Topic 2.

After I read topic 2 materials, these readings shall help me explore how digital technology is an integral part of education and it is also useful for a person who want to be a teacher in the future. The concept of open courses and e-learning paints a different perspective of looking at education beyond the traditional physical classroom with an instructor writing on the chalkboard as a means of giving instructions and engaging students. It explains that innovations that have taken place since 1994 have made it possible to have virtual classrooms and achieve the same or better results as the physical learning environment by focusing on technologies and theories that have influenced education since 1994 (Weller, 2020). Such content is relevant in finding appropriate ways for engaging technology in disseminating information and instructions to learners.

More importantly, I will apply Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) or open learning and e-learning analytics in my teaching activities. These technologies have made it easier to have both synchronous and asynchronous learning schedules. Synchronous ones make it easier to engage with the teacher through a scheduled timetable, while asynchronous allows the teacher to upload learning materials and allow students access at their preferred time (Major, 2015). As a teacher, I can leverage such flexibility to target individuals who have other commitments but can dedicate some time for education under a flexible learning environment and schedule. It is applicable in giving a flexible learning approach to those in full-time employment and students in active and full-time academic programs.

The technologies shall help in designing classrooms that encourage peer learning. Other than enrolling learners worldwide, as long as they have the desired technological infrastructure, they are applicable in facilitating peer learning through discussion boards and analytical aspects using artificial intelligence. This is much easier in giving materials, letting students comment on what they have learned, facilitate online learning, and analyzing possible areas of focus to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of courses that I will provide virtually.

However, there is a need for more clarification on courses that can be categorized as open and how technology can be integral in others, not categorized as open. For instance, there is a need for more research in teaching technical causes like engineering and architecture that require physical modeling and demonstration, which cannot be digitized. As a teacher, I would take the information from these readings as a foundation for more research and innovation to make e-learning and virtual teaching and access to materials easy and reliable. Such studies shall help seek clarification of these unclear contents and improve on the innovations that have occurred in open learning since 1994. In conclusion, the readings in this perspective reveal practical applications in open education and teaching but require more research to provide more clarification and guide innovations in the domain.

References

Major, C. H. (2015). Teaching online: A guide to theory, research, and practice. JHU Press.

Weller, M. (2020). 25 years of ed tech. Athabasca University Press.