For Pavlos Days *
Universities have always been places of innovation, placing emphasis on academic exploration and individual development. That has not changed with the advancement of technology. . In fact, the adoption of virtual learning environments, mobile communication and distance learning is enhanced which can be offered and achieved
Most universities share the same goal: to improve the learning experience of the student in order to impact their performance and ultimately increase their ability to achieve life goals and career. This goal requires a strong focus on the student and the use of technology can help meet your needs and rising expectations. But the success of these initiatives depends on the institution’s ability to change some ingrained attitudes in the academic field.
You need strong executive leadership to drive change and convincing arguments to show how the technology can be useful within the context academic. For many managers, it becomes a personal mission to look beyond any obstacles or questions and create a technology strategy that delivers results.
However, the implementation of technology in education can not be done the day for the night, requires investment, not only financial, but in terms of change management, support and communication.
the technology itself has to be reliable. Students and teachers hope that the technology is always available and any problems with stability will affect adoption. No one will feel comfortable with something that can fail at a crucial moment, is in the middle of an online or trying to send a job class. The foundations must be covered from the start. The Virtual Learning Environment is available 24 hours a day? It runs at the speed users need? It is available on all platforms, browsers and devices?
For many teachers, using a first virtual environment is a change in its established work practice and that they have come to trust. It is the role of the institution to support them with training, technical support and guidance. Users need access to help, by phone, chat , e-mail or in person, if they experience immediate questions or fail to make the system work as you wish . It is also vital to provide training on the new technology contextualize the best pedagogical practices.
The technology is an important tool to be used by educators to improve their teaching process, so it is important not to play there and expect instant adoration. Institutions should do their best to provide resources that can increase adoption. Is sharing links Useful YouTube, literature on the subject, online articles, helping to solve any technical difficulties or offering official training courses as part of continuing professional development faculty.
Today is a standard for universities to invest in technology to benefit their students. However, the systems are not always used fully. Teachers need to be convinced that technology can make more interesting teaching, easy, motivating and especially to improve student outcomes. If the technology available to teachers is not exploited and used, this does not only affect the teachers, but also an injustice to students.
No one likes to be forced into anything, it should be by sharing success stories and best practices that universities can create a wave of enthusiasm for what is achievable with the use of technology. In addition, using technology to engage students, from the time of registration to the final evaluation, may provide vital data that can be used to power the short-long-term strategy of the university.
No no turning back now. It is unthinkable for a university in 2016 did not want to engage students electronically, offer distance learning courses or monitor progress and success rate with the use of technology. In the coming years, technology will continue to be the backbone of educational institutions, ensuring that they are able to offer a unique learning experience, faster, more relevantly, to a larger group and more diverse people.
The technology is as good as its users are. If universities are unable to dive deep into the beneficial aspects of technology, if they fail to engage students, and the teachers are reluctant to explore what is possible, the successful adoption is unlikely. And that is worse than a waste of money, it is a waste of opportunity.
* Pavlos Days is National Manager of Blackboard Brazil.
No comments:
Post a Comment