Technology Cannot Replace a Living Human Being – Touch Offers Human Contact

Engraved ASU mission statement

The final week at the Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication for SUSI 2019 Scholars began with an aim to deep dive into pedagogical theories and practices at the Fulton Building on the ASU Tempe campus, with our mentor Dr. Marianne Barrett, Louise Solheim Professor.

Technology vs Education

“Technology cannot replace a living human being, rather it’s touch that offers human contact to meet the demands of the time,” said ASU Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education, Dr. Frederick C. Corey. While discussing changes in teaching methodology today he talked about how modern teaching adopts technology among methods aimed at improving students’ knowledge and skill.

Vice Provost Frederick C. Corey talks to the scholars about technology in education

Telling us about the ASU Charter, Dr. Corey described ASU as the foundational model for the New American University, with its mission and educational philosophy for excellence, access and impact in transforming higher education.

“ASU’s innovation is technology vis-à-vis education,” the Vice Provost said. “Nowadays we commonly hear from our course instructors that ‘our students don’t read,’ which is in fact a reality at some point. There might be various reasons for this disinclination to read. And here is where the marriage between technology and education contributes. Technology connects humans with information needs, and allows them to communicate at any place, any time – so it has a timelessness effect on each and every student, and even on the teachers and parents.”

ASU has been adopting an active learning atmosphere in the classroom that strengthens students’ ability to do their best in the subject. For example, the E-advisor ecosystem and tech-based information tools help improve student success in the course, retention and graduation as well as promote higher learning skills. And the results are better pass rates, students learn deeply, and the students most in need improve the most.

Active Learning: Group work and teams

Later in the afternoon, Ms. Vicky Harmon, an instructional designer and Manager of Professional Development at EdPlus, focused on active learning techniques that ensure individual accountability while promoting other interactive techniques for engaging students in the session.

Ms. Vicki Harmon demonstrates active learning to the SUSI scholars

Discussing various pedagogical strategies and techniques, Ms. Harmon used hands-on practice to demonstrate some of the techniques that best help both teachers and students to teach and learn.

Scholars then participated in an open conversation about active learning processes though group work and teams, a contribution that reverses the traditional learning environment by delivering instructional content using various tools.

Scholars in active conversation during the session

As the final week of learning in Phoenix continues until June 28, 2019, the SUSI 2019 Scholars for Journalism, Technology and Democracy will learn more about the power of pedagogy in this age of technology and will focus on finalizing our research projects.