Media (is) the Message?

After reading the debate between Richard Clark and Robert Kozma, I realized that this is a topic or discussion that can literally go on and on.  Clark believes that media will never influence learning.  He believes that media is just a way to deliver the instruction.  Kozma partially agrees with Clark but he emphasizes that there is a relationship between media and learning. 
Technology, to me, changes everything and us as educators need to consider how it impacts learning.  These new tools available to us for communication have become a part of our 21st century and they are contributing to our thinking and learning. 
I have to agree with Kozma that stated, "technology can make a particularly significant contribution when coordinated with the training of teachers to integrate technology into their teaching, with applications that draw on the unique capabilities of technology and with supportive curricular, assessment, and school contexts that advance complex problem solving, creative thinking, and life-long learning skills that are needed to support an information society and knowledge economy."
It is our duty as educators and leaders to our patrons to think about how and when to incorporate technology into our instruction.  As Kozma explains that if we do not strive to understand the potential relationship between media and learning, then one will never be made and we are unlikely to ever understand the prospective for such a relationship (Kozma, 1994). 
I truly believe Kozma has great points and I too, believe technology does influence learning.  Technology impacts the way we learn, when we learn, and what we learn.  We need to be open minded to be able to see the many possibilities to see the connection between technology and learning. 
In conclusion, we as educators  need to understand the educational need, the educational problem, or gap to be able to choose which type of technology could enhance learning.  Just as the debate will continue on how every new advantage a new technology has to offer, there will be a contrary one to the disadvantage as well.  Thus this cycle will continue.


Sources:
http://edutechwiki.unige.ch/en/The_media_debate#Kozma.27s_arguments
http://www.edtechmagazine.com/k12/article/2016/04/why-pedagogy-first-tech-second-stance-key-future
https://thejournal.com/articles/2007/11/08/the-great-debate-effectiveness-of-technology-in-education.aspx
http://www.ala.org/aasl/sites/ala.org.aasl/files/content/aaslpubsandjournals/slr/edchoice/SLMQ_InfluenceofMediaonLearning_InfoPower.pdf