Media in the Classroom

The big question that has Clark and Kozma debating on is whether or not technology can change the way we learn.

Clark believes that the teaching method has the most influence on the learning. He stated that, “Media is merely the delivery device and has no significant difference in the learning outcome.” It does not matter how you teach a lesson whether you use technology or not, the method and the level the teacher teaches will drive whether the student is learning. The outcome is not a result of using media, instead it is an outcome from the method of teacher from the teacher.

Kozma’s opposition to Clark is that media could and should be used more than a vehicle for delivery. He states, “Media can be defined by its technology, symbol systems, and processing capabilities.” By using media as the medium it can play a crucial role in the design of instruction. We should be learning the connection between learning and media. Media is a great tool to help reinforce the medium.

We are in a day in age where our students know how to use technology better than we do. They grew up with technology in the classrooms and at home. In fact, they are surrounded by this every second of the day, so how would we not incorporate media into our lessons. It’s something they are familiar with and can recall where to find certain information. I agree that technology shouldn’t take the place of the method 100% of the time, but it is a great tool and should be used to help extend the method. We should use apps, websites, and other technology to help enreach our lessons. I believe that the method of teaching a skill is important but I also believe that our students need to be exposed to media and learning how to research. Why not take advantage of that and use those tools to deliver a better lesson that meet the needs of our students today but also has the higher level of thinking full of rigor.

Clark and Kozma Debate is it Still Relevant. (2013). Retrieved April 15, 2016, from https://dcmoffat71.wordpress.com/2013/04/17/clark-and-kozma-debate-is-it-still-relevant/

Using Media to Enhance Teaching and Learning. (n.d.). Retrieved April 15, 2016, from http://serc.carleton.edu/sp/library/media/index.html