In one of the required readings for Module 1, Moore and Kearsley claim that we often conflate technology and media, where instead, they each serve a different purpose: “Technology is the physical vehicle that carries messages, and the messages are represented in a medium” (Basic concepts, 2005, p. 7). After making this distinction, they go on to propose that high-quality content is more important than the way it is delivered. Our fascination with new technology often leads us to jump in head first to try it out, without necessarily evaluating whether or not it is the best way to deliver the content.
Multimedia platforms can really help to personalize distance education. One of the faculty members I work with is a literature professor. He records himself reading some of the required poems so that his online students become familiar with his voice, and experience an oral interpretation – almost a performance—of the work.
At the same time, there are limitations that make use of both technology and media difficult. I work at a community college, and many of our students do not have computers at home. They use the computers in the library and the labs on campus, or they use their cell phones to access the internet. While I do not disagree with Moore and Kearsley about the importance of high-quality content, I do think that a digital divide still exists and must be considered when preparing materials for distance education. This was in the back of my mind during the Module 2a discussions about asynchronous and synchronous learning – without a computer and/or a private space to participate in an online webinar, synchronous learning may not be an option for some students.
In addition, students with special needs must be considered. When I have created online tutorials (podcasts or videos), I have provided transcripts as well. I have to admit, though, that I have not made accommodations when I have presented an online webinar, and am not entirely sure how that kind of presentation could be made fully accessible.
I have come to realize that it is important to make a deliberate choice about how to deliver content, and that this actually applies to both distance education and face-to-face teaching.
Moore, M. G., & Kearsley, G. (2005). Basic concepts.
Distance education: A systems view (pp. 1-22). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.