This week as we have read the Horizon
Reports, I focused more on the Higher Education report as I teach in
a Radiography program for adult learners. It is very interesting to
read through these reports and see how education is being affected by
technology on a daily basis. One of the barriers that prevents true
integration of technology into education includes the understanding
and appropriate use of technology within the learning environment
(Horizon Report, 2015). As technology is ever-changing and dynamic,
it is also a common sight within classrooms of all ages. Therefore,
as the report indicates, learners are being expected to know certain
foundational usage of technology (Horizon Report, 2015). However,
without proper training for learners AND teachers, technology cannot
be effectively implemented in for maximal use in the classrooms.“The
most significant influence on the evolution of virtual learning will
not be the technical development of more powerful devices, but the
professional development of wise designers, educators and learners”
(Johnson et al., 2012, p. 66). I believe that this barrier is
related to limited resources and resistance from teachers to commit
to extra professional development time. Meyers (2014) notes that
higher level institutions are often “under economic, technological,
and public pressure” in how they appropriate their yearly budgets.
Over
the next 5-10 years, it looks as if technology will consume the
higher education classroom. Whether in face-to-face classrooms or
online classrooms, technology will play a vital role in education.
The Horizon Reports indicate that bring-your-own-device, flipped
classrooms, and adaptive learning technologies will all be the wave
of the future (Horizon Reports, 2015). Adult learners may find
themselves in a combination of classroom types including traditional,
flipped, hybrid, or online classes. Educational opportunities will
be provided in a flexible and convenient atmosphere and will be able
to cater to special needs learners. There is so much potential for
technology in our classrooms and I, for one, am very excited to see
what the future holds.
References:
Johnson,
T., Wisniewski, M., Kuhlemeyer, G., Isaacs, G., & Krzykowski, J.
(2012). Technology adoption in higher education: Overcoming
anxiety through faculty bootcamp. Journal
of Asynchronous Learning Networks, 16(2),
63-72.
Meyer, K., (2014). An Analysis of the cost and
cost-effectiveness of faculty development for
online
teaching. Journal
of Asynchronous Learning Networks, 18(1),
1-13.
NMC
Horizon Report: 2015 Higher Education.
(2015).
Retrieved
from http://www.nmc.org/publication/nmc-horizon-report-2015-higher
education-edition/
It is so important in today’s world to realize that as technology changes we have to take the time to learn how it works so it can be implemented in the correct way in the classroom or in our lives in general. Districts that are limited to resources because of budgets do not have the latest and greatest technology available to all teachers and the teachers who are given the technology are not trained properly on how to use it and sadly it sits in a corner somewhere and is not used to benefit the students it was meant to benefit. I believe that as technology become more and more prevalent in our lives it will take over classrooms through projects such as BYOD or virtual classrooms. Technology provides so much flexibility in how and where people learn and earn degrees that more people are turning to online classrooms because of responsibilities and demands of families and jobs.
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