Together in Christ, leaders to the lost and witness to his glory

Technology in Education, Peter Ott, Liberty University, January 20, 2022

Technology is all around us and it has become very prevalent in todays classrooms especially with the onset of the Covid-19 Pandemic. With the continuous rise in covid cases there is no end in sight. In my college we are planning to go virtual classroom again. So, the question remains about the functionality and inclusiveness of technology in todays education.

Roblyer and Hughes’, Integrating Educational technology into Teaching outlines the many forms of technology and raises many questions as to the feasibility of implementing technology in the classroom (2019). While many teachers are focusing on social media, computer access, on-line learning we need to remember “old School” technology should not be lost in digital platforms.

Jonassen (Et al 2007) have outline an “adaptive cycle four step process model” (p.280) addressing the advantages or the necessity to adapt to each learner and their personal learning characteristics, abilities and disabilities. The four steps in the process are; Capture, collect student data, Analyze, data collected per student learner (p. 280), Select, appropriate learning model based on information provided from the first two steps and Present, “Based on results from the select process, specific content is presented to the learner” (p. 281)

Collecting student data is very crucial, “Many have argued that incoming knowledge is the single most important determinant of subsequent learning (Alexander and Judy, 1988; Glaser, 1984;Tobias, 1994).” As cited in (Jonassen Et al 2007 p. 280). With that being said, I feel a more inclusive learning model can be found in the acronym ADDIE, Analyze, Design, Develop, Implement and Evaluate (Peck 2019). This is a circular process where first the learner and environment are analyzed, a learning platform is designed based on the information analyzed, an instructional design is developed, implemented and evaluated. The evaluation process is so critical to validate the learning model which goes back to the first step of the process and the results are analyzed, revise the design, develop a more product learning model, implement that model and once again evaluate; a continuous circular process.

Through design and development a technological integrated system emerges. Yes, youtube, social media, hyper links and PowerPoint can be beneficial but let’s not forget old school technology, like chalk and the black board. Through MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) online courseware viewed through youtube via lecture by Dr. Patrick Winston, Patrick Winston MIT lecture speaks of a common response from student survey’s is, “More chalk; less PowerPoint” (Winston, 2019, 22:25-22:30). Dr. Winston explains in his MIT lecture “How to Speak”, youtube (2019) boards are a better tool for our trade to inform, teach and lecture. Where slides are a good tool for exposing ideas (13:28-13:55). Boards provide a graphic quality that can be utilized immediately and there is a speed property where “the speed in which you can write on a board is the approximate speed people can absorb ideas” (Winston 2019,13:55 – 14:40). This speed property, Dr. Winston calls, “Empathetic Mirroring” (Winston 2019, 22:50 – 23:46) where the audience becomes engaged to the lecture and feel as though they are actually writing on the board themselves and subconsciously will try to finish the concept being presented as the lecturer is presenting their idea.

Attached to this blog is a video where I incorporate several different technologies while implementing Empathetic Mirroring. I hope you enjoy it.

Reference:

Alexander, P. A. and Judy, J. E. (1988). The interaction of domain-specific and strategic knowledge in academic performance. Rev. Educ. Res.,58(4), 375–404.

Glaser, R. (1984). Education and thinking: the role of knowledge. Am. Psychol.,39(2), 93–104.*

Jonassen, D., Spector, M.J., Driscoll, M., Merrill, M.D., van Merrienboer, J., & Driscoll, M.P. (Eds.). (2007). Handbook of Research on Educational Communications and Technology: A Project of the Association for Educational Communications and Technology (3rd ed.). Routledge. https://doi-org.ezproxy.liberty.edu/10.4324/9780203880869

Peck, Delvin (2019), The ADDIE Model of Instructional Design, published June 21, 2019 Updated August 14, 2021, https://www.devlinpeck.com/posts/addie-instructional-design

Roblyer M.D., Hughes Joan E. (2019) Integrating Educational Technology into Teaching 8th Edition, Published by Pearson July 14, 2021

Tobias, S. (1994). Interest, prior knowledge, and learning. Rev.Educ. Res.,64(1), 37–54.

Winston, Patrick, (2019), How to Speak, MIT OpenCourseWare lecture, December 20, 2019, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Unzc731iCUY