The Final Blog

      It is strange, but ever since I was young I’ve been attracted to technology.  I say strange because technology was not a big part of my education.  While I was in college (back in the ‘60’s) the traditional professor/student relationship was strictly face to face.  We learned through lecture and class interactive discussion.  I ran from class to class daily, keeping up strict schedules.  Distance education was unheard of, because computers were just entering on the field of business and education (I think we thought Skinner’s black box was a futuristic ideal).  I then had to put off the reason I had gone to college (a teaching degree) to raise a family.  My world was delayed and I lost out on much of the technology growth.

      As I grew and was more or less forced into the workplace, I realized that computers helped a great deal in facilitating mundane jobs, leaving more room for productivity. Now after years of immersion into technology, especially educational technology, I realize my first idea about computers and devices to help make life easier – really did.  Now, after studying and learning how to use technological innovations it occurs to me that there is no turning back.  We are being encouraged to grow and are encouraging our students to grow with the onsets of a new theories that match the economic and social growth of a much larger world, evidenced by social media.  Critical and non-negotiable to teaching and learning is not losing the human quality of learning, a danger presented by the ease of using tech devices to interact with others (again attributed to social media).  It is a great thing to be innovative and futuristic.  However, my philosophy of learning is once you stop using the human trait of learning and questioning, you become complacent and lazy - this is dangerous.

Using Keller's ARCS model

 Briefly describe a situation in which you have encouraged people to use a new technology and have been met with resistance or disappointing results. What attitudes did these people exhibit? What behaviors did they demonstrate? Using Keller’s ARCS model, describe how you could change the motivation of these people, or learners, to encourage success. 

There have been many disappointing results with technology in my particular situation.  I encounter such attitudes as anger, apathy, confusion, fear, and arrogance.  It is an everyday struggle that requires a quick mind to counter-act these postures.

Using Keller's ARCS model here is (mostly) what I used to motivate these individuals.

Attention:  This is the most basic model.  Keeping my students on track and focused is one of the greatest challenges.  My method is to point out their mission: to gain a GED so that they can become more successful in the "real world".  This means and follows:

Relevance:  The lessons cannot be non-applicable to their particular lives.  "How am I going to use this algebraic equation in the real world?"  Is similar to other questions I've had to deal with and make more palatable the subject and particular lesson for that student.  Which then leads to:

Confidence:  Growing confidence is easy if the student is experiencing success.  In the CAI-Lab success are intrinsically individual.  I celebrate with each student who gains and achieves the "right" to take a GED exam, which of course is the primary goal.  And finally we arrive at:

Satisfaction:  This is the goal, the accomplishment and the final achievement for both my students and myself.  When I see my students walk across the stage (yes, we have graduations) - I tear up, because I know what struggles and efforts were put into gaining this beginning certification.