, rules, roles, and community dynamics shape course activity and reflection. citeturn18search1
TechTrends • Journal
Describes a nonintrusive model for technology training in teacher education through UNI’s preservice course "Educational Media and Classroom Computing." Topics include media production, distance education, hypermedia, telecommunications/Internet use, database construction, newsletters, and lecture integration. citeturn3search5
Pearson • Book
A comprehensive, practice‑oriented textbook showing how to integrate a full range of technologies and media into everyday teaching using the ASSURE model. It guides teachers to plan, implement, and assess learning experiences; covers classroom applications from print to Web and social tools; and addresses roles of teachers, coordinators, and media specialists with updated examples and resources. The 12th edition reflects continuing shifts toward digitization, Web resources, and team‑based support for instruction. citeturn4search2
Information Age Publishing • Book
A foundational text on distance education covering definitions and history; theories and research; technologies and the Internet; instructional design, teaching, learners, support materials, and assessment; and managing and evaluating distance education. The volume synthesizes scholarship and practice to support high‑quality design, teaching, and administration across modalities. (Description based on publisher/library records of the 6th/7th editions.) citeturn12search1turn14search1