Clark V Kozma: Who is Correct?    

Clark's Perspective

     "Media Will Never Influence Learning" by Richard E. Clark argues that media used in education will not directly impact learning outcomes. Clark states that what matters most in learning is not the medium itself but the instructional method and content. Clark asserts that how well students learn depends on how the content is presented and the teaching methods that are used. Clark's article challenges the idea that media have a significant influence on learning and emphasizes the importance of teaching methods and content.

Kozma's Perspective    

    "Will Media Influence Learning?" by Robert B. Kozma explores the role of media in education and its potential to influence learning. Kozma presents a more optimistic perspective compared to Richard E. Clark's viewpoint. He argues that media can indeed influence learning, but their effectiveness depends on how they are used in the instructional process. Kozma suggests that media should be viewed as tools that educators can use to enhance learning outcomes when they are aligned with specific instructional goals and strategies. He argues that the design and implementation of media in education are large factors in determining their impact on learning. Kozma's article highlights the potential of media to positively influence learning. He argues that media influencing students is not the question, but rather how can we use media to influence learning?

 Who is Correct?

    As you can see, both Clark and Kozma are arguing some of the same points. They both agree that the implementation of media is what really matters. Clark states that because one media type can be replaced with another and yield similar results, it is not the media that is influencing learning, but rather the implementation of said media. Kozma argues that media undoubtedly influences learning, and we should shift focus to how we can use the media rather than its effectiveness. They both argue a sort of same conclusion, with different reasons they got there. 

    I side with Kozma, because I also believe that media is a large influence in today's learning. From experience as a learner and a teacher, media has the potential to completely change how students learn. I do agree that Clark has a point about media being potentially attributed to other factors and having an economic benefit, but just because different media can be used, does that mean it's ineffective?