Views on Media in Education: Does Media influence Learning?

I believe that technology affects everything we do from our social or personal lives, to our work environment, and of course learning. In fact technology use has changed over the past few decades and is an influencing factor in every day life perhaps more so than it was 30 years ago. The connection between technology and media exists because as technology advances, new media becomes available. Clark (1994) insists that media has no influence over student achievement but is simply the vehicle.  While I do agree, to some extent, that the media or technology is the tool and the way the tool is utilized within the learning process [curriculum] is the real influence, I also believe that a student's motivation to learn can be increased through use of relevant media. In fact, today's students believe technology is essential to communication (Gardner & Aleksejuniene, 2011). I have always said that we need to meet students on their playing field, so to speak. That is, we need to engage students with technology and media as much as possible to not only motivate them to learn, but to also teach them how to navigate the information that is available to them on the world wide web. In a day and age where information is accessible through a variety of mobile devices, using media to teach students how to sift through information, determine validity, and formulate opinions should be a priority. Advances in technology create new media, and new media becomes part of our lives--including learning. So whether Clark's hard-lined view that media does not affect student achievement is considered, or whether we tend to have a more open approach as technologies come into play and determine to answer Kozma's question of "will" media influence learning (1994), I think that given we all now live in a world where entire degree programs are offered online in virtual learning environments, that considering the media we will use in learning is more important than ever. While I do not totally disclaim the arguments of both Clark and Kozma, we have to consider the time frame and mindset of the arguments. I would also argue that there are many other influences on learning that need to be considered along with media and technology, so I'm not so sure I buy Clark's laser-focused argument on simply the media itself.

References:

Clark, R. E. (1994). Media will never influence learning. Educational Technology Research and Design, 42(2), 21-29. Retrieved from http://www.ucs.mun.ca/~bmann/0_ARTICLES/Media_Clark.html

Gardner, K., & Aleksejuniene, J. (2011). PowerPoint and learning theories: Reaching out to the millennials. Transformative dialogues, Teaching & Learning Journal, 5(1), 1-11. https://www.ebscohost.com/academic

Kozma, R. B. (1994). Will media influence learning? Reframing the debate. Educational Technology Research and Design, 42(2), 7-19. Retrieved from http://www.robertkozma.com/images/kozma_will_media_influence.pdf