A Learning-centered Approach to Choosing Technology for Virtual Learning

A few weeks ago, I posted five lessons learned for converting a classroom course to vILT. In that post I reflected on the need to keep it simple in terms of technologies to use. Over the last week, I’ve been thinking about how you can you determine when technology is simple enough, without being oversimplified?

My thoughts turned to what is essential for durable learning, and what technology features are best support it. Here, I’ve outlined four durable learning principles and the relevant technology implications.

Learning is Social

Adult learners love the opportunity to network but this also serves a larger purpose of allowing them to discuss key learning concepts. This conversation is vital to connecting learning to experience and anchoring it to existing patterns of thought and behavior.

Technology Implications

The ability to break learners into smaller groups is essential. Ideally, your tools:

• support creating breakout rooms in advance
• allow you to “visit” breakouts as needed
• enable content sharing from breakouts

Learning is Repetitive

Learning is a result of building new connections in our existing neural framework. Just like a forest trail, the best way to make sure those connections endure is to travel them multiple times.

Technology Implications

Technology that supports repetition has features that:

• store reference materials for learners to review
• display content in multiple formats (think video, audio and static formats)
• record sessions for learners to revisit later

Learning is Generative

Translating new concepts into your own words is one of the best ways to ensure learning “sticks.” From a design perspective, this requires activities and interactions that technology supports.

Technology Implications

There are many options for generative tools, but they can be as simple as:

• asking learners to use chat features to restate key concepts into their own words
• creating options for note taking (either digital or analog)
• providing on-line versions of documents for collaboration via SharePoint or Google Docs

Learning is Effortful

Effective learning requires participants to recall information, synthesize concepts and think critically. 

Technology Implications

Technology that supports testing learners’ application is important for making learning effortful. Consider tools as simple as:

• polls for quick knowledge checks
• posting work products (either by way of shared document repositories or attachments to meeting chats)

As anyone who has been involved in any sort of collaborative efforts since the start of Covid-19 knows, there are a wide variety of options available for virtual learning. There is no “one-size-fits-all” tool that will replace a classroom experience, but with a little thought and planning you should be able to support the most essential elements of learning, even in less-than-ideal situations.