New Technologies, Learning and Doing, and Self-Expression Tools

The balance between learning and doing is impacted by new technologies. Learning takes time and effort by the learner.  Learning also requires the time and effort of others (teachers, mentors, others involved in the support of learning).  Learning allows individuals, groups, and societies to adapt to changing contexts much faster and much more effectively than other mechanisms (evolution, for example).

If we had a society in which nobody learned anything, there will be no good way for that society and the individuals in it could adapt to changes in the environment, and so the society would collapse when faced with significant changes faster than evolution operates and the individuals would die. On the other extreme, if we had a society in which individuals always learned and never performed, then the society would not produce the necessities of life and again would collapse. So we can see that there a need for a balance between learning and doing, in which the costs of learning are outweighed by the benefits of learning.

That balance can be impacted by the media available for learning. As the media change, then the costs of learning can change and the benefits of learning also can change. Let us look at a range of media, and examine in some depth the ways that they impact learners. Tools are a lot but what is more important is the teachers' willingness to change and the students readiness and enhancing this change via teaching the students how to use this tool.

As I was given the chance to use technological tools and reflect on their use I became very sure that I have to follow up, teach and reteach to make students use the tool I introduced effectively.

Computer-based photo editing, music editing, and video editing applications are example of new technologies oriented toward self-expression. I have heard about these technologies but I am highly interested in trying them. If you have any idea about platforms offering these tools and educational videos on using them it would be great to send me the links.