Sonnet

What is The Value of Technology in Teaching and Learning?

For this particular post, I wanted to try and ascertain how much added value is to be had, when utilising technology in relation to the teaching and learning experience.  I decided to simply access the home computer and the Internet and typed the above question into the Google search engine.   Google came back with no less than 54,700 results.  I looked at the information contained within the top three results, which were:-

1. Leicester University

2. Village Science

3. The Value of Teaching and Learning Technology

After exploring these 3 sites a little further, I very quickly gathered information on:-

·         the range of courses available at Leicester University and facilities it had to offer,  

·         how a charity was helping to develop villages around the world and

·         the cost of ICT measured against results achieved in education

This very simple search had resulted in instant access to a wide range of information and resources, all from the comfort of home.

The ‘value’ of the use of the technology was very apparent. I had not been ’confined to the classroom’, Reece& Walker (2006)p187 in order to undertake my independent learning task. The flexibility of technology allows access to information and resources at any time of the day or night and from virtually any location. This accessibility to learning is vitally important, particularly for adult learners, as it allows them to undertake their learning, whilst at the same time meeting both work and personal commitments. 

References

Reece, I and Walker, S (2007) Training and Learning: a practical guide, 6^th edition

Sunderland: Business Education Publishers

How technology has changed the way we learn

Many definitions of learning utilise the word ‘change’.  McLagen, 1978, Fincher, 1998 and Gagne, 1972 all adopt the word ‘change’ when defining learning.  Whether we use simple-learning or complex –learning theories to bring about a change in understanding or behaviours, ICT is a key element.

During our ICT lessons, we have reviewed and investigated a wide range of technologies and software and debated the positives and negatives of utilising these for our learning and teaching.  Many of these technologies bring subjects to life interactively, encouraging the learner to explore and investigate the subject further.

As a child and young man, I did not have the opportunity to utilise technology as a learning tool. As an adult, technology has played a significant role in my learning and resulted in educational achievement.

The ICT module has challenged my assumptions, some of which were negative, about the way we utilise this tool in our learning.  Hillier, 2011 describes the importance of thinking reflectively. The establishment and maintenance of a teaching blog works very well as a reflective tool, assisting with learning and development.

References

Hillier, Y (2011) Reflective Teaching in Further and Adult Education,3^rd editionLondon: Continuum International Publishing Group Ltd.

Class notes and Hand outs Prepare to Teach Module 2013

The Dive, I hope you enjoy!