Lesson 7 - Choosing Media

10.4. The Information You Need About Your Students

It is critical to know your students. In particular, you need the following information to provide an appropriate context for decisions about media and technology:

• What is the mandate or policy of your institution, department, or program with respect to student access in general (selective vs open; accommodation of disabilities, etc.)? How will students who do not have access to a chosen technology be supported?
• What are the likely demographics of the students you will be teaching? How appropriate is the technology you are thinking of using for these students?
• If your students are to be taught at least partly off-campus, to which technologies are they likely to have convenient and regular access at home or work?
• If students are to be taught at least partly on campus, what is – or should be – your or your department’s policy with regard to students’ access to devices in class?
• What digital skills do you expect your students to have before they start the program?
• If students are expected to provide their own access to technology, will you be able to provide unique teaching experiences that will justify the purchase or use of such technology?
• What prior approaches to learning are the students likely to bring to your program? How suitable are such prior approaches to learning likely to be to the way you need to teach the course? How could technology be used to cater for student differences in learning?

There are many different ways to get the information needed to answer these questions. In many cases, you will still have to make decisions on insufficient evidence, but the more accurate information you have about your potential students, the better your likely choice of media and technology. Almost certainly, though, you will have a variety and diversity of students, so the design of your teaching will need to accommodate this.