Digital Media Platforms and Education Research Paper

Digital Media Platforms and Education - Research Paper Example The current developments an advancements in technology have greatly shaped the forms of communications used in education today. Unlike the traditional systems where the instructors had to be physically present in a class room in order to facilitate a lesson, the paradigm shift to the use of digital media have made this element redundant. The application and implementation of digital media in the learning process has offered a wide range of methods by which instructors and students can relay information (Mateer, 2013). For example, the internet and features such as teleconferencing can enable teachers to interact with their students at without necessarily meeting at a central place. This feature allows for all features of a normal classroom situation such as active student participation and the ability to ask immediate questions where a student may need further clarification. It only eliminates the aspect of physical presence. In addition, the technological improvements of digital med ia have also enhanced the speed at which information is passed on from the participants in any learning activity at an institution. This aspect subsequently improves the speed at which students learn and also the depth of knowledge covered. Digital media has also been proven to aid in the forms of communications used by the facilitators during their lessons in the classroom. Audio-visual communication is a key feature that has been brought about by digital media. Learning in the classroom has evolved from the chalk to board communication to audio-visual forms such as videos and computer slides (Belinha, 2010). A commonly used tool is the projector where instructors project their notes on a clear white surface as they explain... This paper approves that from the students’ perspective, potential disadvantages can arise while making the decision between the classroom education and digital learning. For digital learning, students need a lot of discipline and dedication in order for them to sit at a computer screen to listen to lectures, doing and completing any given assignments with respect to deadlines and more so assigning time and a proper schedule to study and conduct research. Since immediate feedback is one of the pros of classroom education, when it comes to digital learning, the process of clarification of any unclear information will take a longer time. Many scholars have also argued that the introduction of digital learning has slowly eradicated the traditional ‘feel’ of having a teacher stand in front of a class to give a lecture. This has a potential detrimental effect on students as it denies an immediate and natural interactivity with the facilitator that could actually enhance their learning capability and understanding. This essay makes a conclusion that even though there are a variety of opinions on the impact of digital media in education, studies conducted and personal experiences have shown a general improvement in the education system that has been brought about by the use of digital media. Despite the glitches that it may have on the learning process, the use of digital media has made great advancements in the classroom and is a clear improvement from the traditional learning process.