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A few days ago, I watched a newly released movie with my family – Crazy Rich Asians. Mom and I had read the book (well, I actually did not have a chance to finish it) and were excited to see the movie. Not too far into the movie, there was a scene where a woman walked by some other people to her right. She was holding her phone at an angle in the air. Obviously, she was taking a selfie to get a shot of the other people in the background. Then ensued the texting frenzy and so on and so on. Now, I realized what had transpired along with my niece, my son, and others in the room. I was totally engaged in the moment of watching the picture fly around from device to device. However, my 83-year-old mother was totally lost and had no idea what was happening. Not only was she lost in the movie, I later discovered she was also lost in the book and could not figure out what was going on. You know how you get an AHA moment sometimes?  Well, this was one of those times.  I will tell you at the end.
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The text we read during our course was E-learning Theory and Practice and published in 2011, which means it was probably written at least a year before using research even older. Nearing the end of 2018, the text contained information we had already surpassed. However, there were some relevant points brought up in the text.  The author was already identifying the need for information and digital literacy.  In my opinion, the rapid growth of technology provided so many “tools” in such a short period of time the growth outpaced the adoption of literacy at the same level.   
The text also discussed the people aspect of online learning. Whether blended or totally distance, the presence of the instructor is a critical part of the success of the student.  At the time the book was written, anonymity was probably easy. Now we all struggle to keep our personal lives personal. I’m still not sure how I feel concerning course success being linked to the visibility of the student. Differentiation in the classroom must also become obvious in online learning. We are not all the same from one cookie cutter. Opportunity for learning needs to be available in various formats allowing for student choice and voice.
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My last point is with course design in general. I remember my first distance class. I think I spent more time trying to fix the technology component for online discussions than I did actually involved in the discussion. Now we have an abundance of resources for online study. My district uses Canvas as the learning management system and I absolutely love it. The robust features available in Canvas allow course design to easily adapt to all learners providing differentiated experiences. Online communications are no longer hindered by technology. 
Currently, my work as a digital learning facilitator relies on all of the key points discussed above. The text and the class discussion really brought out the key points that make a difference in online learning success for the instructor and student. 
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So how does the movie reference fit in to this discussion? I realized how easily each of us reside at our own level of comfort in this expansion of technology all the while assuming everyone else is just as comfortable at the same level or beyond. But sometimes the lack of technical knowledge might leave a person lost and behind. The important thing to remember and stay aware of is ensuring every student understands each moment to create a successful long term learning environment and not get left behind. 

Reference:
Haythornthwaite, C. & Andrews, R. (2011). E-learning theory and practice. Los Angeles: Sage. 


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