Week 2 Benefits & Challenges of Technologies Selected

Benefits and Challenges of Technologies Selected 

The benefits of using Coursesites by Blackboard are that it has the ability to store all course materials in one place via Google Docs; it also has a built in library for Youtube, TeacherTube, and teacher created videos and audio. In addition, this application allows ID instructional designers or educators to create textual information such as welcoming students, course syllabus, resource page, and content where students can delve into learning. The superb thing is that the students are exposed to learning on many levels—visual, textual, contextual, and audio--all their various learning styles. Coursesites is an Online Learning Management System or (LMS) that has the capacity to tap into every student's lifestyle and learning style via asynchronous learning, delivery and participation.

As for building Online courses on Coursesites, the facilitator must learn the entire interface, features, and capacities of this application. It takes at least a couple weeks for a newcomer to really understand how to work Coursesites. The second challenge is for students to navigate from section to section especially for new Online learners.  Finding the right LMS is key to using this platform to create, deliver, and manage learning.


To overcome that problem, "Coursesites" has learning videos and training manuals for both teachers and students. The easiest way for the teacher to overcome obstacles to online learning is to create an orientation course for online learners. Another approach is to administer the "VARK Online Learning Quiz," which provides information for the teacher to understand which students need basic computing skills from those that are ready to engage in online learning.  It also provides students information that many do not know they have such as their individualized learning style(s):  visual, auditory, tactile. Some people are strong in one or two of those modalities of learning.  "Coursesites" has the ability for the instructor to create a "Discussion Board" where students can participate and interact with assignment and each other for the duration of the course. This provides the interaction and sense of community online learners need.

The second educational technology I am using to educate adult learners is the blog by Blogger. This is an excellent source for building a relaxed and informal form of learning community amongst adult learners. They can view other's thoughts, style, creativity, and come from that are motivated to try new ways of presenting information, knowledge, and understanding of content. It is like a network or socially mediated application for all age groups. 

Reference

Resources for Procuring the “Right” Learning Management System. (n.d.).  Retrieved from http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/training-and-development/reference-materials/procuring_lms.pdf.

VARK (n.d.).  A guide to learning styles.  Retrieved from http://www.vark-learn.com/english/page.asp?p=questionnaire.