I feel that the Internet has broadened the possibilities that are available for an instructor to teach a class. There are animations as well as YouTube type videos that can be used during the course to facilitate in the learning process. The Internet greatly appeals to learners who thrive at more nontraditional pedagogical methods. It contains many tools that are readily available at the click of the mouse instead of having to wait for interlibrary loans. I feel that this has greatly enhanced the course and opened up many different options for assignments for the course.
James,
How specifically do you integrate the technology? Is it as homework or self-study?
Dr. Ruth Reynard
My course of study at my institute is not set for computer based training,however I encourage the students to use the on line training outside the classroom to help with the understanding.
Thomas,
So, do you have some examples of what you mean here by "into the world"?
Dr. Ruth Reynard
It has moved education out of the classroom and into the world. It has transformed learning into a dynamic new process even for working students.
Rebecca,
Do you see students developing skills not even expected through the use of the technology?
Dr. Ruth Reynard
I think the internet has opened up a myriad of instruction design opportunities. I personally have used Facebook as an instructional tool to teach the research process; I've used YouTube videos that either I have created myself or that were already created to help "flip" a classroom in order to provide more dynamic in-class time. This is only a small portion of what I've used, but the possibilities are truly endless and in today's digital society, students need to have more "transliterate" skills that go beyond just reading and writing... they need to be able to function within and contribute to digital content on the web.
Today courses have changed just as internet changes are beginning to effect student taking online classes. Reality is today translated into the digital world with lots of information of bits and bytes, which computers today process into knowledge, using complex mathematics. A simple picture taken can be reduced to 30 kilobytes of information.
Educational institutions continually seek out innovative ways to improve the quality and reach of education. Educational institutions are challenged to meet the growing high bandwidth demands for these new applications while ensuring information security and content filtering. At the same time, they must control costs while providing the highest quality education.
Rebecca,
I agree...this is true for graduate students as well. There are many sources cited in papers that have been found on the Internet but are not recognized as legitimate research in a specific field. Instructors must still teach those skills.
Dr. Ruth Reynard
I have, but I think that many students lack the skills they need to be able to determine whether a source is credible or not. Many of my students assume that if something is "published" on the Internet that it must be true. I spend a lot of time explaining why library database sources from peer-reviewed journals are more reliable for academic writing than the Internet at large. Yes, students can look up virtually anything, but that does not mean that what they find is going to be true. The instructor has to play an active role in pointing out why Wikipedia is not an acceptable source for academic writing and why Technological Horizons in Education, for example, is.
Rebecca,
Very well said - have you found the same benefit to all your students?
Dr. Ruth Reynard
Louis, I completely agree. Student expect instantaneous feedback, and they also expect their instructors to be available almost 24/7. Instructors are seen as providing a service now more than ever before, and it has certainly changed the dynamic between instructors and students. Some of that change is very positive, as it creates a more collaborative learning environment, but there are also some negatives.
The internet has expanded the types of resources available to students and instructors. While there have always been mediating resources available in education, the Internet has provided a wider and richer variety of resources that greatly enhance instruction. With that has come increased responsibility on the part of the student in seeking out resources that work for him or her. The instructor also has to vet computer resources via the Internet to ensure that those resources enhance learning rather than distract students or provide them with incorrect information.
BRIGITTE ,
Yes, so connectivity means that students can benefit from connections with others from around the world :) This is global networking at its best!
Dr. Ruth Reynard
The Internet has opened a completely new world in the field of education. Coined a dynamic tool when used properly, the technology of the Internet and interactive learning has come to the forefront in the twenty first century. In my personal opinion, online learning does not restrict time, distance, or educational goals but enhances each one of these areas to enhance global learning. As more advanced technology come into play, we will see an ever-interactive community-utilizing internet learning like never before. Students in Africa can log into a chat room and be taught, discuss, and engage in real time with a teacher in the United States. The internet is a necessary tool to aid learning in the twenty first century.
Alfred,
Yes, so self-directed skills are developed more quickly, as are customizable options for students.
Dr. Ruth Reynard
Students and professors are much more connected. Students can contact their professors through email or instant message and they can get a reply very quickly. Students also have all the materials, such as the syllabus and assignments, online so they can go back online to review it in case they forgot something. The Internet allows for a more convenient learning space for both students and teachers.
The internet allows a classroom to explore to understand a topic with more detail than before. Researching a topic or watching a video can be just a click away. This can allow for a better understanding of a topic by reaching students for their different learning preferences. This allows an instructor the chance to show them ideas and places that the student may not ever see or talk about on their own.
Andrea,
So true...social media has changed expectations and also communication norms.
Dr. Ruth Reynard
Andrea,
Wonderful! Yes, this is a huge benefit we can experience using the Internet and I really believe we have not fully realized the impact of this kind of connectivity and exchange. Great example!
Dr. Ruth Reynard
