Digital Learning

The Citadel Graduate College

Crystal Butler and Caitlin Rebuck
 What is digital learning?
“Digital learning is any instructional practice that effectively
uses technology to strengthen a student's learning
experience.” – Alliance for Excellent Education

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5SXEB86cEEA
 Types of Digital Learning
 Mobile learning/M-Learning

 Blended/Hybrid learning

 Online-only learning

 Flipped Classroom – students watch

lectures online before coming to
class
 Support for Digital Learning
 Self-Paced - Students can move through material at their
own pace, whether that be faster than the school guided
pace, or slower with more time on each assignment
 Comfort - Students can learn from an environment where
they are completely comfortable without social pressures, or
any other discomforts they may experience in a typical
school setting.
 Flexibility - Student can work whenever they chose which
may be beneficial for those who compete in athletics, or
have other interest in talents that may take up time.
Students schedule can be modified to fit attentiveness, and
restlessness as well.
 Support for Digital Learning
 Engaging - Online games can be more stimulating, and different
programs can encourage children to actively participate without
feeling the pressure of learning.

 Real-time Assessment - Online activities and test typically are

evaluated immediately, this allows the student to see mistakes
immediately and understand weakness without time passing.

 Enhanced Computer/Internet Knowledge and Efficiency -

Online activities naturally allow for more time spent with
technology which increases knowledge and proficiencies.
 Support for Digital Learning
 Convenience - Students can access material at anytime or
place. They can do work while in commute, while waiting, and
while at home in bed.

 Greater Ability to Concentrate - Student who struggle with

attentiveness are often distracted by the behaviors an stimuli
within the classroom. Independent learning in a quite
environment increase concentration.

 Self-Selected learning - Students can choose to delve deeper

into subjects that intrigue them, and have more access to
material in a variety of subjects. Student can choose to do the
minimum requirements in areas that they dislike.
21st Century Learners

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZ5Vy9BgSeY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BjPMFWlYtaw
 Problems with Digital Learning
 Not cost-effective – Blended learning is more expensive than
traditional learning

 Little to no change in achievement – online-only instruction

has shown little to no improvement in student academic
achievement

 Not enough research for K-12 – most of the research on

digital/blended learning has been conducted in higher ed, not
K-12

 Personalized Instruction? – the definition of personalized

instruction is often unclear and cannot be clearly measured
 Possible Improvements

“It may be that we need to turn to new ways of conceptualizing

the role of technology in the classroom—conceptualizations that
do not assume the computer will provide direct instruction to
students, but instead will serve to create new opportunities for
both learning and teaching”

- Noel Enyedy (Associate professor of Education and Information

Studies at the University of California-Los Angeles)
Thoughts? Questions?
 References
Huntsberry, W. (2014, November 25). Is Digital Learning More Cost Effective? Maybe Not. Retrieved from
http://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2014/11/25/366401940/is-digital-learning-more-cost-effective-maybe-not

Mathis, W. J., Enyedy, N. (2014, November 24). Report Urges Caution on Approaches Equating Technology in
Schools with Personalized Learning. Retrieved from
http://nepc.colorado.edu/newsletter/2014/11/Personalized-instruction

Enyedy, N. (2014, November 24). New Interest, Old Rhetoric, Limited Results, and the Need for a New
Direction for Computer-Mediated Learning. Retrieved from
http://nepc.colorado.edu/publication/personalized-instruction

http://all4ed.org/issues/digital-learning/