In order for our educational system to be relevant,
learning must include the knowledge and skills necessary for students to be
successful in an ever changing technological society. As Picciano states, multimedia literacy is
required as a basic function in the evolving American culture. Utilizing technology in education serves two
purposes: technology promotes active learning which increases student
understanding, and technology prepares students for the technology driven world
we live in. Through the emerging
technologies such as the internet and mobile computers, knowledge is easily
accessible. Appropriate multimedia can
assist instruction with almost unlimited resources which can accommodate any learning
style with video, audio, graphics, and interactive learning models. According to Koehler, Mishra, Kereluik, Shin
and Graham, technology can transform content by make representations visual,
multimodal, or interactive.
With the advent of Learning Management Systems or
LMS, educators now have a tool that can deliver instruction that is compatible
to traditional lessons. Per Picciano, on
the internet, student have at their immediate disposal a resource that includes
the teacher as well as other instructional materials such as videos, computer
simulations, and reference works. Asynchronous
learning has become significant over the years because teachers can provide
instruction at any place and any time.
This flexibility allows learners to engage in education in ways they
have not been able to do in the past.
For example, distance learning is now available to learners of any age, learners
of any educational level, and who have a variety of educational needs. Although, learning experiences may be
different for distant learners, learning outcomes according to Simonson, can be
equivalent. One point made by both Picciano
and Simonson, is the need for distance learning courses to be based on common
technological tools that most people have access to. With an LMS, the internet is the greatest
common factor between learners which makes it such a powerful tool for education.
In Gwinnett County where I teach, distance learning
becoming more and more popular with older students, especially high school
students. Online courses provide an
alternative setting for some students who for whatever reason are not
successful in a traditional classroom.
Being able to offer an alternative to struggling students is important
in making sure every child has an opportunity to learn. Additionally, many high school students take
courses online to earn credits faster or for dual enrollment in college
courses. The flexibility that distance
learning offers is one of the reasons why Picciano predicts that the participation
in online education over the next decade will increase significantly. Without it, I wouldn’t be sharing this
post. Online education is the only way I
could have completed my degree and it is the wave of the future.
References
Koehler,
M. J., Mishra, P., Kereluik, K., Shin, T., & Graham, C. R. (2008). The
technological pedagogical content knowledge framework. In Handbook of
research on educational communications and technology (pp. 101-111).
New York: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
Picciano,
A. (2011). Educational leadership and planning for technology (5th ed.).
Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Pearson.
Simonson,
M. R. (2012). Teaching and learning at a distance: Foundations of
distance education. Boston: Allyn & Bacon.
