PAYING DIVIDENDS ”

The world is beginning to harvest the advantages achieved by bringing computers into the academic classroom.

Many of the foundation skills and competencies — later, so critical to the workplace — can be achieved through the use of technology in the classroom, K-12 and beyond. Students using technology demonstrate any number of improvements: more confidence, higher motivation, peer mentoring, collaboration, and enhanced self-esteem (Means). They are also able to handle more complex tasks and “acquire a basic understanding of how various classes of computer tools behave, and a confidence about being able to learn to use (the) new tools” that they will encounter in the years ahead (Means).

“Compared to conventional classrooms with their stress on verbal knowledge and multiple-choice test performance, technology provides a very different set of challenges and different ways in which students can demonstrate what they understand” (Means). Added benefits may be found in that “students watch less television, while improving problem-solving and critical thinking skills . . . technology rich schools report higher attendance and fewer dropouts” (Benefits of Technology Use).

And, so it is proving to be in our adult work world. Organizations that are moving from “live instruction” to the multiple benefits of multi-sensory learning are leaping ahead.

Again, that same multi-sensory media instruction comes to mind as the most flexible solution. It offers privacy to the adult learner, ease of use, scheduling flexibility, and stands ready to offer initial or refresher training as needed.

The world is changing. And, both the reading minority and the less adept readers will benefit from the technology advances that are rapidly coming.

More tomorrow – – – – –

— Bill Walton, Founder of ITC Learning
bwalton@itclearning.com

“THE WORLD RELIES ON THE HANDS OF ITS MEN AND WOMEN”