When reflecting on the readings that we had for our present course, I found that the article by Linda Vann really resonated with me. Considering empathy during instructional design is an important concept especially when designing a digital learning environment (DLE) for adult learners.
Vann (2017) questions, “How can you insure quality when you don’t know the end user unless you build in multiple pathways for people, different types of people, different types of backgrounds, different types of purposes?” (p. 237). This reflects the type of learner that we not only see in post-secondary settings, but in the workplace settings as well. We have to consider that not all adult learners will be comfortable with technology and social media. To demonstrate empathy during instructional design, we need to ensure that the learning needs of the participants/students are addressed. When designing the activities for the DLE, we cannot rely on just one model. We should be familiar with the different models/methods available to deal with any issue that may arise. One model that works for one activity or group of students, may not work for other activities or students. Vann (2017) also suggests that educators need to experience online learning themselves to fully understand the challenges that students may encounter.
We have to remember that like technology, teaching and learning is always evolving because our type of learners in the post-secondary setting is always changing.
Reference:
Vann, L. S. (2017). Demonstrating empathy: A phenomenological study of instructional designers making instructional strategy decisions for adult learners. International Journal of Teaching & Learning in Higher Education, 29(2), 233-244.
Hi Joyce,
I agree, I also enjoyed Vann’s (2017) article regarding adult learners and designing instruction with an empathetic approach. Vann’s six themes were all very relevant to me and I was agreeing often when I read through the article. One of the meaning units that really stood out to me the “instructors lack or do not understand empathy in online learning” (Vann, 2017, p.236). It is very true that learning online is a completely different experience, but so is teaching online. Something that I think often gets overlooked, as a teacher is a teacher.
Your reference to “technology, teaching, and learning…always evolving” (Wimmer, 2019, para. 3) reminds me of Dron’s (2014) article and how he discusses how pedagogies are just another form of technology as we enter into the fourth generation of online learning. I think it is going to be interesting to see how all these different learning institutions we are all apart of are going to adapt.
References:
Dron, J. (2014). Innovation and Change: Changing how we Change. In Zawacki-Richter, O. & T. Anderson (Eds.), Online distance education: Towards a research agenda. Athabasca, AB: AU Press.
Vann, L. S. (2017). Demonstrating empathy: A phenomenological study of instructional designers making instructional strategy decisions for adult learners. International Journal of Teaching & Learning in Higher Education, 29(2), 233-244.
Wimmer, J. (2019). My Reading Reflection [Blog post]. Retrieved from https://malat-webspace.royalroads.ca/rru0064/my-reading-reflection/.