In this learning environment our technology assisted teacher relinquishes her role as expert to assume that of a learning mediator. Through guided learning a dialogic process develops, the essence of active learning. Below I offer my version as applied to social work education in the 21st century. Social work education takes its direction from the mission and purpose of social work and a values base that supports individual rights and dignity and an ethic of caring. Technology can be used to create multi-media instructional programs for students that simulate important aspects of social work values and ethics.
Technology solves more problems than it presents for social work education.
It both solves and creates problems. For example, multi-media interactive television makes possible distance learning for social work students who, because of life circumstances, cannot attend campus based programs. At the same time electronically mediated instruction minimizes human interactions without replacing them, requires each student to own or have access to a personal computer and can discourage students' critical thinking. Technology improves student-teacher communications. Technology changes the way instructors relate to students.