Learning Technologies in Adult Education Essay - 1947 Words

Learning Technologies in Adult Education Any tool â€Å"designed to extend a learner’s capacity for effective action and that requires skill and certain strategies to use efficiently† is a learning technology (Burge 2001, p. 146). A well-structured face-to-face group discussion, a pencil, and print materials fit this definition as do newer tools such as web-based conferencing (ibid.). One of the greatest myths surrounding learning technologies is related to what they are. Because of the term technology, it is frequently believed that learning technologies are instructional devices that make use of computers, the Internet, or some other type of electronic technology such as video and television. Newer learning technologies are changing†¦show more content†¦2001). Although frequently thought of as merely a delivery system, the role of technology should be to create an environment that facilitates learning (Olgren 2000). No amount of hardware and software can substitute for a poorly designed learning experience (Wagner 2001). In considering and choosing learning technologies, the emphasis should always be on learning, with technology playing a supporting role. Furthermore, no single technology is the answer to all teaching and learning needs. â€Å"Current pressures to put all the course materials on the web, for example, is too simplistic an answer to very complex questions about learning style differences, the kinds and levels of learning objectives and outcomes, the learning resources best suited to those objectives, the communications infrastructure in place or needed, and limits to the money and staff skills available† (Burge 1999, p. 2). Learning Technologies Are Neutral? Another myth surrounding learning technologies is that they are neutral, that is, they are separate from the social structures in which they are designed and they have no influence on the teaching and learning environment (Miller 2001). Although questions about which technologies to choose to accomplish â€Å"pedagogical and intellectual purposes† are important, â€Å"the larger question of the imperatives of the technology itself and how these shape what we do, how we think about ourselves, and what we do†Show MoreRelated The Case for Technology Essay1710 Words   |  7 Pages Technology permeates our society. In work settings, employees are expected to use computers for such tasks as communication, information management, problem-solving, and information seeking. Because technology is such an integral part of modern life, it behooves educators to prepare learners to use it effectively. 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