Module 5: Moving Toward Dynamic Technologies

Moller postulates that it is impossible to achieve higher level learning in the absence of analyzing, creating, experimenting, and exploring (Moller, 2008).  I have come to believe that distance education has the potential to develop into the most exigent field for all educational institutions.  Since I have been a student at Walden, I find myself using a combination of both the dynamic and static tools.  Blogs, wikis, and podcasts are a few of the static tools I utilize on a weekly basis. 

Snyder suggests that it is an effective practice for educators to conduct thorough research of those tools viewed as practical for implementation in distance education programs (Snyder, 2009).  I can appreciate the analogy of cooking a meal to developing the perfect recipe for an effective teaching methodology.  This can be viewed as a role of the educational technologists, just at the chef must mix herbs and spices in order to cook a delicious meal, we must utilize all of the tools available to us in order to create environments which are conducive to learning.  According to Moller, several decisive factors should be measured when deciding on which technology is best suited for a specific lesson (Moller, 2008).  I will begin to incorporate tools such as gaming, mind tools, multi-user environments, and virtual simulations in order to move toward the dynamic end of the static-dynamic continuum.  Snyder suggests

Reference: 

Moller, L. (2008). Static and dynamic technological tools. [Unpublished Paper].

http://ssnyder8842.wordpress.com/2009/02/03/module-5-post/