Dr. Clif Mims

Now in its twenty-first year, the Professors of Instructional Design and Technology (PIDT) Conference is an annual meeting where professors, selected doctoral students, and other individuals interested in instructional design/instructional technology gather from around the nation. By design PIDT is a small conference with typically 60 - 100 attendees and is held alternatively in the mountains of Virginia and Colorado. It is a great opportunity for participants to visit, brainstorm, collaborate, share, etc. with others with strong interests in instructional design. The structure of the program, interests and abilities of those in attendance and the conference’s physical setting combine to make this a uniquely focused event.

This year PIDT was sponsored by Virginia Tech and was held May 19 -22, 2006, at Smith Mountain Lake 4-H Educational Center in Wirtz, VA. Anna Clifford and Fethi Inan were awarded the opportunity to attend as our program’s doctoral student representatives and made the trip along with Drs. Michael Grant and Clif Mims. Below are Anna’s and Fethi’s reflections on their experience at PIDT 2006.