Is technology proficiency a prerequisite to online course development?
Do you have to be a technology whiz in order to be able develop online courses?
Just to provide you a little background, I am a lead instructor in the Information Technology field.
tom,
It certainly seems like a new technology is coming out every week of the year. It is good to keep up on what is working and what is still having the kinks worked out!
Shelly Crider
It is helpful to have some knowledge of the technology that is available but you do not have to be an expert, By knowing what is available you can require the use of some of it. This will help in exposing the students to the various technologies that they may encounter down the road. Education is not just learning the content of the lecture.
Not necessarily, as long reading and basic logic capabilities are well developed, our goal would be to create "a better mouse trap" and guide them through the labyrinth.
technological proficiency at an above average level is necessary...
Hello Augustine,
No, I definately do not think that someone has to be a technology whiz to succeed or be proficient at online college. Nor do I think that someone needs to be a technology whiz to develop an online course or help design one. I think I feel so strongly that way, because developing/succeeding/taking an online course is a two way street anyway, no matter how proficient one is already (whether they are an instructor or a student), there is going to be input and suggestions in the process. I think this is a great aspect to designing and developing online course work, or taking a course online, is the constant stream of feedback between instructors and students. I think that there are benefits to seeking advice from individuals that have experience in developing online courses, so for me, though I'm not exactly a whiz but I have some experience, I would still seek out help in developing an online course. I look forward to reading more comments on this subject. Great thread!
Carl,
Technology is a must for teaching online. You may not know everything (as technology is always changing), but instructors need to know where to find the answers.
Shelly Crider
I think you do not need to be a "whiz" or even highly proficient. I think a base technological knowledge is required and willingness to learn.
To do the actual implementation of the course one needs to know technology. I assume that the school IT would be able to set up what you desired. You would only need to know enough after your course is set up to enable students to use the course.
I think you have to be proactive, inquisitive, and open to learning about the latest trends and developments, but not necessarily a "whiz". Proficient? Yes.
Augustine,
Not at all! You do need to be able to help students when they have issues, so know where to get help for them. When you are going through your professional development classes, soak up all the resources you can!
Shelly Crider
