In the article The Imponderable Bloom, Sanders notes:
" ... my students are apprehensive of technologically mediated interaction, arguing that communication and collaboration in an online learning environment is simply not the same as in a F2F environment. While they do not necessarily expect the experience to be the same, they are frustrated by the disconnect they sense between themselves and the other students. My students realize that what they see and hear in an online world is something like a real classroom, but it is not the same as a physical classroom space. Virtually being there is not the same as physically being there. As a result, these students sense a void in what could otherwise be a rich learning environment."
Sanders address’s many of the issues that we as educators should always be questioning. Is the latest new gizmo the best? How can technology promote or enhance the goals of my class? It is and can be a great teaching and learning tool, but as Sanders points out it must have a purpose higher than just because it's available.
The paper is also a good summary of what we have recently been discussing. The notion that just because a technology is new, bright and incorporates all the ‘bells and whistles’’ then it must be of benefit to the student and the learning task, is now being seen as a tool which may in fact only inhibit the learning experience.
Sanders shares the idea that studying online / off campus means that students miss the subtle F2F (face to face) human interactions which are more natural and conducive to different understandings. Software designers and educators ‘need to continue to design and build tools that make online learning more like F2F physical realities’ (p.9).
The article by Sanders points out the importance of educators establishing the learning experiences and objectives first hand and then deciding on what technologies will best support the objectives.
As educators we need to stop, reflect and assess and decide whether a particular learning tool (F2F instruction or learning technologies) is aiding the students understanding of a topic or having a negative effect.
" ... my students are apprehensive of technologically mediated interaction, arguing that communication and collaboration in an online learning environment is simply not the same as in a F2F environment. While they do not necessarily expect the experience to be the same, they are frustrated by the disconnect they sense between themselves and the other students. My students realize that what they see and hear in an online world is something like a real classroom, but it is not the same as a physical classroom space. Virtually being there is not the same as physically being there. As a result, these students sense a void in what could otherwise be a rich learning environment."
Sanders address’s many of the issues that we as educators should always be questioning. Is the latest new gizmo the best? How can technology promote or enhance the goals of my class? It is and can be a great teaching and learning tool, but as Sanders points out it must have a purpose higher than just because it's available.
The paper is also a good summary of what we have recently been discussing. The notion that just because a technology is new, bright and incorporates all the ‘bells and whistles’’ then it must be of benefit to the student and the learning task, is now being seen as a tool which may in fact only inhibit the learning experience.
Sanders shares the idea that studying online / off campus means that students miss the subtle F2F (face to face) human interactions which are more natural and conducive to different understandings. Software designers and educators ‘need to continue to design and build tools that make online learning more like F2F physical realities’ (p.9).
The article by Sanders points out the importance of educators establishing the learning experiences and objectives first hand and then deciding on what technologies will best support the objectives.
As educators we need to stop, reflect and assess and decide whether a particular learning tool (F2F instruction or learning technologies) is aiding the students understanding of a topic or having a negative effect.
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