Media vs. Method
I first read and wrote about Clark and Kozma's Media vs Method debate in my design project for IT500. (project link)
When I first read The Media Versus Method Issue by Clark, I was struck by his comment that there are "no learning benefits" in regards to media. Clark quoted Schramm as claiming, "learning is influenced more by the content and instructional strategy in a medium than by the type of medium." Initially I primarily associated modern digital devices with media. However, I realized that Clark was referring to all forms of media, including written.
Kozma’s counter to Clark is his belief that various forms of media can act as a more effective delivery method, which helps the learner process information differently and can improve learning. He gave an example of how a child is engaged by Sesame Street. However, I disagree with his example. Sesame Street does act as an effective delivery method, but I believe that it would be equally effective as a live show. I thought back to when I was a child and watched Sesame Street. I was engaged and actively participated in the program by singing along with and answering questions from the puppets and cast. In a similar manner, I also remember going to the public library as a kid for "children's programs", which were live shows that taught lessons similar to Sesame Street. In both cases, I was an active participant which is what I believe truly influence learning.
I liked Morrison's perspective on the issue. Morrison addresses Kozma’s use of ThinkerTools as evidence that media influences learning. Morrison points out that the study did not take simulated vs physical environments into consideration -- specifically, learning using real pool balls in a pool hall instead of the simulation. What the study really showed was that an instructional strategy that engaged students was more beneficial to student learning than a passive strategy.
Use in Projects
My first design project in IT510 was a self-guided lesson on beekeeping. (documentation link, instruction link) I had not read Clark vs. Kozma yet and gave little thought to whether media influenced learning. However, after reading Clark and Kozma, I reflected back on my IT510 project and saw how Clark and Kozma, indirectly through the MRK model, influenced my design. One piece of the MRK model is the generative strategies, which engage the learner and help them create connections.
For example, one objective from my beekeeping project was:
Objective: Given a list of hive locations, the learner will correctly identify a proper location with an 80% accuracy.
The learner would receive instruction, which could be presented via instructor, written instructions, or digital media. Regardless of how the information was presented, the following generative strategy would be employed to facilitate the knowledge transfer.
Generative Strategy: The learner will draw and label an overhead view of a landscape diagram based on the instructor’s description of a proper location for a beehive.