Someone once said that, “Haste makes waste”. I’m not sure that I universally subscribe to this idea, but in the world of technology integration, there’s a great deal of validity to that statement. There’s another saying that refers to Aesop’s Fable, “The Tortoise and the Hare”, whereas the most anxious and aggressive don’t always come in on top. Well with that said: Perhaps the Early Bird does get the worm, but whether it’s the best and most gratifying worm may be yet another story! These observations carry a great deal of weight with regard to how new technologies are distributed and adopted by today’s consumers.

Today we live in an environment where new product ideas are researched, designed, developed, and distributed to an international consumer base in record time. The research and development phase’s of producing new products and technologies is indeed a costly and time-sensitive endeavor. In fact the practice of developing, producing, and marketing new products to consumers is enormously expensive. Therefore the faster products are marketed and sold, the quicker companies will receive a return on their investment. Both publicly held companies (those listed on the various stock exchanges and are owned by groups of shareholders), and private entities share the challenge of creating a positive cash flow situation as fast and as efficiently as possible. Investors, including stock holders, banks, private equity and other entities, have a vested interest in the rapid diffusion of new technologies to the market. However there are sometimes inherent problems that may potentially effect quality, and the end user (consumer) can be left holding the bag. Therefore the methods with which new products and services are marketed, distributed and sold, may not always in the best interest of consumers.

In the business environment, the approach to adapting new products and technologies is extremely conservative. Businesses rely on efficiency and productivity to turn a profit. They have little time for experimentation and little patience for ironing out problems and other challenges related to organizational change. For example: When new versions of a computer operating system such as Microsoft Windows or a new mobile device such as an iPhone is introduced to the public, information technology professionals are almost paranoid toward immediate plans for any wide-spread adaptation or implementation. Business organizational networks are not social networks. They are mission critical tools for managing data and distributing other important information. A premature introduction of technologies can often prove problematic due to limited research and development, and/or a lack of proper usability testing in “real world” work environments. Therefore it is the consumer base that is often charged with experimenting and uncovering technical issues.

New technologies often fail or are unstable under certain conditions. The perception may be that consumers have a much greater threshold for dealing with problems associated with newly introduced products. For this reason, and by default, consumers who are quick to purchase the latest and greatest products as soon as they become available, often pay a premium in terms of quality and costs. As an early adopter, you may be faced with immediate updates, upgrades and performance and even security issues. Additionally and perhaps more significantly, you will almost surely pay a premium with the highest price for a given product.

Having obtained the latest and greatest new product or gadget may be self-ingratiating in terms of social status and popularity, but in the larger scheme; Ask yourself, is it really worth the extra costs associated with being an early adopter?

Educators and other subject matter specialists understand that developing clean, concise and relevant learning content is anything but arbitrary. The process involves a great deal of thought, insight and judgment as it relates to the information being gathered and presented. A variety of processes and tasks help us to assemble our thoughts and ideas, and to build upon our expertise in order to effectively share knowledge and information with learners. The goal is to identify specific needs, develop solutions, and to examine the outcome of our efforts based on predetermined criteria. These steps are essential to the development of an effective instructional strategy.

A great deal of research has been conducted regarding the processes of designing and assessing educational resources and learning outcomes. Instructional design models incorporate methods that are from the relatively simple to the more complex. These methods include Concept Mapping, the ASSURE Model, Criterion Referenced Instruction, the ADDIE Model as well as many variants.

One of the more prevalent instructional design models uses the ADDIE acronym for Assessment, Design, Development, Implementation and Evaluation. However this representation does not fully address an important phase that relates to the teaching and learning processes—which should include ongoing maintenance of the learning resource.

Having a solid instructional design plan is an important factor for assuring that learning goals have been met, but does not require you to necessarily be a professional instructional designer. The most important point is having a clear understanding of the specific need(s) being addressed prior to attempting to facilitate a solution or learning intervention, from a micro and/or macro level of the instructional lesson, unit, chapter, section, course, or program.

An instructional design process should be conducted in a non-linear fashion. This means that processes and steps should be revisited as necessary throughout the process. However a needs assessment should be clearly established in order to determine why and what the instructional focus will be from the onset, prior to moving forward. Following these basic steps will go a long way in assuring that instructional goals are being met in an efficient way that is most conducive to meeting educational goals through clearly established learning objectives.

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.