Flori, R. E. (1997). Perspectives on the role of educational technologies. Journal of Engineering Education, 86(3), 269-272.

Categories: Communication Design, Technology, Theory & Rhetoric

Summary:

Flori summarized and analyzed educational technologies using Perkins' five facets of learning environments. The five facets are:

1. Information Banks - sources  that allow access to information. 
2. Symbol Pads - a surface for the transmission of texts.
3. Phenomenaria/Mircroworlds - "context which allows students to make connections between abstract representations and real-life phenomena" (p. 270). 
4. Construction Kits - activities involving kinesthetic (or in the case of distance education, simulated model) learning.
5. Task Managers - an individual who facilitates learning and assessment. 

Flori determined that educational technologies and tools met the requirements of Perkins' learning environments. From this study, Flori concluded that communication between students and task managers is essential (p. 270). He referenced Collins, Brown, and Newman's characterizations of expert teaching: modeling, coaching, inquiry, articulation, reflection, and exploration (p. 271) and discussed his views of what actually impacts student learning.