Learning in a Digital World

Technology has impacted every aspect of our society.  Education is no exception.  In the classroom, teachers are using smartboards, interactive testing, electronic gradebooks, countless online resources, and many more technology driven sources.  Outside the traditional classroom, distance learning is growing by leaps and bounds due to our capacity to communicate and learn over distances due to technology innovation.  Through all these technological advances, it is important to continue to keep learning in the forefront.  We must constantly ask ourselves the question, “Are students learning, comprehending, and utilizing what is being taught?”  All the technological innovations and advances in the world are great, but if they are not enhancing the learning process they are not serving their ultimate purpose.   I still struggle with online learning sometimes when I am unable to grasp or understand the professor’s goals, objectives, and standards for a class.  Those are the times that I wish I could look a professor in the eye, tell them what I am struggling with, and listen to their answer face to face instead of negotiating email, discussion boards, online syllabi, or other forms of distance communication.  In fact, there should always be a phone number readily available in case such questions arise.

In regards to things that are non-negotiable in regards to teaching or learning, Snow and Swanson (1992) addressed it best when discussing essential criteria for learning theory:

1. An end-state of goals of instruction
2. A goal-relevant initial learner state
3. Instructional conditions that promote this transition process
4. A transition process

These four items address what it takes for learning to take place regardless of the degree of technology that is injected into the learning process.  To simplify this a little, these four items address a) What the goals are for instruction b) How the learner can relate to these goals, c) the learning environment while these instructional goals are being attained, and d) How the learner will be taught in order to achieve these goals.  These four items layout a blueprint for teachers to effective instruct students to learn, comprehend, and apply in order to effectively reach the objectives of what is being taught.  Regardless of whether it is traditional or online instruction, this allows teachers to be single-minded and focused in on what is to be instructed and how learning can effectively take place.