Program Learning Outcomes 1-3:
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Demonstrate knowledge and skills related to learning using technology.
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Demonstrate knowledge and skills in current and emerging instructional technologies.
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Design learning opportunities that apply technology-enhanced instructional strategies to support the needs of all learners.
Introduction
A teacher’s primary goal is to communicate information to students effectively; therefore the delivery in which information is transmitted plays a significant role in the teaching- learning process (Lever-Duffy & McDonald, 2015). A comprehensive understanding of individual’s various learning styles and capabilities provides teachers the opportunity to adjust and implement instruction in a manner that will create an effective learning outcome for all learners (Lever-Duffy & McDonald, 2015). Neglecting to recognize or understand different learning styles and intelligence can create learning barriers in the classroom. The traditional style of classroom lectures may not be a successful means of communicating to the linguistic learner nor is it an effective means of communication for those with high bodily-kinesthetic, musical, or spatial intelligence. Individuals who are not auditory learners will not have the same opportunity to comprehend the information that is being taught, and therefore may not excel at the same rate as the individuals who are dominant in linguistic intelligence. The student is at the mercy of the instructor's teaching style and must try to adjust in order to retain and understand given material. Studies suggest that students are found to have a higher level of engagement, maintain positive views, and retain information longer when information is taught to the mirror the student’s learning styles (Moallem, 2007).
Instructional Design Principles and Theories
By incorporating educational technology in the classroom, it allows for more options in the delivery of information providing the opportunity for greater student engagement and comprehension (Vaughn, 2007). Different types of educational technology, including video games, create an environment which cultivates critical thinking and problem-solving skills (Boss, 2011). Technology provides a means to engage the learning process far beyond a class lectures and traditional testing. Often, with the use of multimedia and other types of technology, students are pro-active learners and continue to explore additional information which sparks their curiosity (Li, 2016). Educational technology can also help in identifying students who are struggling in specific subject areas and can get additional support rather than it reflecting in a poor test score (Vaughn, 2007). It is through the implementation of technology that a variety of instruction can be applied to reach the majority of learning styles that an instructor will encounter in the classroom.