Technology in Learning
“Technology is best used when it helps solve an actual teaching problem; often though the technology is not enough on its own; it has to be combined with an appropriate change in teaching method or policy that the technology supports or enhances” Tony Bates
Technology in learning can mean two things:
- the tools you can be using, such as the hardware, software, networks, web applications,
- the processes, such as the methods and strategies you can use for your instruction, the assessment and tracking of student learning and the design of learning management systems.
Research in the public and private sector articulates a need for guiding principles that drive the decisions to implement technology in learning on all levels – that of individual educators as well as of institutional departments to achieve consistency in desired learning outcomes.
The SECTIONS model introduced by Bates and Poole (2003) is a widely applied framework for many educators in Higher Education. To teach effectively with technology, it is recommended to start your planning with a definition of the learning goals you would want your students to reach by the end of a specific section in your course. This sequencing of your course planning enables you to conduct an effective assessment of the potential technological tools that you could employ to help your students reach those goals. You will then arrive at a decision that is pedagogically sound and considers the ease of use of the tool for you and your students, the costs involved and the support you will require for your implementation.
If you would like assistance in the design of your course and/ or specific learning activities, you can contact the Teaching Development Facilitators in the Teaching Centre for personalised support. An informal exchange with some of your peers might also spin off good ideas.
References:
Bates, T. Teaching in the Digital Age. CC-BY-NC 4.0. Retrieved from https://opentextbc.ca/teachinginadigitalage/, 2015.
Contact North. (2018). 10 Guiding Principles for the Use of Technology in Learning. Retrieved from https://teachonline.ca/sites/default/files/toolstrends/downloads/10_guiding_principles_for_use_of_technology_in_learning.pdf