Impact of Technology in Our Lives

 

Today there are many benefits of the use of technology in our lives. There are also limitations. Our concern is how these limitations can impact our learning and our every day’s lives. When a new technology is created, we usually have a very specific use in mind. But as technology evolves and we take advantage of its potential, we also need to consider its limitations. Technology can become more than we had initially thought it would be. For example, a cell phone was originally developed to be used as a mobile phone. Today, a cell phone does almost anything -- we can use it as a camera, email device, calculator, or GPS system; we can use it to access the Internet and the latest news through alerts; and so on.  

One of the limitations of technology is that as individuals, we tend to behave differently when using it. For instance, people tend to reveal things about themselves that they would not reveal if they were in a normal real-life situation. This type of behavior has been evident in television interviews and sharing information on social networking sites such as Facebook or YouTube. We are puzzled about why people behave this way because the impact in our lives can be detrimental when using technology without being aware of its consequences. This lack of awareness is because the technology is elusive. 

• How can people become more aware of ways in which technology impacts their behavior? 
• How can people put this awareness into practice? 
• How can this practice benefit people's lives?

Framework for Designing Online Courses with a Sense of Presence

Designing an online course with a sense of presence requires understanding of the multifaceted concept of presence. For presence to be integrated into the design of an online course, it is important to understand the “Being There for the Online Learner” model, which was addressed in another episode, and use a framework for designing online courses with a sense of presence. This episode unpacks the Framework for Designing Online Courses with a Sense of Presence. 

• How do you design your online courses to create a sense of presence?
• What role(s) do you take when teaching online courses? 
• What type of instructor presence do you incorporate into your online course design?

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Conversations about Online Teaching and Learning Episode 12 Transcript

Ways in Which Presence Can Be Experienced

 

Presence is complex and elusive, and not easy to understand. We developed the “Being There for the Online Learner” model to make presence more concrete. The model is based on the perceptual systems and takes into consideration the dimensions of the learner, the types of experience, and the modes of presence. This episode focuses on the model and ways in which presence can be experienced in the online environment. Join in the virtual discussion and share your experiences with creating presence in your online courses.

Based on the book, Creating a Sense of Presence in Online Teaching: How to “Be There” for Distance Learners.

• What objective experiences do you include in your online courses?
• What subjective experiences do you include in your online courses?
• How do you engage your learners in your online courses to create a sense of presence?

 

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 Conversations about Online Teaching and Learning Episode 11 Transcript

Creating Presence from the Traditional to the Virtual

There is a difference in the way we create a sense of presence in the traditional face-to-face classroom compared to the virtual classroom. In this episode, Rosemary Lehman and Simone Conceição examine these differences and the distinguishing factors: space, time, boundaries, teaching, level of interaction, level of course planning, and cognitive and affective teaching effort.

Based on the book, Creating a Sense of Presence in Online Teaching: How to “Be There” for Distance Learners.

• What are the challenges you face when creating presence in the virtual world? 
• How do you create a sense of presence in your online courses as compared to the traditional classroom?

 

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Conversations about Online Teaching and Learning Episode 10 Transcript

The Role of Presence in the Online Environment

As digital technologies evolve, it points to the need to create a sense of presence as we teach and learn online. When there is a sense of presence in online teaching and learning, it can greatly enhance the instructor-learner relationship. This episode focuses on the role of presence in the online environment.  

Based on the book, Creating a Sense of Presence in Online Teaching: How to “Be There” for Distance Learners.

• How do you define presence in the online environment?

• How do you know that you have created a sense of presence in your online course?

• How has your instructor-learner relationship changed as you incorporated a sense of presence in your online course?

 

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Conversations about Online Teaching and Learning Episode 9 Transcript