Learning in a Digital World

The nature of my profession as a filmmaker and my profession as a college professor has forced my hand in technology-based learning. Studying video production, I used technology to write, shoot, edit, and distribute my college assignments. The lack of a local graduate program to study Educational Technology has led me to take courses online, using the Internet and computer technology. This technology has affected the way I learn by creating a global network of informational sharing and collaboration. In many ways, I have become more social because of technology. When I was studying video production, I was so immersed in my work that I never spent any time face-to-face with anyone. While I was editing on the computer though, I would share my stories, and videos with filmmakers anywhere from Los Angeles to South Korea. Graduate school at Walden University has been no different. I may occasionally talk about my assignments with my neighbor, wife, or a coworker, but most communication is done online. Face-to face, I think there is a lot more empathy in learning. By observing physical cues, educators and learners can help determine problems and solutions in a personable manner. Online learning though, helps contribute to more openness in discussions and communication. I find that I contribute more to the class in an online environment instead of just keeping my head down in a face-to-face classroom. 

Regardless of face-to-face or online learning, connecting social and intellectual experiences is critical and non-negotiable in learning. Face-to-face, I always felt more dedicated to tasks and the subject matter. I could put faces to the names on the class roster and the work that was being shown. I would not communicate as much in class because I always thought someone else may have something more important to say, I did not want to sound stupid, or I did not want to hurt anybody’s feelings. Online I do not have these inhibitions, if someone finds my questions or points of view useless, they could just click on. Both ways of learning need a focus on individuality of the learner and a focus on their experiences, both social and intellectual. Online, the collaboration in blogs and discussions allow a network for social experiences to connect to our past experiences. Face-to-face, oral communication is the key to our social experiences. The use of social experiences and networking contribute to a constructivist theory of learning influenced by interaction (Jaramillo, 1996). 

Reference

Jaramillo, J. A. (1996). Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory and contributions to the development of constructivist curricula. Education, 117(1), 133.