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logs,wikis, podcasts or just an LMS? process engaged by the teacher for each some cases, resistance has been so high that
what letter are we up to now? we p a r t i c u l a rl e a r n i n ge x p e r i e n c e . t h e i m p l e m e n t a t i o no f t h e t e c h n o l o g yh a s f a i l e d
e m b r a c e d e - l e a r n i n g ,b u t n o w i t There are a number of issuesto be considered completely.
seems we have to move into m- a n d a n u m b e r o f p e o p l e t o b e c o n s u l t e dw h e n Technologists are very good at knowing the
l e a r n i n ga n d i - l e a r n i n gY. e s- t h a t ' s considering a new technology. technology, but often do not have educational
d e f in i t e l y a n i t a l i c ' i ' ! experience.They should be part of your team,
W h a t i s t h i s n e w l a n g u a g ew e h a v e a l l h a d Establishyour needs- then choose but remember, they are seeing the technology
t o l e a r n ?A n d w h a t h a p p e n st o t h o s e o f u s w h o the technology with a different set ofvalues to educators.
havejust mastered last year'svocabulary only to Y o u r n e e d s s h o u l d a l w a y sd i c t a t e w h i c h ( i f a n y ) T e a c h e r ss h o u l d b e i n c l u d e d o n t h e p a n e l
find there'sa new set for this year? t e c h n o l o g y s h o u l d b e u s e d .A c o m m o n m i s t a k e that selects any new technology. They know
Never before have we had such an array of is to start with the technology and then find a what they need in order to teach effectively
t e c h n o l o g i e sa v a i l a b l et o s u p p o r t t e a c h i n g a n d use for it. Any technology should be just another a n d c a n e v a l u a t eh o w a n e w t e c h n o l o g y c o u l d
learning.But which do we use,why, when, where delivery tool e n h a n c et h e i r t e a c h i n g .A f t e r a l l ,t h e r e i s n o u s e
and how? Focus on the learners and their nieds, introducing a new technology !f it is not going to
T h e a n s w e ri s q u i t e s i m p l e - t h e r e i s o n l y o n e the teachers and their needs. What are your e n h a n c et h e t e a c h i n g / l e a r n i n gp r o c e s s .
technology to use - the RIGHTone! But how do objectives? Do you need to have high level
w e c h o o s et h e r i g h t o n e a n d i s o n e e n o u g h ?l s i t interaction and the ability to show moving Considerthe needsof your learners
t h e l a t e s th i g h t e c h m a c h i n et h a t g o e s ' B i n g ! ' ?O r i m a g e s ?T h e q u e s t i o n t o a s k i s : w h i c h m e d i u m L e a r n i n gi s a b o u t l e a r n e r sJ. u s t a s t e a c h e r sh a v e
c o u l d i t b e a s s i m o l ea s a C D ? will BEST convey my message? For example, to be comfortable with a new technology, so do
There are many ways of categorising learning accounting principles can be effectively taught t h e l e a r n e r s .B e s u r e t h a t y o u a r e n o t l i m i t i n g
technologies. For our purposes here, I have t h r o u g h t e x t a n d d i a g r a m s ,b u t b r a i n s u r g e r y accessby some students through the choice of
divided them into two categories: d e f i n i t e l yn e e d ss o m e m o v i n g c o l o u r i m a g e s ! your technology. For example, the introduction
1 .D i s t r i b u t e d lf you need a high level of person-to-person of videoconferencing will preclude any students
2. Interactive interaction in your course, then one of the who do not have accessto broadband.
Distributed implies one-way delivery synchronoustechnologies will be needed. Also consider the learning styles of your
with no interaction between teacher and students. Some will prefer learning through
learners or among learners,for example, print, Look at the range of technologies interaction with vision, while others will not
podcasts. (Although you can build in some - do not be seducedbyjust one. r e s p o n dt o t h i s s o w e l l .
delayed interaction around these using other T h e r ea r e a n u m b e r o f t e c h n o l o g i e st h a t m a y s u i t
technologies.) y o u r n e e d s .N o s i n g l et e c h n o l o g y i s s u p e r i o rt o Whichwilllchoose?
Interactive refers to delivery modes that all the others.lt is very easyto become entranced Given that an organisation has made informed
provide for interaction among all participants in b y t h e l a t e s t ,w h i c h h a s ' f l a s h i n gl i g h t s ' a n d a l l decisions about the technologies that are
'bells
various ways. Interactive can be further divided sorts of and whistlesi a v a i l a b l e ,y o u , a s t e a c h e r , f a c e t h e t a s k o f
into two categories: Look carefully at your needs and objectives. incorporating these into your learning program.
1. Synchronous(real-time),for example,audio, (Do you have needs and objectives?Or are you In order to make informed decisions,it is
web and video conferencing,instant messaging just buying into technology for the sake of it?) n e c e s s a r yt o u n d e r s t a n dt h e t e c h n o l o g i e s- t h e i r
and chat. There are a series of questions to ask here: o o t e n t i a la n d l i m i t a t i o n s .
2. Asynchronous(delayedtime), for example, Do I need sound,colour and/or motion? How
email,bulletin boards,listservs,blogs a v a i l a b l e / a c c e s s i b l ei s t h i s t e c h n o l o g y ? W i l l What are the technologies?
How many times have you heard about the the students have easy access to it and be We do not have enough space here to take an
introduction of these technologies with great comfortable using it? How much does it cost i n - d e p t h l o o k a t t h e a v a i l a b l et e c h n o l o g i e s b, u t
fanfare only to hear no more about them? - and how much money do I have? if you are not familiar with any of the following,
Spectacular failures have been rampant and lsuggest you look them up in wikipedia
'Why?i
one must ask, Some questions come Includethe usersin your selection (www.wikipedia.org).All of these are being used
i m m e d i a t e l yt o m i n d : process t o s o m e d e g r e ef o r t e a c h i n ga n d l e a r n i n g :
W h o m a d e t h e d e c i s i o n s ?W i t h w h o m d i d l f t h e u s e r sd o n o t l i k e t h e t e c h n o l o g yt h e y w i l l . Email
t h e y c o n s u l t ?O n w h a t b a s i sw a s t h i s t e c h n o l o g y not use it! lt's amazing how many good reasons . Bulletin boards,discussionlists,listservs

chosen?What was the input of those expected they will find not to use it. Or they may simply . CDs,DVDs
to use it? ignore it and go their own way. . I n s t a n tM e s s a g i n g
I constantly work with organisations that . S M S& M M S
'imposed'
ChoosingThe RightTechnology have a technology because the . Chat
I see two levelsat which technological decisions Chief Executive Officer and/or the lnformation . Blogs- text, audio and video
are made in a learning organization. The first Technology section have decided that'this is the . Wikis
is the initial decision to purchase and have way to goiThe amount of time that it then takes . LearnerManagement Systems
available a particular technology for use by to change the negative attitudes of teachers . Audio, web, video conferencing
t e a c h e r s .T h e s e c o n d i s t h e d e c i s i o n - m a k i n o and students is totally counterproductive. In . Audio and video streaming

T H EE D U C A T T O
TENC H N O L O G
GYU r D E g1
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. Podcasts(the new video ipod has recently
been released)
. VolP,for example,Skype
Convergence
Although I have listed each of the above as
separate and definable technologies, these
b o u n d a r i e sa r e b e i n g b l u r r e d a n d w e a r e s e e i n g
a convergenceof all onto the one platform.
Characteristics
In order to simplify the process of choosing
the right technology, I have allocated each of
the technologies a series of characteristics in
the table following. These are by no means
e x h a u s t i v e ,b u t m a y h e l p i n m a k i n g d e c i s i o n s
a b o u t w h i c h t e c h n o l o g yt o u s e .
ln Conclusion
We live in an era when technology surrounds
us and offers many opportunities. However,
e x e r c i s ey o u r k n o w l e d g e a n d u n d e r s t a n d i n go f
t e a c h i n g a n d l e a r n i n g t o p r o v i d e l e a r n e r sw i t h
i n s t r u c t i o n a ls o l u t i o n s- n o t t e c h n o l o g i c a lo n e s !
Wise choicesand the use of new technology
can greatly extend and enhance the learning
experrence.
l f y o u w o u l d l i k e t o k e e p a b r e a s to f l e a r n i n g
t e c h n o l o g i e sa n d h o w o t h e r s a r e u s i n g t h e m ,
join the Learning Technologies User Group
(www.ltug.org)
Carol Daunt is an expert in the application & use
of learning technologies.With almost twenty years
experienceshe is recognisedas the leader in her
field - both in Australia and internationally. She is
co-founder & ExecutiveDirector of the Learning
TechnologiesUserGroup.For information see:
www.learntel.com.auAND www.ltu g.org

T H EE D U C A T I OTN
ECHNOLOG
GYU I D E 93