Comments on Media will never influence learning by Richard E. Clark

Media will never influence learning by Richard E. Clark

In the article :”Media will never influence learning” by Richard E. Clark, the author presented different points of view about impacts of media and media attributes of media on learning, motivation and efficiency gained from instruction.The author’s position is that media and media attributes have no influence on learning, motivation and instruction efficiency. According to him, media and media attribute have important influences on the cost or speed of learning, but only the use of adequate instructional methods will influence learning. His article is also a respond to the criticism by Kozma who also share some common point views with the author, but has a more neutral opinion about the role of media for learning. He is more optimistic about the role of media and believes that with careful consideration of cognitive processes, we will find critical connection between media attribute and learning.
I don’t know which point of view is right. But all of them share one point and I agree with that point: Instruction method is different from instruction media. It is instructional method, not instruction media that affect instruction effectiveness. The important thing is how the teacher use media for their lesson. However, I also don’t quite agree with Clark that media does not have any slightest influence on learning, motivation and efficiency instruction. First, I think, more or less, media also influence learning or at least students and teachers’ motivation, because this also depends on learners’ characteristics. A student with a high determination will still can make the best use of media , even if his teacher is not good. One example is that in remote areas in my country where all the resources for students are very limited , if not impossible, and even teachers there are still of poor quality, sometimes there are still some students who passed the entrance examination to university with a surprisingly high score, even the highest core which beat all other good students in cities. Therfore, I think, sometimes, it depends on students also. Second, I think, media gives more ideas and hints for teachers and students in teaching and learning process. It makes them more creative. Of course, without it, teachers still can have effective instruction, but many times, media gives more good ideas for teachers when they develop their lesson plans and helps differentiate and diversify their lessons. Thus, it can be said that media and media attributes can have indirect influence on learning and teaching. Third, I think, besides the cost and the speed , media also bring about more learning opportunities for disadvantaged students in disadvateged areas where accessibility to learning and learning resources is not available. Therefore, somehow media has influence on learning