Reflections on Course Insights

I have learned that computer technology has evolved more in the last two decades than any time in history. This technology has influenced the education world to re-evaluate learning strategies to use technology to the advantage of the course designer, developer, instructor, and student. Because of this rapidly evolving technology and the attraction of distance education, the industry has embraced many forms of computer technology to facilitate online learning. The flexibility of the available tools make customization to meet individual learner needs possible. Students with different learning styles and disabilities are able to have the same learning opportunities as others.

Here are a few of the different uses of a variety of tools. These along with others can be viewed in a previous blog entitled ‘Online Learning’:

• Video: Allows the instruction the advantage of using the student's visual channel to view animations or connect with the expression of an instructor or speaker who is presenting material.
• Breakout sessions: Allow the facilitators to group learners in a synchronous environment into work groups so they can discuss and work their tasks in groups; the instructor can present or talk to these individual groups
• Polling: Allows the instructor to question, assess, poll, and request responses that will ensure engagement and give a measurement of participation and learning retention to the instructor so he or she can adjust strategies if necessary.

Learning management systems (LMS) are used to manage and deliver learning solutions. LMSs host the learning solutions and then provide permission based access and delivery to the students. Once the student has completed their training the LMS stores data about the event for future reference such as student credit for training, test scores, and level 1 survey data. If a student starts a course and doesn’t finish it, the LMS will take them to the place they left off when they return.

Brian G.