According to Maslow’s 1949 theory of human motivation as summarized by Project Management Course (2009) website, human beings are motivated by a hierarchy of needs. In the history of the world, human beings have acquired and built upon the knowledge of previous generations to fulfill these needs. One result is the birth and growth of technology, which the National Academy of Sciences (2010) describes as “the process by which humans modify nature to meet their needs and wants” (What is Technology? para. 1). Modern tools of technology include computer hardware and software systems, digital media, lithium batteries, and so on; the list is vast. The benefits and challenges of implementing the use of technology in adult education are numerous. This paper briefly examines technology benefits as it enhances learning, provides opportunities for life applications, and access to worldwide, expert knowledge, followed by technology challenges of speed of technology, cost, and pseudo information.
Benefits
Enhance Learning
According to Remember Anything (2009) website, “the transfer of knowledge in educationbecomes smoother because technology assists in transmitting it in a … clearer way, with ample space for graphic manipulation and stimulation of human interest” (Benefits of Technology in the Classroom, para. 3). The George Lucas Educational Foundation (2010) website states, “technology also changes the way teachers teach, offering educators effective ways to reach different types of learners and assess student understanding through multiple means. It also enhances the relationship between teacher and student. When technology is effectively integrated into subject areas, teachers grow into roles of adviser, content expert, and coach. Technology helps make teaching and learning more meaningful and fun” (Why Integrate Technology into the Curriculum: The Reasons Are Many, para. 6).
Jocelyn teaches an intermediate algebra course at the local community college. She discovered that though students were understanding examples during class time, many would have various difficulties later when attempting homework problems. To address this challenge, Jocelyn videotaped examples of problems for each section and uploaded the videos to podcasts that the students can access at their convenience. The use of podcasts allows students to avoid feeling overwhelmed by new information, gives them time to assimilate it at their own paces, and accommodates various learning style needs. The podcasts have made a positive influence on student learning and Jocelyn spends less time out-of-class helping students.
Jones teaches a bird-watching course at the local community center. In addition to a textbook, he developed a series of PowerPoint presentations that show a full-color graphic of a bird while its birdsong is played. This helps students associate which birdsong belongs to which bird in a way that the book or lecture could not and adds an element of interest that keeps students engaged.
Life Application
Knowles, Holton, and Swanson (2005) describe how adult learners prefer purpose and practical life applications to give meaning and motivation to learning situations. Businesses want employees who not only have a solid theoretical foundation, but who also have hands-on experience. Technology has made advances in various simulations. Medical students, for example, can practice on technologically advanced models without the risk of physical harm before working with live patients. “New tech tools for visualizing and modeling, especially in the sciences, offer students ways to experiment and observe phenomenon and to view results in graphic ways that aid in understanding” (The George Lucas Educational Foundation,2010, Why Integrate Technology into the Curriculum: The Reasons Are Many, para. 6).
Access to World Experts
According to Remember Anything (2009), "students can gather and exchange information with the rest of the world with a few clicks of the mouse, which is definitely an advantage in being on top of the fast-changing world of education” (Benefits of Technology in the Classroom, para. 3). Instead of “reinventing-the-wheel” facilitators can direct students to numerous expert sources.
Challenges
Speed of Technology
According to Jack Wilson, UMassOnline CEO, as quoted by Bates and Poole (2003), “the paradox of technology enhanced education is that technology changes very rapidly and human beings change very slowly” (p. 1). Some adults, particularly older adults, are intimidated by the ever-changing pace of technologies. Though comfortable with an instructor enhancing a learning experience with a PowerPoint presentation or video, a number of older adults are unsure of how to access a podcast on their own at home, without further assistance, for which some may be too embarrassed to ask. Dede (n.d.) contends “that people adept at learning [must be] fluent in using many types of information tools scattered throughout our everyday context” (p. 4), intimating that adult learners and those who facilitate them must find ways to overcome these challenges.
Cost and Availability
Rapidly changing technology in a difficult economy is a challenge to individuals, businesses, and institutions. According to Ranjan (2008), “academic institutions are always challenged to stay relevant in terms of both education and research” (p. 444). Bates and Poole (2003) state, “there is constant pressure on the academy to do more with less. There are far more students, knowledge has increased exponentially, and academics have research, administration, and public service to consider, as well as teaching” (p. 18). Upgrading rapidly changing technologies to remain relevant can be costly and should be considered in the working budget of individuals and institutions if technology is to serve a purpose in the pursuit of education. Dede (n.d.) points out that many people “do not want to substitute something radically different unless new methods are proven to be superior” (p. 8). Funding is needed to use the new technologies to prove the worth of such upgrades and thus present further challenges. Inequalities of access cause inequalities in the quality of education and therefore need to be addressed (Dede, n.d.).
Internet and Pseudo Information
Because there are no current regulations to the validity of information on the Internet, “urban legends” and false teachers abound via the World Wide Web. Facilitators and learners need to exercise discretion when seeking knowledge through this medium. The other challenge that the Internet brings to education is a change in the balance of power between students and facilitators. Bates and Poole (2003) claim that “teachers are no longer the gatekeepers to knowledge (p. 192) and “using the Internet for learning moves communication of learning from an authority figure informing those less powerful and informed, to a context where knowledge can be shared and reconstructed among equals” (p. 193).
Conclusion
Technology has evolved to meet the changing needs of the human race. Benefits include enhancing the educational experience, providing opportunities for life application through hands-on experiences, and worldwide access to experts in virtually any field. As Ranjan (2008) points out, “Interest in [technology] in academia is currently experiencing an upsurge of institutional support…however, this will be short-lived unless the technology can deliver demonstrable results in a cost-effective and productive manner to all educational institutions” (p. 453). In addition to cost, other challenges in adult education include the rapid speed of evolving technologies whereas human beings tend to evolve more slowly, the need to discern the reliability of information obtained via the Internet, and the shift in the balance of power between instructors and students.
Technology in Adult Education
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