Assignment 1: Educational Technologies Blog

             Week 6 Assignment 1: Educational Blog

Open or distance educational technologies are drastically changing l the way learners acquire knowledge. Technology is altering education from curriculum design to learner engagement ending with the way assessments are administered. Cuban (2009) notes: “the real promise of technology in education lies in its potential to facilitate fundamental, qualitative changes in the nature of teaching and learning” (p.44).                 

The first technology I chose was: http://www.cramberry.net. This site will allow learners to study with online flash cards. I selected this particular technology due to its versatility. My major groups of learners are in developmental classes. This site will flash cards. The site is user friendly in that the adult learners have the option of creating their own flash cards (which I pray they decide) or they have the option to choose from the catalog of free public flash cards from the site.  As they study, Cramberry will analyze their individual progress and shows them cards they need to study. This adds greater depth to their study and generates a stronger appreciation and motivation to studying.

I would incorporate this technology with teaching vocabulary having them create flash/concept cards and use the cards in their writing to note cards after reading various printed materials. These note cards will provide structure in writing clear, cohesive paragraphs. These note cards will also provide cues for timely discussions.

The second open or distance education technology I selected was: http://www.creating.com. This site is an online diagramming application that allows learners to create flow charts, diagrams, and concept maps. I especially look forward to incorporating this site in my curriculum due to its easy adaptation in the writing process. Portions of effective paragraph writing are inclusive of flow charts, diagrams and concept maps. “For decades, schools and researchers in the field of educational technology have argued vehemently that it is not the media or technology that impacts teaching and learning-it is the inherent design of the technologies, their affordances, and how they are used pedagogically that facilitates successful, effective, and “good” teaching and learning (Chapters 1, 2, 6 and 7; Clark, 1983; Cuban, 2009; Doering, Miller, & Veletsianos, 2008). I will incorporate this technology on various projects. This site is a valuable tool for writers at any stage of their developing writing skills.

As an educator of adult learners I need to be able to develop, implement, and evaluate new and creative teaching technologies to maximize interaction, social presence and provide a sense of community in the virtual world of education.

References

Clark, R. E. (1983). Reconsidering research on learning from media. Review of Educational Research, 53, 445-459.

Cuban, L.(2009).  Hugging the Middle: How Teachers Teach in the Era of Testing and Accountability.  New York, NY: Teachers College Press.

Doering, A., Miller, C., & Veletsianos, G. (2008). Adventure learning: Educational, Social, and technological affordances for collaborative hybrid distance education. Quarterly Review of Distance Education, 9(1).