Technological Advances in Education

Sample Answer

Introduction

Use of technology is key in promoting active learning to students. The platforms provide avenues for students to discuss and chat with their course tutors. Besides, learners acquire problem-solving skills to guide them in future professional practice. While the advancement in technology may appear familiar to many people, it requires effort to select relevant technologies that can address the learning demands for students. The presentation will focus on enumerating some of the technological advancement in modern learning (Hodges et al., 2020). Attention will be given to instructional modalities that enhances interactive learning to students. Besides, the impact of these strategies will be biased on how they improve institutional development and promotes competency development to learners.

Emerging Modalities and Trends

Technologies have emerged to address the current shift in instructional methods. Different resources have been availed to support the transition in learning. However, in using these resources, the technological infrastructure need to be given utmost priority to optimize their outcomes in supporting learning. Most importantly, the evaluation of the emerging technology focuses on the technical feasibilities of the platforms in improving interactions between students with their course tutors. Challenges related to the outcomes in the use of technologies focus on how effective the platforms can address the discrepancy in learning for students from diverse cultures (Hodges et al., 2020). Despite the growth in technologies in learning, flexibility in studies still remains a challenge to students. This is attributed to disruption in learning affected by non-adherence to learning schedules, poor internet connectivity in remote areas and lack of flexibility in submitting course assignments.

Institutions should have policies on the best technologies that are applicable to them in a bid to improve learning to students. Other technological developments include the use of 3D printing and biometric scanners. The former is based on artistic design in which computer is used to print out images for students. The purpose is to improve visual presentations for different artistic materials and also to enhance understanding of drawings (Ross & Myers, 2017). The practice is mainly undertaken by students enrolled in architecture courses. On the other hand, biometric scanners have emerged as vital component to collect information about students and course tutors. The data collected is crucial in tracking students and to assess class attendance by course tutors. Different biometric gadgets installed in learning institutions can be used as tools to assess security situation within the premises of these centers.

The use of Social Media Best Practices

Social media serve as important platform to share information and ideas in the field of nursing. The professionals use social networking sites to share contents in the coursework in order to improve learning for students. Social media is an important contributor in the faster dissemination of information and also allows learners to discuss course contents not only with their peers but also with their tutors. Social media can as well serve other purpose apart from acting as a platform for sharing information (Hodges et al., 2020). Faculty members and nursing students can use the platform to look for employment, disseminate professional information as well as develop a professional voice related to a pertinent issue within the professional practice (Altman, Butler & Shern, 2016). Nurses can as well use social media to undertake research aimed at improving best practice in education.

Teaching and Learning Strategies that Consider Diversity and Cultural Aspects of the Student Population

Diversity in education implies learning methods that breaks cultural barriers among students. Due to globalization, education strategies should engage learners within them developing a feeling of discrimination. Besides, learning should offer platform for sharing of cultural knowledge so that learners can appreciate diversity. In an overview, learning platforms that encourages interaction among students can provide avenues for cementing cultural barriers. For instant through the use of social media platforms like Twitter and Google Plus, students across the world can sharing different educational practices for a given course (Ross & Myers, 2017). Besides, course trainers can use social networking to benchmark with international education institutions in order to borrow ideas on how to optimize learning for their students.

Use of Technologies in the Classroom versus practice and Clinical Settings

Different technological tools are available to optimize learning to student. Most of these are gadgets are affordable and they include devices such as tablets, smartphones and laptops. These technological devices are not complicated to manipulate and they give the end-user an exciting experience when compared to ordinary learning. As such, students using different forms of technology have much better control to grasp the theoretical context of course contents taught in class. With the technology, motivation to learn is improved and students develop the enthusiasm to acquire additional knowledge (Bristol et al., 2019). Besides, learners can engage peers in knowledge sharing which also improves development of work-related skills especially those that involves communication. Based on this premise, learners acquire confidence required in clinical setting.

Validation Strategies to ensure Alignment between the Program and Coursework

Instructional strategies must be aligned with the course content to ensure that students achieve learning outcomes. The alignment is achieved by analyzing how selected educational technologies address the learning objectives of students, meets the assessment criteria and provide precise instructional strategies for learners. It also measures how students develop the skills to compare and critique a given clinical practice. Structure of observed learning outcomes (SOLO) taxonomy proposed by John B. Biggs guides in aligning nursing program with course requirements to ensure that students gain relevant skills necessary for clinical practice (Hodges et al., 2020). Use of VR, AI and simulations are found to be relevant in addressing the skill requirement for nursing students as opposed to use of social media platforms. The latter is majorly shallow and is theoretical when compared to the VR, AI and simulations.

Best Practices incorporating end-user training & piloting, to implement and use Educational Asset Management Systems and Electronic Portfolios

The focus of educational asset management and ePortfolios are geared towards improving reflective learning to students. In order to achieve this, stakeholders shold plan and agree on specific criteria to prepare students. A specific education technological strategy should be selected and a recommended training to be given to the stakeholders. This ensures that they embrace a positive as well as a supportive culture throughout the implementation process. An agreement should as well be made on the purpose of assessment of students using the ePortfolio so as to promote corporation among education stakeholders of the given institution (Ghilay, 2019). Mentoring needs to be done to the stakeholders so that they understand the evaluation rubrics before they assess students using the ePortfolio.

How to Choose a web-based learning management system that meets the needs of the organization, instructors, and students

Choosing an LMS for an institution involves the following processes;

• Establishment of an LMS selection committee
• Organizing committee members,
• Obtaining an agreement regarding the purpose and principles of the LMS
• Definition of the committee selection process
• Specifying the features and functions of LMS
• Examining LMS available fields in the market
• Vetting and shortlisting of potential vendors
• Piloting of the selected LMS software
• Selection of a preferred LMS solution.

Different vendors are available in the market to offer software that can be used in the LMS platforms (Ghilay, 2019). Institutions of learning must choose the best software that meets the learning goals for students. LMS committee should vet the software platforms thoroughly before suggesting the best platform for their institution.

Conclusion

New technologies in education continue to rise and these have had a remarkable impact in learning. Most of the technologies conform to the current demands in education by focusing on imparting knowledge, skills and attitude to learners depending on their profession. While these platforms are user-friendly, learners should significant input so that they acquire necessary skills relevant to their profession. Besides, the institutions of learning implementing the systems should address challenges that are potential in affecting learning using these platforms. As such, a selection and an evaluation of a web-based learning management system should be the priority of education stakeholders as they anticipate to implement educational technologies in their institutions.

References

• Altman, S. H., Butler, A. S., & Shern, L. (Eds.). (2016). Assessing progress on the Institute of Medicine report The Future of Nursing. DOI 10.17226/21838.
• Bristol, T., Hagler, D., McMillian-Bohler, J., Wermers, R., Hatch, D., & Oermann, M. H. (2019). Nurse educators’ use of lecture and active learning. Teaching and Learning in Nursing, 14(2), 94-96. https //doi.org/10.1016/j.teln.2018.12.003
• Ghilay, Y. (2019). Effectiveness of learning management systems in higher education Views of Lecturers with different levels of activity in LMSs. Ghilay, Y.(2019). Effectiveness of Learning Management Systems in Higher Education Views of Lecturers with Different Levels of Activity in LMSs. Journal of Online Higher Education, 3(2), 29-50. https //papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3736748.
• Hodges, C., Moore, S., Lockee, B., Trust, T., & Bond, A. (2020). The difference between emergency remote teaching and online learning. Educause review, 27, 1-12..
• Ross, J. G., & Myers, S. M. (2017). The current use of social media in undergraduate nursing education A review of the literature. CIN Computers, Informatics, Nursing, 35(7), 338-344. doi 10.1097/CIN.0000000000000342