Examples of Technology/learning disconnects
From EduTeX Wiki
These are drawn from extensive work directly with students. Most are described in considerably more detail in the essays on my education web page.
These problems explain some of the odd-seeming specifications in the [Functionality#Wish List].
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Video and animations
We have found that video clips and animations almost always put students into spectator mode. They may be interested, amused, even "engaged" while in this mode, but are essentially incapable of real learning.
We surmise this is because they have had much more practice as spectators than as learners. Further, the entertainment industry has taught them to suspend critical facilities, and the advertising industry has taught them to resist learning while being entertained.
In any case it seems to be important to avoid video and animations. In a very few cases they might be genuinely needed for the content, but this will be very rare.
Distraction
Modern students tend to have short attention spans. Distractions such as
- pictures
- cute illustrations
- unnecessary links
- anything that moves
- vague or unfocused discussion
tend to break attention focus and impede learning. Effective learning environments tend, therefore, to be drab and boring to those who are not actually learning.
Emulation
(stub to be expanded)
Learning Modes
(stub to be expanded)
