What impact does technology and multimedia have on online learning environments?
Online learning has increased throughout the years and so has the use of technology with online learners. Implementing technology into an online classroom is crucial to the outcomes and objectives of the course. Students need to continually use different types of multi-media in their coursework to be successful. Susan O’Hara and Robert Pritchard of Education.com (2012) stated, “that computer technology provides abundant opportunities for students to build or modify their personal knowledge through the rich experiences that technology affords.” They also went on to say that the integration of technology increases literacy, impacts language acquisition and motivates students.
What are the most important considerations an online instructor should make before implementing technology?
Technology plays such an integral part in online learning environments. There are so many tools that an online instructor can use when designing course instruction. Boettcher & Conrad (2010) suggest that instructors should focus on essential tools and build their course around those tools (p.57). Integrating too many tools can cause confusion among learners and affect the overall outcomes of the course itself. Once the instructor determines the essential tools he or she wants the learners to use throughout the course, then he or she can determine the skill level of the leaners. Accessing learners’ prior experience and concerns enhances the development of a productive learning environment (Conrad & Donaldson, p.39, 2011). The more opportunities learners have to increase their comfort level using technology, the sooner the course content can be introduced.
What implications do usability and accessibility of technology tools have for online teaching?
When I think about the implications of usability and accessibility of technology tools have for online teaching, I think of tools that everyone will be able to access easily. Implementing tools that are user friendly, which all learners can access without too many complications, creates less confusion and more effectiveness. In order for the online course to be successful, both the instructor and student must be able to access applications in a manner that is beneficial to learning as well as instructing. Determining essential tools for an online course should be decided upon before the course begins. Testing all of the tools and programs before beginning a course, allows the instructor to catch any glitches and correct them before leaners are able to use them. According to Conrad & Donaldson (2004) in terms of usability, allowing learners to utilize the technology with non-graded assignments prior to a graded assignment is a wonderful resource to exercise. This provides the learners with experience and direction before completing the actual assignment.
What technology tools are most appealing to you for online teaching as you move forward in your career in instructional design?
As I reflect on my experience as an educator as well as on the past two years in the instructional design program, I have gained a lot of knowledge about the vast amount of technology that is used for instruction. I find many technology tools appealing because technology creates an engaging learning environment for everyone. I have used many tools within my own lesson plans that include videos from YouTube, which introduces a certain topic and power point presentations to teach specific lessons. Implementing different tools enhances the learning of others and creates an effective learning environment. It allows students to explore and extend their knowledge by using these different tools so that they can complete projects and develop deeper meanings about different topics. Since I started the program at Walden, I have used many different technology tools to complete an assignment or to work collaboratively with a group. The tools that I found to be the most useful are: blogs, wikis, CMS programs and discussion forums. I really enjoyed using a wiki because it allowed everyone in the group to add information to the project at any time. Wikis, which according to Boettcher and Conrad (2010), are well suited for organizing and storing information that might be helpful for managing and producing collaborative group project. Lastly, creating blogs has allowed me to reflect upon what I have learned throughout my instructional design courses and it has also helped me develop a deeper level of understanding. Technology has really made a difference throughout my career as a teacher and as a student in instructional design. I will continue to use many of these tools as I move forward in instructional design because it creates collaborative learning environments and enhances student growth.
References:
Boettcher, J. V., & Conrad, R. (2010). The online teaching survival guide: Simple and practical pedagogical tips. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
Conrad, R., & Donaldson, J. A. (2011). Engaging the online learner: Activities and
resources for creative instruction. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
O’Hara, S., & Pritchard, R., (2012), Education.com, What is the impact of technology on learning? Retrieved on October 4, 2012, from http://www.education.com/reference/article/what-impact-technology-learning/.
Technology plays such an integral part in online learning environments. There are so many tools that an online instructor can use when designing course instruction. Boettcher & Conrad (2010) suggest that instructors should focus on essential tools and build their course around those tools (p.57). Integrating too many tools can cause confusion among learners and affect the overall outcomes of the course itself. Once the instructor determines the essential tools he or she wants the learners to use throughout the course, then he or she can determine the skill level of the leaners. Accessing learners’ prior experience and concerns enhances the development of a productive learning environment (Conrad & Donaldson, p.39, 2011). The more opportunities learners have to increase their comfort level using technology, the sooner the course content can be introduced.
What implications do usability and accessibility of technology tools have for online teaching?
When I think about the implications of usability and accessibility of technology tools have for online teaching, I think of tools that everyone will be able to access easily. Implementing tools that are user friendly, which all learners can access without too many complications, creates less confusion and more effectiveness. In order for the online course to be successful, both the instructor and student must be able to access applications in a manner that is beneficial to learning as well as instructing. Determining essential tools for an online course should be decided upon before the course begins. Testing all of the tools and programs before beginning a course, allows the instructor to catch any glitches and correct them before leaners are able to use them. According to Conrad & Donaldson (2004) in terms of usability, allowing learners to utilize the technology with non-graded assignments prior to a graded assignment is a wonderful resource to exercise. This provides the learners with experience and direction before completing the actual assignment.
What technology tools are most appealing to you for online teaching as you move forward in your career in instructional design?
As I reflect on my experience as an educator as well as on the past two years in the instructional design program, I have gained a lot of knowledge about the vast amount of technology that is used for instruction. I find many technology tools appealing because technology creates an engaging learning environment for everyone. I have used many tools within my own lesson plans that include videos from YouTube, which introduces a certain topic and power point presentations to teach specific lessons. Implementing different tools enhances the learning of others and creates an effective learning environment. It allows students to explore and extend their knowledge by using these different tools so that they can complete projects and develop deeper meanings about different topics. Since I started the program at Walden, I have used many different technology tools to complete an assignment or to work collaboratively with a group. The tools that I found to be the most useful are: blogs, wikis, CMS programs and discussion forums. I really enjoyed using a wiki because it allowed everyone in the group to add information to the project at any time. Wikis, which according to Boettcher and Conrad (2010), are well suited for organizing and storing information that might be helpful for managing and producing collaborative group project. Lastly, creating blogs has allowed me to reflect upon what I have learned throughout my instructional design courses and it has also helped me develop a deeper level of understanding. Technology has really made a difference throughout my career as a teacher and as a student in instructional design. I will continue to use many of these tools as I move forward in instructional design because it creates collaborative learning environments and enhances student growth.
References:
Boettcher, J. V., & Conrad, R. (2010). The online teaching survival guide: Simple and practical pedagogical tips. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
Conrad, R., & Donaldson, J. A. (2011). Engaging the online learner: Activities and
resources for creative instruction. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
O’Hara, S., & Pritchard, R., (2012), Education.com, What is the impact of technology on learning? Retrieved on October 4, 2012, from http://www.education.com/reference/article/what-impact-technology-learning/.
Carmen,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your post. I like your emphasis on selecting the right technology tool for the online course and the suggestion that both the instructor and student should have the opportunity to test this tool before the beginning of the course. Additionally, Boettcher and Conrad (2010) explained that the instructor need to know the characteristics of each tool, how students will utilize it and what he/she want to achieve through the use of this tool.
Dalia
Boettcher, J. V., & Conrad, R. (2010). The online teaching survival guide: Simple and practical pedagogical tips. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass
Carmen,
ReplyDeleteI really liked your point about “integrating too many tools” and how it can “cause confusion”. Online instruction adds a new layer of instruction when it comes to teaching learners how to access the tools needed in the course such as navigating a new CMS or learning to access, navigate, edit, and manage a wiki, for example. I agree, the comfort level needs to be high enough that frustration with the technology does not negatively impact learning the content.
I agree with your description of the benefits of wiki’s in online instruction. You’re right, there is a great potential there. I have been using a wiki-style website, pbworks (http://pbworks.com/education) with my older music students. I began using it as a simple way for us to share our composition projects with each other quickly and efficiently and it grew from there. Students post comments, share projects, find research, and work with each other through this environment. The biggest thing is something you talked about in your reflection as an educator: using technology “creates an engaging learning environment for everyone.” I couldn’t agree more! My classes are engaged in the content, creating projects, and collaborating with others more than any of my classes in the traditional music classroom. They are motivated and I believe a deeper understanding of the content. Nice post!
- James