Sharing information with learners is a foundation that supports the process of teaching and learning. The internet provides a catalyst for instructional opportunity. Tying social practices in to academics can be an effective teaching strategy for connecting with today’s learners. A valuable resource for sharing ideas and informational content such as writings, links and other artifacts that relate to an infinite array of subject matter are Weblogs, which are commonly referred to as Blogs. One reason why these are useful instructional tools is because they allow us to connect with learners anytime and anyplace, in a mobile-charged, fast paced lifestyle. The goal is to provide additional means and support for knowledge diffusion through the absorption of the subject matter.

Many of today’s learners, and particularly the millennial generation, are spontaneous in how they communicate or express themselves and thrive in a socially empowered environment. Blogging provides an avenue for spontaneous self-expression that can be conducive to our modern day dynamic learning environments. Here are a few “Key” tips for “unlocking” your classroom door through the use of Blogs.

Documenting Thoughts and Ideas on the Fly:

Today’s Millennials, also referred to as Generation Y, and born beginning in the early 1980’s, thrive on an ability to communicate openly and in an impromptu fashion. Social networking enables methods for communication that support this intrinsic behavior. Educational Blogs can provide a way to effectively leverage these actions in a way that can prove beneficial in supporting positive learning outcomes.

Collaboration and Discussion:

Providing opportunities for blog-based discussion is a means of allowing students to flourish with their thought patterns. This is typically what happens when individuals post comments, ideas and reactions on social media applications such as Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Educational Blogs provide avenues of communication that can focus on instructional initiatives that support a learner-centered community with a focus on collaboration.

Reflection and Critical Thinking:

Blogging can also provide avenues for reflection that support better absorption and understanding of the subject matter. Educational Blogs can allow both instantaneous response as well as a delayed reaction approach to individualized expression. This helps support multiple learning styles and promotes essential student participation throughout the teaching and learning process.

These are a few ways in which blogging can prove beneficial in today’s dynamic learning environments. Additional benefits include opening and stimulating dialog as well as strengthening support for the development of ideas and self-expression.

An asynchronous learning environment offers a dynamic student-centered approach to the process of teaching and learning. This is accomplished by fostering the ideal that the effective use of instructional technologies enables learners to participate in the educational process, while continuing to pursue their personal and professional goals.

Learner characteristics play an important factor in one’s ability to succeed in an online or blended learning environment. The use of instructional technologies throughout this process, are important resources that facilitate asynchronous communication, while providing maximum flexibility to students. However, of equal relevance is the learner’s propensity toward academic focus, and their willingness to do a self-assessment of the personal qualities needed in order to effectively participate in an asynchronous or mixed-mode learning environment.

It is important that learners recognize personal traits that are conducive to their personal growth. They must possess exceptional communications skills, with the ability to verbalize their thoughts effectively, while communicating both face-to-face, and in writing. A progressive learning environment – one that provides face-to-face, as well as asynchronous learning opportunities, enables individuals to utilize a variety of cognitive skills throughout the educational process. This approach embellishes ideals that focus on implementing strategies that assist us with constructing and disseminating new and existing knowledge.

An individual participating in an asynchronous learning environment would need to display a great deal of vision in their quest to construct or disseminate new or existing knowledge. Seeking problems that exist within one’s environment requires a great deal of vision and insight. In order to uncover and document the realities of change in a particular environment, one must possess a deep sense of commitment.

Reflection is an important learner trait because a blended learning environment requires individuals to apply information throughout the educational process, while reflecting upon what has been learned. Flexible educational opportunities offer learners options that expand upon the typical limitations of conventional classroom instruction. This requires learner’s to possess traits that relate to personal independence. Students must be self-motivated in order to comply with the rigorous demands of the coursework, and will need to possess outstanding organizational skills, and enormous personal conviction, to insure that they do not find themselves left behind, and unable to keep up with the numerous assignments. A student’s ability to assess these personal traits is crucial in assuring their ongoing success in a dynamic learning environment.

The use of computing technology in instruction has become prevalent in our quest to create dynamic learning resources that incorporate a student-centered approach to teaching and learning. The methods with which we proceed, will be dependent upon the needs of the learner. In a competitive service-oriented environment, organizations have to focus primarily on providing quality customer service. Educational institutions are no different, in that they also have to adjust to the needs of their client base – that is the student. Clearly, current lifestyles, social issues, and limited access, play a role in determining the need for educational flexibility. This has led to an explosion in the demand for alternative methods of instruction. Learners have certainly come to expectflexibility. Computing technology is a tool that assists us in meeting the instructional needs of students.

As the desire for flexible student-centered learning options increase, so will the continued growth in distributed learning. Society’s requirements will further dictate how we proceed with this evolution of change, as well as the methods in which we create and diffuse educational opportunities throughout our global communities. However access to echnology is not enough in it’s self. A comprehensive technology plan, followed by a systematic process of instructional design is also important. It is the process of instructional design that facilitates the activities of uncovering and delivering quality learning through the use of technology. A solid instructional design plan creates the foundation necessary for developing and implementing effective learning, and is the catalyst that supports the quality and flexibility learners have come to expect, and perhaps demand. Consumer demand will determine how and what we provide in terms of current and future learning opportunities.

Of all the distance learning modes available, computer networking has become most prevalent, as the preferred method of distribution. In higher education, online courses have surpassed the various forms of distributed learning, and shows signs of continued growth. This “online” approach, leads the way in asynchronous methodologies that support the flexible learning environment that continue to grow in demand. According to a survey conducted by the Sloan Consortium, “The number of students taking at least one online course is projected to increase by 19.8 percent over the one-year period from Fall 2002 to Fall 2003, to include a total of 1.9 million students”. Allen, E., & Seaman, J. (2003). Additional studies reflect that the numbers of distant learners have increased substantially, while further estimating continued growth. These indications are substantiated by the 2003 Sloan survey, that shows 578,000 degree seeking students enrolled in programs that were offered entirely at a distance.

Based on this data, it is clear that the demand for knowledge workers who specialize in the use of instructional technologies will only increase. It’s important to understand that distance learning is not, and should not, be considered as a replacement for face-to-face instruction. We should consider technology as an alternative or perhaps a supplement to conventional teaching methods. In a quest for providing flexibility, many academic programs are creating a balance between traditional classroom and asynchronous instruction, in the form of hybrid courses, that meet on a less than regular bases, while including an online component. The goal is to provide access and opportunities. Technology, if used effectively, is merely a tool that allows us to create the dynamic learning environments that assist us in meeting this goal. However, in the long run, the educational market place will be the true determinant for how and where we offer learning opportunities.

In order to succeed with positive change, an in depth understanding of the design, development and implementation processes regarding technology-based instruction, will require greater emphasis. The primary role of the change agent will be to successfully implement an effective plan that establishes a systematic approach to creating and delivering instruction.

An emphasis on quality, rather than quantity, will be the focal point, and will help insure the chances of success in a highly competitive, customer service oriented educational environment. Organizations will need to provide adequate system-wide support for the learning community. Quality is particularly important, in an asynchronous learning environment.

A focus on identifying real needs and developing effective solutions, through best practices, will enable us to better meet our needs. Computer technology can be an
intricate part of fulfilling these educational needs. As this evolution unfolds, each individual organization will have specific objectives. These organizational needs are attributed to an understanding that the success of an organization, or society as a whole, is directly related to the capabilities of its most important asset – that is the individuals who are charged with the organizations success.

The use of technology in instruction provides a catalyst for growth, by identifying and developing the resources that help supply the increase in demand for flexible learning solutions.

Allen, E., & Seaman, J. (2003). Sizing the Opportunity, The Quality and Extent of Online Education in the
United States, 2002 and 2003. The Sloan Consortium.