Impact of Technology and Multimedia

What Impact Does Technology and Multimedia Have on Online Learning Environments?

Technology and multimedia is essential to today’s online learning environment. There are many positives such as the ability to help students engage with learning the objectives of the course or allowing more opportunities to be creative and focusing learning. Multimedia and technology can motivate learners and allow students to be more innovative. It is also good for students who have different learning modalities. Students can work at their own pace.

Important Considerations an Online Instructor Should Make Before Implementing Technology

Before implementing technology into an online course, the instructor must determine the objectives that have to be taught, learner’s needs and goals, and the correct technology and multimedia programs that will enhance everyone’s learning.  Instructors have to be careful to spend enough time planning the course, before implementing technology.

Some essential questions that must be asked are:

1. What are the essential standards that have to be taught?

2. What are the learning styles of my students?

3. Will the technology be used in an asynchronous or synchronous setting?

4. As the instructor, do I have the skills necessary for this particular multimedia project?

It is important to remember that each student will bring their various experiences to the online environment.  Some students will be more advanced while others have no online experience. Instructors must have a variety of resources available to address all learners.  Instructors should also be careful to not overwhelm their students with too many technology/multimedia tools. Use a few resources first, and then slowly introduce more. Use tools online only when they support learning objectives. (Palloff & Pratt, 2011)

What Implications Do Usability and Accessibility of Technology Tools Have for Online Teaching?

Instructors must also take into consideration usability and accessibility of the tools being used in the online course. Accessibility and usability impact directly on the pedagogical effectiveness of elearning systems or resources for all learners. (Cooper, Colwell, & Jeffs, 2007)

 If a student does not have a certain program, then it could be considered inaccessible. If the programs that are selected have technical difficulties, then the instructor must have alternatives so that students can access the material. Technology must be selected so that all students can access it. Loud colors and busy websites are not helpful for student who may have issues with sight. It is also important that sites are easy to navigate for the instructor and the student

Which Tools are Most Appealing to You for Online Teaching?

One primary teaching goal in the online environment is building a learning community. (Boettcher & Conrad, 2010) Technology tools that I will use have to be collaborative based, allow for communication and creativity, and provide access to all students, regardless of their time zone, abilities, and age.

 I have been exposed to many different tools since beginning the instructional design program. As I complete my certificate, I will continue to use blogs for information and communication, wikis for collaborative based projects, discussion forums, emails, videos to supplement and engage students. Since I am a classroom teacher, I also enjoy working with many of the mind mapping tools, video logs, online polls using smartphone technologies, MP3’s, interactive games, and PowerPoint presentations. I would like to also use video streaming because as we continue to work in a more collaborative environment, I would like be able to use experts to teach objectives. By using these technologies, students will be able to access expert teaching anytime and anywhere.

Implementing Effective Online Instructional Strategies in the Future

I have learned that implementing effective online strategies take time. If it is to be effective, I have to carefully plan instruction before implementing technology. For example, I need to know the different learning styles and preferences of my students, their technological knowledge, and my own comfort level with technologies. I will continue to ask the following questions:

1. What are the objectives that each student needs to learn?

2. Which activities are best suited to teach the objective of the course?

3. Is it user friendly to students and myself?

4. Is it collaborative based?

Activities must be designed to address everyone’s learning styles so that each student will be able to find value while taking a course. Furthermore, technologies must be accessible and usable for all—including me the instructor.  Technology and multimedia must be collaboratively based so that the learning community is always learning-never stagnant.

References                                                          

Boettcher, J., & Conrad, R. (2010). The Online Teaching Survival Guide: Simple and Practical Pedagogical Tips. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Conrad, R., & Donaldson, J. (2011). Engaging the Online Leaner: Activities and Resources for Creative Instruction. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Cooper, M., Colwell, C., & Jeffs, A. (2007). Embedding accessibility and usability: Considerations for e-learning research and development projects. ALT-J: Research in Learning Technology, 15(3), 231-245.
Palloff, R., & Pratt, K. (n.d.). Enhancing the Online Experience [video]. Retrieved from http://sylvan.live/ecollege.com