Separating the Tools from the Learner

I read a perfectly joyful post of the virtual environment by Carey Hilgartner, Online Learning is Being Shipped to the Museum. He shares the excitement and possibilities provided by the tools that can be used online.  He notes, "online learning"  is everywhere and being used all the time, so eventually, the term itself will be relegated to history.  

The tools are tremendous and do hold tremendous possibilities when teaching online.  The issue is sometimes the tools are focused on in lieu of the learner.   We'd never give a student an eraser, a pencil and a calculator, who has never used them, and go right into the content. Yet this is the danger of assuming the tools are the learning.  

Learners at the ABE level require scaffolding and explicit instruction.  One tool used at a time to ensure comfort and confidence can be built.  Sometimes the danger is that a variety of tools are used, as a replacement for being attuned to diverse learning styles, rather than the building up of skills and efficacy first.  

Afterall, the tools aren't the content.  They are a means to achieve an objective, complete a task, learn another skill.  There is only so much cognitive energy that can be delegated to any task. I have seen the beauty of a tool such as a calculator opening up spaces where a learner can suddenly grasp a concept.  I have also seen times when a calculator has interfered with the learning process that needs to be occurring to develop a basic concept. 

It isn't the term or the tools that need to be relegated to history.  It's the assumptions that occur with our learners.  What is occurring at the level of the learner who uses the online tools is a conversation that needs to be happening at all levels.