Simply put, the answer is yes and no. This will come down to a question of perspective. A question to ask ourselves is, why do we want to invest so much of our resources in giving our children access to technology in any learning environment? Do we do this because we think technology will improve the quality of education kids receive? Do we do it because it is going to improve teaching practice? Or, do we do this because society says technology is cool and necessary for everyone? I think that different people will answer these questions in remarkably different ways.
If our end goal is to improve student learning, we need to remember what all our experience and current research says about how kids learn. I know that I can walk into many classrooms and see incredible learning taking place without a single piece of add-on technology. What are the signs of a good learning environment? I believe that when you see kids actively engaged in the learning activity, you will have quality learning taking place. I would use my own learning theory model from our assignment in OLTD 501 which you can find as my second reflective piece under that tab. Good learning requires dynamic relationships. If a teacher is able to generate, encourage, and maintain these relationships in their classroom, then excellent learning opportunities arise. As an administrator, I have had many opportunities to see these kinds of classrooms in action. On the other hand, I have also seen many classrooms where the learning environment is static and all activity is on the passive side. Which classes do you think students drag their heels to go to?
How does this understanding of relationship translate to the digital or online world? I believe that if we want to make good use of the opportunities that technology provides us as educators, we must not rely on the technology itself to create the necessary dynamism for good learning. I do believe that technology can be a great boost to building engagement in learning for students if we incorporate it in meaningful ways. I have seen how Distance Learning programs and courses fall far short of providing meaningful relationships between the students, their subject material, and the teacher. Many of the k-12 online programs I have explored over the past two years have fallen far short of providing stimulating learning experiences. This has led to very poor completion rates and frustration in Central Office personnel.
I do believe that blending technology into our learning environment is the right way to go and there are many very successful models around the world to see how it can be done really well. Technology is here to stay and we need to incorporate it into our teaching/learning models to make it meaningful for our students.
Student opportunity allows for learner engagement, time for interaction, and an opportunity for cognitive engagement of the topic. Variety is an obvious aspect of dynamic teaching. This incorporates differentiation and recognition of multiple intelligences. Blending technology as a means of teaching and learning will definitely provide multiple opportunities for variety.
I believe that we cannot separate good learning from good teaching and the best environment for this is a dynamic one. The dynamism comes from the fact that relationships must be explored and developed between the learner, teacher, and knowledge/skill to be learned. The use of technology, blended seamlessly into our traditional classrooms, will provide a dimension of incredible student engagement that the non-tech style classroom will miss out on.
Please check out my Prezi on ‘Unpacking Blended Learning’ at : http://prezi.com/nnie149ixtcg/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy&rc=ex0share
Check out the following links for some interesting reading on Blended Learning:
https://tle.wisc.edu/book/export/html/3890
https://www.google.ca/search?q=blcackboard.com+blended+learning&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&channel=sb&gfe_rd=cr&ei=fklmVIItk9z4A7PpgJAP
http://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&ved=0CCwQFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncolr.org%2Fjiol%2Fissues%2Fpdf%2F10.3.2.pdf&ei=IkpmVNrvIdSwogSIr4HADA&usg=AFQjCNFqibl2fd4G4n584TBKjVpMSRMhMw&bvm=bv.79400599,d.cGU