Generally having the ability to access varied sources of information can expand the students knowledge base and allow studends to grow at their own pace.
jon,
Very true and that has a huge impact on student expectation and the role of the instructor in the learning process. How have you integrated these technology skills in your classes?
Dr. Ruth Reynard
in this new electronic age the young student is using technology all the time laptops phones instant information as fast as they need it
Joe,
That's interesting...how have to calculated the pace? It would be interesting to read more about this..
Dr. Ruth Reynard
Technology content input for students generally changes the teaching process by shortening the duration of class time and lowering the competency standards for the student. I believe this is done to keep pace with the short attention span, and below average reading skills taught in our public school system today.
Michael,
Great points! This is why we, as instructors, must find ways to integrate technology use in our instructional designs and deliveries rather than trying to keep technology use "controlled" or prescribed.
Dr. Ruth Reynard
I think that really the points of input have become so much more relevant in the information world. As students continue to live more and more of their lives online they have a much more instantaneous and diverse array of choices in where they recieve their information. From Wiki's to blogs there is a plethora of information (and mis information) available to satisfy their thirst for knowledge. Speaking purely anecdotally, I know that students who are interested in something are much more likely to quickly log on to some information source using their mobile devices to get the answer. I personally experience this constantly, and in fact recently, while having lunch with colleagues, used my phone to get access to online information to answer a question none of us were clear on. While this is the reality of today's learner it is also both an opportunity and a challenge for educators since we need to figure out how best to maximize this self-directed nature of their access to the input and also guide them in selecting the relevant material and sifting through through the chaffe to get to the real valuable information.
Melanie ,
So research, exploration and discovery can become front and center of the learning process. Awesome!! Stagnant material can be challenged and the learner can become fully engaged throughout.
Dr. Ruth Reynard
New Technology changes so many things. Teachers are challenged to leave the comfort zone of their textbooks. We have to realize the dearth of available material online that can really enrich the student experience. Becoming familiar with primary sources is important to continuing the support of common core standards for K-12 being adopted by states today.
Thomas,
I agree, Thomas. Certainly the various input possibilities can provide diverse choices for students, however, these must be intentionally designed into the course interactions, delivery and mediation of the course.
Dr. Ruth Reynard
It gives the students the opprotunity different ways of learning. Depending on the type of learner the student is, they will have choices to respond in various forms. This enhances the students ability to be more productive and engaged.
Richard,
Do you mean simply using technology or having their learning process mediated by technology? Could you elaborate?...I would love to hear your ideas on this.
Dr. Ruth Reynard
Many students enjoy the engagment of Technology.
Shafi,
Hmmm...interesting use of the word "productivity" - could you elaborate your meaning? Are you meaning the work produced by students or the material produced by instructors...or both?
Dr. Ruth Reynard
This will enhance the productivity of learning at the modern age,
Shaunda ,
I'm 51 and I can relate to your points :)The challenge remains, however, for instructors to provide guidance on how to use the information effectively in learning and in workplace scenarios.
Dr. Ruth Reynard
I heard a report on NPR talking about how this generation's brains are literally hardwired to absorb much more data than our generation's brains (I'm 50) and as such, kids can be on-line, watching TV, playing music on ipod, texting with friends and playing a game on their I pads and "Getting it All." If that's the case, and it appears to be, students can absorb almost anything new we put in front of them. In fact, we may be behind their learning curve. So, we need to be constantly improving, moving and racing to get ahead of the cutve, not behind it.
Stanley,
The challenge is very real for students as well as instructors, in my opnion. Often students have had models of learning that have not been supported or mediated by technology. Also, even if they have, they may still not have been developed as autonomous learners and, therefore, would still be challenged with the use of new technology. As you say, the challenge for the instructor is very much about instructional design and the ways in which the learning process can be mediated rather than driven.
Dr. Ruth Reynard
This is quite a challenge for a person with over 30 years of teaching experience. This changes the nature of the classroom, as the student becomes much more that a receptical of knowledge. Instant interaction beyond the classroom, and fact that students can interact with, not only the instructor, but with other students and other resources not normally included in the formal educational setting. In this setup, all participants can become learners, and all participants can become teachers. Also, this way the classroom can more easily be connected to the real world, applications of the knowledge and other considerations can become more evident. This might provide relevancy to what is happening in the educational system.
Todd,
As you make more technology available the challenge will increase as it is maximized with direct access to the Internet. Here's hoping you will see some changes :)
Dr. Ruth Reynard
