Learning is the acquisition of knowledge skills or attributes by students.
Learning is a systematic process and depends on a number of factors which include the source material, the medium, and the method of instruction. For learning to occur there must be a presence of some medium or a mix of media to deliver the required instruction to the learners. The media plays the role of delivering content to the students. It is therefore a vehicle for delivering the materials required for learning. The media does not influence the student’s achievement in learning.
The media should not only be looked at from the point of view regarding only the surface features. We should keep in mind that there exist some kind of structures and causal mechanisms by which the media interacts with cognitive and social processes. Learning through the media can be assessed in terms of cognitively important capabilities or attributes. This includes technology symbols and systems which are vital for processing. Clark R. E (1973).
Technology here is used to mean the physical, mechanical, and electrical capabilities of a given medium that are significant in giving the media its name for instance a T.V or Radio. The term symbol system refers to the ways of expressing ideas by utilization of symbols that are important in conveying information about something in focus. These expressions come in form of text, language, pictures numerals, formulae, and many others.
Learning can occur effectively if the media used for instance a T.V has the potential of giving out problems entrenched in intricate social contexts that enable students to connect their knowledge of solution procedures to real-life situations. In most cases, learners do not bring out useful representations and operations for themselves based on the available resources in their immediate environment despite the type of medium. It is those representations and operations that are internalized by students and they can be generated by the students themselves in the future so as to effective learning. Learning is not influenced by the medium but rather there exist some attributes of the medium that can shape a unique cognitive process in the students. Kozma (1991)
For instance, Television as a medium can zoom images or unwrapping which can influence internalizing by the students. However, these attributes are not specific to the medium and therefore do not contribute to the theory of learning For learning to take place students need to form a link between new information and their previous experience. If the students are not able to form this link then the instructional method used for teaching must be able to provide it for them to learn effectively.
The media does not motivate the learners to acquire new information or attributes. Students are motivated to learn because of what they believe, their expectations concerning their external environment. There is some evidence of positive learning through the media specifically with computers. This was founding metaphysical studies. For instance, computer-based instruction has contributed to an increase in scores in the final exams as compared to ordinary forms of instruction. Clark R. E (1983)
In conclusion, it is vital to underscore the fact that media and their attributes have significant influences on the speed or cost of learning. It is only with adequate instructional methods that they will influence learning. The methodology here should be understood in the context of providing the cognitive processes and strategies that are vital for learning and which the learners themselves cannot generate. Many forms of media can de be exposed to students and still give out the same results in terms of learning. Clark R. E (1983)
References
Clark R. E (1983) Reconsidering Research on learning from media, Review of Educational research 53(4) 445-449.
Clark R. E (1973). Doctoral Research in Education and Technology. Education and communication Technology Journal (53) 445-459.
Kozma R. B (1991) Learning with media, Review of Educational research 61(2) 179-212.