7. Choosing media

Summary

This video, part of a 12-part series on teaching in a digital age, focuses on the challenges of choosing media in education. It distinguishes between technology and media, emphasizing the unique capabilities or 'affordances' of different media types like text, graphics, audio, video, and social media. The speaker introduces decision models for media selection, such as the SECTIONS model and SAMA model, which guide educators in leveraging media effectively for teaching. The video concludes by highlighting the importance of aligning media choices with learning outcomes and the potential of multimedia and student-created media in enhancing learning experiences.

Takeaways

• 🎥 The video is part of a series on teaching in a digital age, focusing on the challenges and strategies of choosing media for educational purposes.
• 📚 The speaker emphasizes the lack of extensive research in media selection for teaching, making this an original contribution to the field.
• 🔍 The video discusses the differentiation between technology and media, defining media as systems that carry messages through four core components: creator, message, channel, and interpreter.
• 🌐 Media types are classified based on the symbol systems they use, such as text, graphics, audio, video, computing, and social media, each with unique affordances or capabilities.
• 📈 The speaker highlights the importance of context in determining the value of different media types, suggesting that certain media are better suited for specific subjects or pedagogical needs.
• 🤔 A model for decision-making in media selection is introduced, called the 'SECTIONS model,' which considers factors like student access, ease of use, cost, media characteristics, interaction, organization, networking, and security.
• 🔄 The SAMA model is also presented, which categorizes technology use into substitution, augmentation, modification, and redefinition, advocating for the transformative use of technology in education.
• 📉 The script notes the significant reduction in costs for media production tools, making it easier for educators to incorporate various media into their teaching.
• 🎯 The necessity of aligning media selection with desired learning outcomes is stressed, with a focus on how technology can support skill development.
• 📊 Research indicates that multimedia approaches, which combine different media types, are more effective for learning than single media, as they provide redundancy and varied learning pathways.
• 👨‍🎓 The script concludes by emphasizing the empowerment of learners to create their own media, enriching their learning experiences and demonstrating knowledge in diverse ways.

Q & A

What is the main challenge for teachers in the digital age according to the video?

The main challenge for teachers in the digital age is choosing media, which is an area that has not been extensively researched and lacks comprehensive theories.

What is the purpose of the video series?

The purpose of the video series is to provide a brief introduction to the main themes in each book, with this particular video focusing on the topic of choosing media.

What is the difference between technology and media as explained in the video?

Technology is defined as tools, hardware, and software, while media are systems that carry messages. Media require four core components: a message creator, the message itself, a channel of communication (where technology comes in), and a message interpreter.

What are the four core components of a medium?

The four core components of a medium are: the creator of the message, the message itself, a channel of communication (the technology), and a message interpreter who receives and interprets the message.

How many types of media does the video discuss?

The video discusses various types of media including text, graphics, audio, video, computing, adaptive learning, artificial intelligence, animation, simulations, virtual reality, social media, and face-to-face teaching.

What does the acronym 'SECTIONS' stand for in the video?

The acronym 'SECTIONS' is used in the video as a model for making media selection decisions, standing for eight steps: Students, Ease of use, Cost and time, Media characteristics, Interaction, Organizational issues, Networking, and Security and privacy.

What is the significance of the SAMA model introduced in the video?

The SAMA model stands for Substitution, Augmentation, Modification, and Redefinition. It suggests that more powerful uses of technology move towards the top, allowing for the creation of new tasks previously inconceivable.

Why is it important to consider the affordances of different media?

It is important to consider the affordances of different media because each medium has unique capabilities that it does better than others. Understanding these affordances helps in making informed decisions about which medium to use for specific educational purposes.

How does the video suggest that technology should be used in education?

The video suggests that technology should be used for what can be done differently, leveraging its unique capabilities to enhance learning outcomes and not just reproducing traditional methods.

What is the role of multimedia in learning according to the video?

The video states that multimedia is better than single media in learning because it provides redundancy and allows students to understand things in different ways, which can lead to better comprehension and retention of information.

How does the video view the current state of research and theory on media selection in education?

The video views the current state of research and theory on media selection in education as lacking, with very little research and theory available to guide teachers in making informed choices about media.