How to Choose the Right Technology

One of the most common questions I’m asked is, “How do I choose the right technology?” This is usually asked in the context of developing an online course or other virtual learning experience. I’m talking with a Subject Matter Expert or Instructional Designer, and they are attempting to create an experience for students that is both meaningful and valuable. Knowing how to orchestrate content, pedagogy, and technology is already hard enough in the simplest of circumstances, but add in the fact that there are thousands of technology options, and well, the task is downright up hill.

I know that many people face this dilemma. So, I’d like to describe my thoughts and guiding concepts on the matter in hopes it could help others choose better technologies and perhaps increase adoption. Let’s begin with a list of truisms about the use of technology. I believe the following are mostly true…not always true…but good rules of thumb:

• We have more technology than we need.
• Even if a technology solves a problem, it doesn't mean people will use it.
• If people have to learn a new technology before they experience the value, they won’t use it.
• People hate multiple, separate logins.
• Don’t ask people what they want from a technology. They won’t know.
• Users don’t like anything “out of the box.” They want to customize, personalize, and otherwise make it their own.
• “All in one place” is always better than “go fish.”
• Being able to search everything is expected.
• People like technologies that teach them about themselves.       

If I’m right about the above being true, this is information that you’ll want to take with you as you move into conversations about choosing new technologies. This information by itself gives some guidance on how to integrate technology. For example, if you are going to create another login experience for a user, you should expect the user to be frustrated. Likewise, if instead of putting useful information all in one place you spread it out, you can expect users not to like that. I would challenge you to come up with your own truisms. I have found it very helpful in reminding me of lessons I’ve already learned.  

To get more specific, I want to walk through a few litmus tests you can run as you integrate new technologies. These are quick checks that will help you predict the outcomes of a technology choice.

Does the technology create an obstacle between action and result? It’s never a good idea to use a technology that makes it more difficult to achieve something. This can be extraordinarily frustrating. Often a technology will have value, but the way the technology functions creates an obstacle. Obstacles can take the form of extra steps, data being in the wrong form than you need it, etc.

Does the technology add value or make something possible that was not possible before? We have all been asked to move to a new system to find out that the new system doesn’t do anything different than the last system. Or, we’ve experienced a situation where someone chose a technology that is redundant. Like, this other system already captures this data…why are we using this again?

Does using the technology make the user happy? In my experience, if a technology makes someone happy, it is in one of three ways:

1. The technology by itself is fun. Things move on the screen. I hear a cool sound when I do something. Or visually, I see something interesting to look at and that thing matters to me.
2. The technology creates an experience that I already like doing. I like talking to friends and perhaps a synchronous meeting tool lets me do more of that.
3. The technology provides easy ways for me to acknowledge my success. Think about the weekly report you get from your Fitbit app. Right on track!

Does the technology bring people closer together?This is a bias of mine as I am interested in preserving human connections in digital environments. If you are too, when you are implementing a new technology you should pay attention to how the technology creates space or connection. For example, some quizzing apps have the ability to automate feedback. You might choose this for a specific learning experience, but I prefer feedback structures that require dialogue and contact between the student and teacher.

Part of the battle is keeping these tests and truisms in your awareness as you go about choosing technologies for different purposes. It is very easy to enter “auto pilot” and use technologies out of convenience or novelty. Being thoughtful about your tech choices will yield better experiences.