Immerse yourself in the dynamic realm of learning technology with ‘The Learning Technology One’ podcast by Erin Huizenga, Sharon Green, Kinga Petrovai, and Andrew Jacobs. This engaging podcast explores the latest trends, innovations, and empowering stories within the learning technology landscape, promising a journey of inspiration and enlightenment.
Elevate your knowledge and stay ahead in the learning technology landscape. Dive into ‘The Learning Technology One’ podcast for a riveting exploration that will reshape your understanding of educational advancements. Continue reading to unlock insights that will revolutionize your approach to learning and technology.
‘The Learning Technology One’ podcast, hosted by Erin Huizenga, Sharon Green, Kinga Petrovai, and Andrew Jacobs, delves into the dynamic intersection of technology and learning. The hosts navigate through diverse topics, from emerging trends in EdTech to the impact of technology on professional development. With a focus on inclusivity and diverse perspectives, the podcast offers a comprehensive exploration of the ever-evolving landscape of learning technology.
Erin Huizenga, Sharon Green, Kinga Petrovai, and Andrew Jacobs deliver an enlightening and engaging podcast with ‘The Learning Technology One.’ Their thoughtful discussions and diverse range of topics make this podcast a valuable resource for anyone passionate about the intersection of technology and education. The inclusion of women in technology brings a unique perspective, adding depth to the conversations. The hosts’ expertise and dynamic hosting style create an enjoyable listening experience, making ‘The Learning Technology One’ a must-listen for those seeking to stay informed and inspired in the rapidly evolving world of learning technology.
Table of Contents
- Genres
- Recommendation
- Take-Aways
- Summary
- Learning should always be purpose-led, not feature-led.
- Always consider the context when trying to decide what learning technology to implement.
- Designers and trainers need to keep less tech-savvy users in mind as they create and present new tools.
- About the Podcast
Genres
Learning Technology, Education, EdTech, Professional Development, E-Learning, Innovation, Technology Trends, Women in Technology, Podcasting, Workplace Learning
Recommendation
Like all technologies, education technology goes through waves of hype. The latest tool promises to solve all training problems, yet a few months or years down the line, organizations find that it overpromised and under-delivered. In this episode of The Women Talking About Learning Podcast, learning professionals Erin Huizenga, Sharon Green and Kinga Petrovai join host Andrew Jacobs to discuss why purpose needs to come first when choosing learning technology and how to maintain focus on context and people instead of being swayed by the latest shiny technology features.
Take-Aways
- Learning should always be purpose-led, not feature-led.
- Always consider the context when trying to decide what learning technology to implement.
- Designers and trainers need to keep less tech-savvy users in mind as they create and present new tools.
Summary
Learning should always be purpose-led, not feature-led.
When considering learning management systems, it is easy to get dazzled by the latest features, such as artificial intelligence (AI) or virtual reality (VR). However, the ideal learning experience may require only some of the latest technologies. Ask learners about their needs before choosing to employ a given tech solution. Consider what you’re trying to help individuals and their organizations achieve and which specific technologies – even if they aren’t the latest and greatest – will best help them reach those goals.
“We have a set of tools in our toolbox, and we can help people understand which to use and why.” (Erin Huizenga, CEO of Desklight)
Purpose-led learning is akin to choosing the right tool from a packed toolbox: You need to pinpoint the problem, why it exists and what change you hope to achieve before you can select the correct tool to tackle the issue. Organizations often think that they need a new learning management system (LMS) to deliver the proper employee training. But more often than not, the real problem is not the LMS itself but how it is being used.
Always consider the context when trying to decide what learning technology to implement.
There can be a lot of hype around new learning technologies, and often, people claim that the latest one will finally solve all learning challenges. Then, when it fails to do so, people turn to the next thing. Hype aside, well-designed tech tools have a role to play in the learning landscape. But, you must consider the context when deciding if a tool suits a specific learning challenge.
“You need to approach these things with a little bit of a skeptical eye, I think, to see that you’re making the right decisions at the right time.” (Sharon Green, founder of Chiara Consultancy)
A lot of people are very excited about VR, for example. It has shown amazing potential when used in health care contexts, helping doctors learn to perform specific operations, for instance, or allowing caregivers to see the world as their dementia patients do. However, VR isn’t particularly useful in contexts like board meetings or onboarding new staff.
Designers and trainers need to keep less tech-savvy users in mind as they create and present new tools.
The learning technology field encompasses many professions, from programmers to designers to teachers. A majority of learning technology users are women with backgrounds in education. Meanwhile, the learning technology design and development industry, while more balanced than many other tech fields, remains male-dominated. More significant, however, is the divide that can exist between tech designers and trainers and everyday users.
“The people who design the tech and also the people who train…[are] not necessarily seeing…what might be challenging to people in using this tech, in their specific work, in their specific industry.” (Kinga Petrovai, learning consultant and podcaster)
New technologies can feel intimidating to many users. Trainers’ enthusiastic displays of all of a new tool or product’s features often exacerbate these insecurities. Users can walk away from a training session feeling like they’ll never be able to match the trainer’s passion or comprehensive knowledge of the tech, so why try? Having empathy for the challenges users face is, thus, a vital element in the field of learning technology. Seeking input from users – students, teachers and business professionals – about their various learning needs helps ensure the resulting technology is a true asset.
About the Podcast
Erin Huizenga is co-founder and CEO of Desklight, a learning experience design company. Sharon Green is a people change professional and founder of the consultancy company Chiara Consultancy. Dr. Kinga Petrovai is a learning consultant and creator of The Art & Science of Learning podcast. Andrew Jacobs is CEO of Llarn Learning Services and the host of The Women Talking About Learning Podcast.