“How do I choose the right technology?” is a common question in education generally, and in online program management in particular, where it is usually asked in the context of developing an online course or other virtual learning experience. After all, the Subject Matter Expert and Instructional Designer are hoping to create an experience for students that is both meaningful and valuable. Knowing how to orchestrate content and pedagogy is already hard enough, but add in the fact that there are thousands of technology options, and the task can feel even more daunting.
To get beyond this dilemma, below are some guiding concepts on the matter to help others choose better technologies and perhaps increase adoption, beginning with a list of truisms about the use of technology that remains good rules of thumb:
- We have more technology than we need
- Even if a technology solves a problem, it doesn’t mean people will use it
- If people have to learn a new technology before they experience the value, they won’t use it
- People tend to dislike multiple, separate logins
- Don’t ask people what they want from a technology
- Users like to customize, personalize, and otherwise make a technology their own, rather than being required to use it “out of the box”
- “All in one place” is always better than “go fish”
- People expect to be able to search everything
- People like technologies that teach them about themselves
Hopefully this information will help you enter into conversations about choosing new technologies and offer some guidance on how to integrate technology into your online teaching. For example, if you are going to create another login experience for a user, you should expect the user to be frustrated. Likewise, if instead of putting useful information all in one place you spread it out, you can expect users not to like that.
To get more specific, here are a few litmus tests you can run as you integrate new technologies, helping you predict the outcomes of a technology choice.
Does the technology create an obstacle between action and result? We do not recommend any technology that makes it more difficult to achieve something. Often a technology will have value, but the way the technology functions creates an obstacle in the form of extra steps, data being in the wrong form, etc. This can lead to frustration despite having a “new” technology.
Does the technology add value or make something possible that was not possible before? Some can relate to the experience of being asked to move to a new system only to find out that the new system is redundant or doesn’t add anything new. This will always raise the question in users: “why are we using this again?”
Does using the technology make the user happy? If a technology makes someone happy, it tends to be in one of three ways:
- The technology by itself is fun. Things move on the screen. There are cool sounds when I do something. Or, visually, I see something interesting to look at.
- The technology creates an experience that I already enjoy. I enjoy talking to friends and perhaps a synchronous meeting tool lets me do more of that.
- The technology provides easy ways for me to acknowledge my success. Think about the weekly report you get from your Fitbit app. Right on track!
Does the technology bring people closer together?In the field of education, it is imperative to preserve human connections in digital environments. To that end, a new technology should ideally create space or connection. For example, some quizzing apps have the ability to automate feedback. You might choose this for a specific learning experience, but you could also seek out feedback structures that require dialogue and contact between the student and teacher.
Conclusion
Part of the battle in choosing tech is staying aware of these tests and concepts as you go about choosing technologies for different purposes. It is too easy to enter “auto pilot” and use technologies out of convenience or novelty. Being thoughtful about your tech choices will yield better experiences.