Through OMDE 603 we have discussed how technology has impacted students, as well as, pedagogy. One aspect of all of the flux in this area that has been overlooked is the impact on the instructor.
There are several possible issues that arise with the increased usage of technology within the online classroom. First, an instructor may be a true expert in her field, but may not be as tech savvy as her peers. How much does this impact the student experience? Second, one may be tech savvy, but not necessarily use technology in the best way for learning. Third, technology can actually start to negatively impact the classroom learning experience.
I have personally experienced this third scenario. It can be overwhelming to be required to track an instructor's twitter account, blog, and wiki simultaneously while also keeping track of what is being posted in the LMS. More is not always better. It can simply feel like technology overload even for individuals who are completely comfortable with the applications themselves.
Recently, with the move to LEO, I have seen great instructors struggle. It can be disheartening because the learning curve associated with adapting a new LMS can really impact the quality of instruction. Regardless of the training provided or the preparation done, there always seem to be casualties by way of faculty retention and even student retention. Someday, will the all F2F class become completely extinct? What does this mean for the subject matter experts who do not adapt well to new technologies?
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