Closing thoughts on EDTEC 572.

Well...

Class ended on Thursday evening. It was an interesting semester in my EDTEC 572, Technologies for Course Delivery, class. I learned much about various tools that can be used. Actually, I feel like I only started learning a few things. The little I have learned so far has greatly increased my interest in learning even more. I am starting to think perhaps I have at least a major direction in mind for continuing research. I am interested in learning more about:

• the various tools that can be used in a learning program,
• how those tools can be incorporated into and work together in an effective learning program, and
• how the tools and associated learning programs are received by various cultures.

I get the impression that these are no small areas for research; they may indeed constitute far too broad a scope. Nevertheless, perhaps my interests are beginning to take shape into a cohesive research direction. I also reserve the right to change my mind - to change the direction I want to take in my continuing research. After all, I am still in the early stages of my MA program.

I hasten to add one more very important point. I was speaking to some friends yesterday about learning technology, specifically as it can be applied in distance education. I made the point that the tools are not the most important part of a learning program; far from it. This is equally true in a face to face learning environment and in a distance learning environment. It is easy to think that the tools are most important in a distance learning environment. They are indeed necessary. However, content is far more important than the tools used to present the content. If you have no good content, presented with appropriate educational techniques, you have no learning program. Content, therefore, is king. Educational technology tools should only be used when needed to enable or enhance the delivery of the content.

That's enough for now. Thanks for reading. Check back often.