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When using technology tools in a virtual learning environment, what do you believe are the three most important things to consider?
Whether using technology in a virtual learning or more traditional in-class environment, a person needs to consider the learning objective, the student and instructor. The choice to use technology and especially the correct technology to achieve the learning outcomes is critical. It has to make sense to the students otherwise it can be counterproductive to the learning process. I have seen instructors try to use various technologies in the classroom and because they did not fully understand the technology involved, it actually caused more confusion than clarity. When used properly, technology can achieve wonderful results in engaging students with the course material.
This is such a great question. I have the opportunity to deal with this type of thing in my full-time appointment as well as my teaching career. The three most important things to me are:
1. Access to technology - if the students don't have access to the tools you're trying to use, then you are wasting your time.
2. Ease-of-use - if the technology you are using is difficult to use then use of that technology Will be very low.
3. Audience - if you don't understand your audience, you were going to struggle to get people to use the technology.
The three things I think are most important are:
1 - Does the use of technology enhance the learning experience?
2 - Will the techno-challenged student have an alternative option for gaining the same knowledge?
3 - Does it take longer to open the techno message than it would to read the sentence?
I have often found myself reading emails where the sender loves technology and inserts links or images that take longer to open than the message warranted. I think it's very important that we don't overuse the technology, just because it's 'cool'. If the student can't figure out how to access the message, you will frustrate them in the learning journey. Use of technology is great, but it's important to keep it in balance, in my opinion.
Melissa Caperton
The capability of the tool, the support to the teacher and student and how it supports the learning objectives. Any tool must have the capability to support the type of lesson or learning For instance a wiki doesn't support posting assignments but does provide a way to post thoughts and ideas. If the teacher is directive, a declaratory tool doesn't support he methods of instruction. An instructor should never use a tool just because it is there. It has to support reaching the learning objectives and outcomes.
1. I believe the use of technology in virtual environments should be interactive and user friendly.
2. It should be secure and free of spam and advertisements with no possibility for hacking.
3. It should be accessible from any place that has Internet connection at all times.
I think that student needs, course content, and learning objectives are probably the three most important things to consider.
1. The level of technology the students have access to and their competency with technology.
I have students who are in a trade school environment, and are not very computer savvy. They have limited access to technology and have struggles with basic computer skills. So to bombard them with advanced technological tools would only frustrate them and therefore inhibit the learning process and the achievement of desired course outcomes.
2. Making sure the technology tool matches the function appropriate for learning the course content.
3. Ensuring that the technology tool will help students achieve the desired course outcome sought.
I would say that the very first thing to consider if who your audience is; this will inform every aspect of your course design. Secondly, is the content--what are the best methods of delivery? Finally, you need to consider the best means of assessing the learning.
There are several things to consider when using tools online. The first is the relevance of the tool to the purpose. For instance, since wikis allow for editing, they would not be a good selection for final submissions as this could create havoc in grading. Another consideration is the student's ability to access and use the tool. Lastly, I believe it is important to gain student feedback on their thoughts about using the tool, so that revisions could be made, if necessary.
Technology tools are the basis of all we do in online teaching. I believe that the three most important things to consider are your course goals/objectives, your time frame and how you hope your students reach those said goals, and most importantly, your students' needs and learning styles.
The three most important technology tools include the learning objective, how well the tool functions, student learning styles. Staying focused on the leaning objective is primary to course success. The technology tools can be fun and are necessary to keep the students engaged, but if the support and technology are not user friendly, the students will become frustrated and disengaged. The learning style of the students should also be assessed to see if the proper tool is being used to maximize student engagement. By asking for student input within the course, the instructor can adjust their teaching style to match the learning style of their students by adjusting the technology tools being used I also think that in our evolving technology, it is important to have backup presentation options, when there are system updates.
Mary Z Johnston
I think the 3 most important things to focus on are: the general technology aptitude and capabilities of the audience you will be working with (and not to use technology that might be too advanced), used a myriad of tools to convey information to "reach" more students, offer to assist students that might be struggling with certain technology in the classroom environment.
Yvette,
Yes, there are so many tools out there and employing more tools than needed can overwhelm both instructors and students. A tool cannot be selected only because it is user-friendly. It has to meet the learning needs of the students. The tool should be able to help an instructor achieve course outcomes.
Wendy,
I agree that an facilitator should be able to successfully navigate and work with the technology so that the instructor can answer student questions about the tool because an online facilitator should be able to wear four pairs of shoes that are instructor, social director, program manager, and technical assistant. As a technical assistant, the instructor should be able to answer questions about the tool.
Hi Kelly,
The three most important things that I consider are (1) Capability, (2) Effectiveness, and (3) Usability.
(1) Capability: The tool must meet the learning needs of my students. It doesn’t matter how user-friendly the tool is. If it doesn’t meet the learning needs of the students, it will not be is not a good fit.
(2). Effectiveness: The tool must be effective for the delivery methods that my college uses and in particular for facilitating the courses that I teach. A tool that is effective for facilitating information technology courses may not be good for facilitating fine arts courses. Also, a tool that is a good fit for facilitating synchronous learning may not be good for asynchronous learning.
(3) Usability: The tool must be intuitive enough so the facilitator and learners can learn how to use the tool within a short period of time. A tool that requires steep learning curve might take learners two or three weeks to master. In a course that typically last for five weeks, some learning will have only three weeks to complete their assignments.
Matthew,
Great post. It doesn't need to be over complicated for the instructor or the student. You don't want it to be the learning or teaching barrier.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
I believe three of the most important issues to consider are:
1. The ability for the tool to be used by all attending the course without much explanation.
2. The tool to be effective in fulfilling the needs of the instructor and the students.
3. The technology behind the tool to be able to be run by the minimum standards asked for.
There are a lot of items a tool must do in order for it to be effective. As an instructor, you also need to only use the tool to the level that the entire class can access. Some advanced functions on tools are not able to run on all systems and may be too complex for the level of the student. Determining the technological ability of the students, understanding the minimum system being used and also determining the needs that the tool must fulfill take some time and experimentation.
Sharon,
It is and I have to say we don't have it at my institution. It is interesting when we "bill" our online learning as anytime, anywhere we need to back that up with support. (that is not always what happens).
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson