Article Review #1

Article Title:

 

Media Culture 2020: Collaborative Teaching and Blended Learning Using Social Media and Cloud-Based Technologies 

APA Citation:  

Vickers, R., Field, J., & Melakoski, C. (2015). Media Culture 2020: Collaborative
                Technology and Blended Learning Using Social Media and Cloud-Based
                Techniques. Contemporary Educational Technology, 6(1), 62-73.

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Review:

This article describes how five different universities across Europe participated in a project entitled “Media Culture 2020”. The project was aimed at developing new practices that incorporated the use of “21^st Century” technologies like social media platforms and cloud based programs along with traditional methods of instruction and delivery of media. The goal of the project was to “break down campus and classroom walls” using new technologies. In doing so, the desire was to be able to create an “open virtual learning environment” where students from different countries, in varying fields, could collaborate and learn together through the use of these tools. Some of the technologies that were utilized in this project included “Facebook, Google +, Google Hangout, Google Docs and Blogger”.  Universities from Finland, the United Kingdom, Spain, Latvia, and the Netherlands all participated in the project. Working together using these tools, the project was designed to help the participants develop “joint multidisciplinary courses”. Over the course of four weeks, two different workshops took place in both Finland and Latvia, involving 40 students and 10 professors. The addition of both pre and post workshop activities using social media and cloud based technologies allowed for even greater participation amongst students and staff members through virtual meetings and sharing of lectures without the additional cost associated with travel. This project afforded the opportunity for “blended learning” by combining “face-to-face instruction with computer mediated activities”. Collaboration played a large part in this media project and allowed the participants to evaluate the “educational merits of some of the tools used”. The article goes on to discuss some of the advantages of incorporating the different collaborative tools used in the study into an educational environment. Some of the various technology tools utilized in the project include: wikis, blogs, video conferencing, live broadcasting, social network group discussions, etc. One of the problems that they encountered with the use of four different tools to facilitate this project (Google Docs/Drive, Hangout, Facebook, & Blogger) was that it was often difficult for participants to locate and understand the organization of the information being presented over the span of the four tools.  Real-time collaboration also often proved to be difficult due to issues with technology performance, different time schedules, as well as varying time zones. Ultimately, in spite of these shortcomings, the project allowed both “lecturers and students to try and learn different traditional and new media elements in innovative ways”.  By combining synchronous and asynchronous teaching methods, this project helped to create an “open, blended learning environment”. The Media Culture 2020 project was ultimately considered a “great success” by all participants. 

Ultimately, I found this article to be quite interesting and informative. I can see how the idea of using various social media tools and cloud based technology within multiple learning environments can afford students a unique opportunity to learn. Each of the different university participants brought their own perspectives and ideas to this project and their ability to collaborate with one another during the learning process provided an interesting and expanded learning environment. I like the idea of having students and teachers from different backgrounds collaborating on a project because I can understand the increased benefits from doing so. Today’s technology affords individual teachers and students opportunities to collaborate with other classrooms around the world relatively easily. I recently discovered a free online program called ePals, which allows teachers to match their classroom of students with other classes from around the globe and correspond with those individuals through a safe and secure email program or online video conferencing tool. Although I have yet to be able to use this tool, I look forward to doing so in my future classroom and this article has helped me to discover added benefits of using technology to form global collaborative learning environments.

Thoughts on the Clark/Kozma Debate

The Clark/Kozma Debate

Now that you have read the Reader’s Digest version of this long standing argument, what are your thoughts? Do you think Clark is right? Do you think Kozma is right? Do you think neither is right? Why?

When reviewing the information presented in this debate over media between Richard Clark and Robert Kozma, I have to say that I believe that I would agree more with Kozma’s side of the argument. Clark seems to support the idea that while various forms of media are methods for delivering instruction, the media itself is not responsible for influencing student achievement. Instead, he argues that the influence comes from the instructional method utilized in the learning environment and not the media that is used to present the information. When evaluating the learning process, I believe that Clark wanted to remove the media utilized from the assessment. His argument seems to be that the same instructional method using different media can produce similar learning results and therefore, the learning that occurs is not a result of the media used within the lesson, but rather the instructional method presented. While this can be true, I do not feel as though individuals can simply remove media from the equation when looking to evaluate learning. Kozma seems to argue that certain types of media possess certain characteristics that make them useful in accomplishing certain learning tasks. In other words, different media or media attributes can influence or impact the learning process as learners interact with the media presented, and therefore should be considered when evaluating learning. I tend to agree more with this idea because I believe that certain aspects of different media help to compliment learning. While I can agree that media itself, is not directly responsible for learning that occurs, I do not believe it is beneficial to discount its effects on the learning process. Although I have had limited experience as a classroom teacher, I know from my own school experience that the inclusion of various forms of media within a lesson often affords me the opportunity to see information being presented in different ways. In my opinion, this is beneficial to the learning process because it helps me to develop a better understanding of the information being presented. I believe that this is also true for other students because I have seen how some students respond well to the use of a certain type of media, while others do not seem to comprehend the information being presented until they see it in a different way. I feel that the use of various media allows teachers to present the same information in varying formats, thus accommodating different learning styles. While it might be true that incorporating different media within a lesson means that the instructional method is subject to change, I still feel as though it is important not to discount the impact that different media can have on the learning process.

My Thoughts on Educational Technology

1.       How would you define educational technology?

Before I began studying more about educational technology, I would have defined it in terms of the kinds of tools that are used to assist teachers and students within the classroom. My classroom teaching experience is just beginning and I have had little prior knowledge of the kinds of technology tools used within an educational environment. After having explored the idea of educational technology a bit further in my last few courses, I have come to realize that educational technology is about more than simply the physical tools that are used within a learning environment. It also involves the process of research, design, evaluation, and implementation of tools that can assist in the learning process. I suppose that if I were to develop a definition for educational technology, I would say that it is the process in which technological tools are developed and implemented within an educational environment in order to enhance both the teaching and learning experience. 

2.       The study of educational technology begins with a look at the teaching-learning process. Why do you think this is an important place to start?

I feel that the purpose of educational technology is to change or enhance the teaching/learning experience in order to assist individuals in developing a greater understanding of the information that is being presented in the educational environment. Therefore, it makes logical sense that in order for educational technology to help in this process, the best place to begin is to examine the teaching/learning process. If the goal of educational technology is to enhance the educational process, the individuals who work to develop educational tools have to begin their creation by looking at the teaching and learning process in order to gain insight into the areas where the addition of technology could aid in improving the comprehension and understanding of the information being presented. In addition, this is also a good place for teachers who are looking to implement technology within their classrooms to begin the process. Successful use of educational technology can not be achieved without evaluating the areas where instruction and understanding seem to be lacking. By identifying the parts of the teaching/learning process that need improvement, designers and instructors can develop better ideas and theories as to which technology tools can “fill in the gaps” and help to enhance the educational process. Learning more about how educators present information and how students receive that information will greatly assist in the process of developing and implementing educational technology tools that can improve both the teaching and learning experience.