Year: 2005
Type: article
Abstract: Rapid advancement characterizes U. S. high-technology industries, and the need for technically qualified employees continues to increase (Riggs, 2000).The increased need for technology education is verified by recent research that indicates graduates of university technology programs are hired immediately after graduation (Nock & Shults, 2001).To maintain a strong technical workforce, there is an increasing need for colleges and training institutes to update their curriculum so that it addresses the latest technologies and industry practices (Frenzel, 2003).The National Science Foundation will provide an estimated $40,000,000 in educational grant funding for projects that team with industry for this purpose (NSF, 2003).Technical subject matter experts will play an essential role in helping achieve this goal, but their role differs from that of the instructional developer (Lee, 1994).While the technical expert provides what becomes the course content material, it is the instructional developer's task to produce instructional components (e.g., lectures, practice, tests) that facilitate and verify the acquisition of the target knowledge (Dick & Carey, 1996).However, development of curriculum is time-consuming, challenging, and costly, therefore selecting a subject matter expert (SME, pronounced "smee") who is capable and suitable for the job is critical.In this paper, the process of obtaining technical information from a SME is referred to as "knowledge extraction."For each curriculum project, the instructional developer must conduct the knowledge extraction process with at least one SME.Considering the increasing volume of technical curriculum needed, the cost of its development, and the critical role of SMEs _______________ Mattoon is an independent Education and Training Consultant.He can be reached at joe.mattoon
Author: Joseph S. Mattoon
Language: English
Subfield: Education
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
SDG: Quality education
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W36243351