Assignment Content

Explain why the Learning Team’s instructional strategies are appropriate for the learners in this case study.

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Case Study: Technology and the Resistant Learner

CUR 516

March 2, 2020

Dr. Deborah Hornsby

Case Study: Resistance to Technology in the E-Business Course

At Northwest Community College there is a business course titled BUS 267: e-Business. Throughout this course, the learners will understand how to conduct business-to-business and business-to-consumer transactions electronically. The topics the learners will discuss throughout the course are how to conduct business electronically, how to utilize technology to enhance their business, the unique characteristics of e-marketing, and how to legally, ethically, and regulatory ways to conduct business through e-transactions (Course Catalog: Business, n.d.). Overall, this course teaches the learner the best ways to utilize technology to conduct business.

The E-Business’s target audience is adult learners. Adult learners are normally over the age of 25 and have chosen to postpone their education after high school. Adult learners typically have family’s and are working either full time or part time. Some of the learners may have prior college experience and may have been derailed from pursuing their education due to other obligations. The adult learners generally have more life experience than most students who attend school immediately after high school. They are also more motivated to complete courses in order to obtain a certification or degree that will help further their career or change careers. These learners must manage their school time with work and family obligations. The learners have family, they also must manage their household finance and their educational financial obligations.

There is quite a bit of technology that will be introduced and included in this course. Most e-commerce website utilize Shopify to manage their online orders. Through the course, students will learn how Shopify can be used as a tool for order and inventory management. Shipstation is another tool that compliments Shopify. Students will learn the importance of Shiptstaion regarding shipments, negotiating shipping rates with shippers and then transferring those agreed upon rates into the system, and the importance of fulfilling items in a timely manner. Students will also learn the importance of Google Analytics. The way an ecommerce website is designed is critical to bring traffic and ensure consumers purchase your product. During the course, learners will understand conversion rates and what makes them decrease or increase. Students will also learn the importance of Google and Facebook ads, and how these ads bring traffic to ecommerce websites based on consumer likes and interests

There are many behaviors that indicate why learners are resistant to technology in their training. The first reason is, the student is doing the minimum and going through the motions to get a degree because it is required for their employment, but they do not value the learning because it is unnecessary and not relevant. They do not care about technology or how it can benefit them in their learning. The second reason is, adult learners returning to school feel intimidated using technology as it is new, and they do not understand it. They did not have these advancements when they previously attended school and they are seen as excessive. The third reason is the learner is not actively engaged in the learning and are attempting to stay below the radar by pretending to take notes. They do not ask any questions and try to avoid using the technology because they don’t want to learn how to use it. They may disagree with the instructor but prefer to keep their opinions to themselves. The fourth reason is, some tend to be very vocal and ask numerous questions but not necessarily to enhance their understanding. These learners are attempting to find inconsistencies with how the technology is being presented and catch the presenter. They may attempt to convince the instructor that they can do the assignment without the need of the technology. The last reason is, other learners will be more confrontational in their interactions. They will challenge the content and identify how it does not match with the real-world applications. They attempt to bring the technology into doubt with the other learners so that they do not have to use it (Kasworm, 2008).

In conclusion, there are many people who are resistant to technology when they are taking classes in their adult life. These people may not be engaged in the learning or feel resistant to technology. Business is a field where technology is being utilized in a big way. We need to make sure we are teaching to those who are resistant to technology and make them see that they need to incorporate it into their business.

References

Course Catalog: Business. (n.d.). In Northwest Community College.

Kasworm, C. (2008). What Are They Thinking? Adult Undergraduate Learners Who Resist

Learning. Journal of research in Innovative Teaching, 1(1).