Impact of Technology and Multimedia

Web 2.0 Technology can have a positive or negative  impact on the student's online learning environment. Web 2.0 Technology such as wikis, blogs, you tube, Skype and mobile apps can assist students in learning and employees in training situations. By collaborating online within web pages, and other common sites, information is shared with group members, and edited in a common place for all to view and use (Laureate, Ed., Inc., n.d.), eliminating the need for uncertainty, and improving information sharing.

Blogs can be monitored by instructors easily when using aggregator software (Laureate, Ed., Inc., n.d.).  The aggregator software allows the instructor to pull all the blogs together in a common place to monitor which ones have been updated. Professor Pratt, of Laureate, Ed., Inc. (n.d.) contends it would be too difficult to monitor each student's individual work separately.  Professor Pratt also warns that it is essential for instructors to determine when it is appropriate for the students to use mobile applications for learning.  He says that most learning institution's apps compress learning into six weeks, as opposed to the normal eight weeks.  Learners may be missing out on valuable information.

The correct web 2.0 technology can be usable for demonstrating procedures and processes, and learners who are isolated or in remote locations, (Laureate, Ed., Inc., n.d.). The chosen application can make these learners feel that are a part of the regular learning group. When  using web 2.0 technology tools the  instructors should consider whether the chosen technology will aid in the learning; otherwise it should not be used.  Sometimes, it may be best to allow the learners to choose the web 2.0 tool that they feel most qualified for their type of  learning project. However, allowing the learners this freedom may require the instructor to expand his/her own teaching tool set, (Boettner & Conrad, 2010).

According to these authors, the three most important basic tools that must be used in online learning are announcements, discussion board monitoring and feedback.  Once the instructor develops experience with the online learning environment, he/she will move into a more comfortable zone and begin experimenting with more visual and audio tools, such as podcasts, audio feedback, blogs, and wikis, and other technology tools, (Boettner & Conrad, 2010).

As an instructor who is interested in training employees online, I would enjoy utilizing all of the web 2.0 tools in time.  I too, would begin learning the most basic tools, and graduate to the more advanced tools as my experience grows.  Technology constantly changes, demanding that instructors keep up with new software, applications and web 2.0 technology tools.  What is favored for instructors and learners to use now for online learning may just be a thing of the past in a few years.

References:

Conrad, R., & Donaldson, J. A. (2011). Engaging the online learner: Activities and resources for creative instruction (Updated ed.). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass

Laureate Ed., Inc. [video] (n.d.). Enhancing the Online Experience.