In recent years, we have seen an explosion in the number and variety of technology tools that we can use in order to support learning, facilitate interactions, and even be the learning environment itself. There are so many types of apps, software packages, hardware devices, and systems for connecting them all that it is impossible for individuals to keep up with their proliferation or know how to use all of them.
By allowing designers and instructors to select technology tools individually, we risk shifting some of our learners’ cognitive load away from the subject matter they are studying in order to learn how to use the various tools and systems with which they may be unfamiliar. Rather than mandate that all of our offerings follow exactly the same structure and use the same tools, we can provide learners, instructors, and designers with a shared set of core tools – along with freedom to adopt individual tools beyond that core set for subject-specific learning needs.
In this course, we’ve examined four functions that all learners need to have, regardless of the topics they are studying: a way to store and share their work, a way to track their time and efforts, a way to connect with others to study and practice, and a way to get access to content, interactions, and each other whenever and wherever they are able to make time for study. There is a ‘core of four’ set of technology tools that must be accessible and simple to use for everyone that correspond to these four functions: personal file space, calendar tools, collaboration software, and mobile-communication interfaces.
The key take-aways for this ‘Tech Tools and How to Use Them Inclusively’ course are to look for and eliminate duplication of function among the various technology tools that your organization uses, and to free up as much cognitive load for your learners by using only those tools that have a clear purpose in supporting the learning goals of your offerings and programs.
Click on the quiz name below to take a short low-stakes quiz to see if you remember some of the key concepts of this course. Once complete, you will be able to view your results of the quiz. When you click ‘Click here to continue’ that will mark the end of this course, part 2 of a 3 part learning path.
Thank you for taking this ‘Tech Tools and How to Use Them Inclusively’ course which has been developed with Thomas J. Tobin. We hope you have enjoyed it. Remember to mark this lesson as ‘Mark Complete’ to earn your Course Completion Badge.