Affordances of Learning Technologies
Affordance: a feature or property of an object that makes possible a particular way of relating to the object for the person who uses it.
Examples:
Doorknob
Allows a person to open a door by twisting and pulling.
String
Allows a person to tie and pull an object.
Key Affordances:
Interactivity: The technology systematically responds to actions of the learner.
Adaptivity: The technology presents information that is contingent on the behavior, knowledge, and characteristics of the learner.
Feedback: The technology gives feedback to the learner on the quality of the learner’s performance, sometimes including how the quality could be improved.
Choice: The technology gives students options for what to learn and how to learn so they can regulate their own learning.
Nonlinear Access: The technology allows the learner to select or receive learning activities in an order that deviates from a set order.
Linked Representations: The technology provides quick connections between representations for a topic that emphasize different conceptual viewpoints, pedagogical strategies, and media.
Open-Ended Learner Input: The technology allows learners to express themselves through natural language, drawing pictures, and other forms of open-ended communication that encourage active learning.
Communication with Other People: The learner communicates with one or more other “persons,” who may range from peers to subject-matter experts.
How do I use this in my classroom?
Interactivity
Have students role play a historical event online rather than read or watch a movie about the event. Use games with interactive components. This encourages student interaction.
Adaptivity
Use technology that adapts to a student's learning level and learning preferences. This can be software that offers students a variety of ways to learn information, and adjusts the information based on learning speed and decision making strategies.
Feedback
Use educational software to give students feedback throughout the semester. Provide ways for students to chart their progress online, and see feedback on different assignments in one place.
Choice
Encourage students to conduct their own research of a topic online. Encourage students to pursue other avenues of research within a topic and open up their own lines of inquiry, choosing how they would like to approach the topic.
NonLinear Access
Give students options for warm-up activities or homework assignments, this will allow students to learn in a manner more suited to them. Give students options for the order they would like to receive assignments for a lesson. Provide these options online, so students can look through all the options before deciding.
Linked Representations
When creating a lesson for a topic, look into how others have used different media and structures to discuss the topic. A lesson can include visual art about the topic, clips of individuals debating or discussing the topic, and interactive simulations and/or games created about the topic.
Open-Ended Learner Input
Use technology that encourages students to express their thoughts in open-ended ways, such as through drawings or audio messages.
Communication with other people
Have students email a professional performing research on a topic they also are researching. Open up online class discussion rooms for students to participate in.