Effective Use of Technology in Teaching and Learning in HE

The article summarizes the key technological changes that affected the accessibility, use of technology in higher education (HE) from the 1970s until the early years of the twenty-first century. It then discusses the range of effects that digital technologies can have on the HE curriculum, in terms of both the opportunities presented, and the demands made by changes in society and business. The main interest in the use of technology, however, is in the extent to which it can be used effectively for learning, and this issue is addressed in terms of its role in four different types of learning: through instruction, construction, discussion, and collaboration, which represent the key current themes in research on academic learning. Research on learning technologies makes reference to the classic theories of learning, and the embodiment of these in e-learning pedagogies is analyzed in relation to the learning technologies most appropriate to them. In addition to the role of technology to improve learning as an activity, the article also discusses its value for making the logistics of study more flexible, by taking learning support beyond the campus. Finally, the role of technology in the work of the teacher is discussed. Technologies that support the teacher explicitly in their role as designer and developer of their learners’ experience of learning are still in their infancy. Moreover, the strategic context for innovation in learning technology lacks the focus it needs for truly effective use of technology in teaching and learning in HE.