Introduction to Using the Internet in the Classroom

Describe two key trends that accelerate the adoption of technology in Higher Education and the implications of these trends

The key trend accelerating the adoption of technology in Higher Education that stood out to me is Increasing the use of blended learning designs. By integrating face to face education with online technology, instructors can teach lessons and get real time feedback about a students' retention while tracking their success and engagement in the learning process.  According to the NMC Horizon Report, over a five year period, The University of Massachusetts followed students learning in both tradition classroom setting and  learning in a blended environment.  The study found the students were more engaged in the blended environment, which led to increased active learning and ultimately had more success. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation reviewed 20 similar studies that showed similar results. The implications of these studies would be that Higher Education institutions will continue to implement more and more blended learning designs, in hopes of increased success for their students.

A second key trend accelerating the adoption of technology in Higher Education is rethinking  how Institutions work. The ever growing internet and the ease of access have opened the doors to a world of learning outside of the traditional classroom. Students have a wealth of knowledge at their fingertips and universities have begun to change to the way lessons are taught because students have an expectation that gathering this knowledge is best done through digital channels. There is also a recognition by students that they will work in an environment where technology (i.e computers) plays an important role.  Because of this, colleges and universities are adopting more technology to meet the expectations of the students. The implications of rethinking how institutions work include a need for flexible legislative procedures and policies.  This would include opening the doors to make financial aid more easily accessible for student who work towards a degree using online classes.  Another implication of this trend is the breakdown of tradition walls between disciplines and working towards an interdisciplinary community, where students from across many disciplines can come together and work across several different fields.


Describe two challenges that impede adoption of technology in Higher Education and the implications of these challenges

Improving Digital Literacy is a major challenge as Higher Education institutions work to adopt and implement more technology into the classroom.  According to eh NMC Horizon Report, the biggest challenge here is that there does not appear to be a consensus among higher learning institutions about what constitutes Digital Literacy.  According to a study by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, here in the United States one in four millennials want to improve their digital literacy and 37% say the internet is scary.  The study found that the United States is ranked nearly last in the world for digital literacy. This challenge shows that lawmakers, stakeholders and policy makers need to do a better job at equipping students with effective methods of increasing digital literacy to help students adapt in the fast and ever changing work environment.

Another challenge impeding the adoption of technology in Higher Education is Personalized Learning.  While the need for personalized learning is a known factor in education, the methods to effectively facilitate personalized learning is still in its infancy.  Personalized learning takes into account the different ways students learn.  Howard Gardner's Theory of Multiple Intelligences is a perfect example of the different ways students absorb and master their lessons. With eight different intelligences, tailoring an all inclusive lesson plan that will ultimately ensure that all students will walk away with comparable end result is very difficult. The implications of Personalized Learning include a need for professional development for teachers and faculty as it relates to the technology being used to accommodate the learning.  Also, as the call for more personalized learning increases, there needs to be set standards.  Standards that ensure, that even when students are taking different educational routes, they are ultimately working towards the same educational goals.