The document discusses the pros and cons of using technology in the classroom. It acknowledges that technology can engage students and keep up with their interests, but it can also overwhelm students and take focus away from the core lessons. The document provides tips for teachers on gradually integrating technology, using tools that fit their strengths and class needs, and ensuring technology helps students become better learners. It also highlights specific technologies like Blackboard, presentation software, audio/video recording, and screen capturing that teachers can utilize.
2. To use it or not to use it:
THAT is the question
Good reasons to use Good reasons to avoid or
technology: limit use of technology:
Keep up with Students aren’t always
students’ interests proficient; can become
and proficiencies overwhelmed
Part of 21st century Can take the focus off
learning that we of what we’re teaching
cannot and should Doesn’t always work as
not ignore it should
Engages students Can be time-consuming
Engages us or require too much
Can make teaching work
some concepts Can be fun and cool but
easier not pedagogically
sound
3. To consider . . .
What do you already know? What is
your comfort level?
– Do you use Facebook and Twitter? Do
you have a laptop or iPad? Do you
regularly read blogs and RSS feeds?
What is your teaching style and how
might technology complement that
style?
4. To consider . . .
What is your access to technology?
What does your school provide?
How much (if anything) do you want to
spend out of pocket?
How much time/energy do you have
to invest in this aspect of your
career?
– As opposed to concentrating on
pedagogy, mastering your school’s
curriculum, refining your teaching
skills, conducting research
5. To consider . . .
Allof those questions focus on you as the
teacher. The most important question,
though, should focus on your students:
–What technology will help
them become better
learners, writers, readers,
thinkers?
6. Integrating technology into your
classes
Start gradually.
– Don’t try to use all of these exciting
technologies in one semester
Think about your “lifeload”:
– Your own classes; jobs; spouses and
children.
– Technology can be time-consuming and
frustrating
7. Integrating technology into your
classes
Use “down” time:
– Summer and other breaks, periods
during the semester when you have
little or no grading
Look for professional development
or other learning opportunities:
– Summer technology workshops,
opportunities by UC organizations such
as the Teaching & Technology
Committee, sessions at
professional conferences
8. Integrating technology into your
classes
Keep a log/journal/list of
technologies you want to investigate.
Choose technologies that utilize your
strength or expertise:
You’re a strong public speaker: use audio and
video recording technologies
You’re a visual learner/teacher: use artistic
presentation software
You’re an organization freak: re-organize
Blackboard or use your own blog or wiki
9. Integrating technology into your
classes
Think
about your class and cater
technology accordingly:
You’re teaching ENGL 1000 and many
students struggle with paragraph cohesion.
Can you expect them to master a wiki?
You’re teaching an Honors section and
students are driven and independent.
Can you assign a multimedia text in addition to a
written essay?
You’re teaching a short summer section.
Can you expect students to create and maintain a
comprehensive website?
10. Other current and future
considerations
How do we include students with
disabilities?
How do we accommodate students
without access to technology at
home?
How do we avoid contributing further
to the rising cost of higher
education?
11. Now that I have you bummed out . . .
Let’s play with technology!
Blackboard
Presentation software
Audio
Video
Screen capture software
On the horizon: iPads, apps, social
networking, oh my!
12. Blackboard: It’s all
we’ve got, baby
Make it your own! Personalize with:
Buttons
Organization (subheads, dividers, tool links)
Banners
Colors
Consistent announcements
Visual formatting:
Course ToolsCustomizationStyle
13. Blackboard …
Create interactions:
Discussion Board (I use for peer review)
Blogs (class or individual)
Wikis (I don’t love them, but hey, you might)
Journals (good for personal writing)
SafeAssign (for research essays)
Starfish (again, don’t love it. I use Google
Docs and post link to Blackboard)
CollaborationOffice Hours: Bb’s chat
function. Works great for off-campus
conferences and student group work
15. Presentation Software
In
one corner, the reigning champion,
PowerPoint vs. the contender, Prezi
Experiences? Impressions? Preferences?
Are you presenting or entertaining?
Good for flipped instruction, online
instruction, introduction, and review
My bias: Prezi jumps too much, distracts my
students, is better when I’m present
Others:
Adobe Presenter (ExPENsive!)
Keynote for iPad ($9.99)
16. Audio
What’s on your computer?
Any iPad voice recorder that
produces mp3 files
Audacity: free and easy
http://audacity.sourceforge.net/
Suggestions & Cautions:
Make sure files aren’t too big
Don’t use for grading
Write a script
17. Video
What’s on your computer or iPad?
Your decision: record your face or
your computer screen?
Suggestions & Cautions:
A brief introductory video of you or a weekly
vlog is nice, but beyond that students
probably don’t want to see your face so much
Avoid recording “lectures”
Write a script if necessary
Let your students do the recording!
(accompanied by something
written, of course)
18. Screen Capture Images & Videos
PowerPoint videos
Convey presentations in video and static form
Yourown YouTube channel or store
on Screencast.com
House your own videos and links to often-used
or favorite videos
Authorstream and Slideshare hosting
www.authorstream.com and www.slideshare.net
Jing and Screencast-O-Matic
Capture images or videos;
create tutorials and presentations
19. Screen Capture Images & Videos
Screencast-O-Matic
www.screencast-o-matic.com
Website, so you can use it from any computer
My favorite for making screen capture videos
Will upload directly to YouTube
Jing
House your own videos and links to often-used
or favorite videos
Must be downloaded, so it’s computer specific
My favorite for capturing images
Must upload to Screencast.com
20. Your Own Creation
Create your own website/blog/wiki
My favorite: Wordpress
Others: tumblr, blogger, blogspot,
pbworks (wiki)
Suggestions & Cautions:
Very time-consuming
Must have a clear purpose
Consider it an investment in your career and
do it only if worthwhile
21. Recast and other assignments:
The good, the bad, and the ugly
Encouraging students to use
technology:
The more you use technology, the more your
students will use it
Teach them what you know, but . . .
Also let them experiment
Use UC resources such as the STRC
Set up a practice Discussion Board
Post final products somewhere like
Discussion Board or a Bb blog
Make them write about it!
Analyze, reflect, and so on
22. Recast and other assignments:
The good, the bad, and the ugly
My research steps: Blogs and Vlogs
Recasts from fall semester:
iMovie video
Screencast video presentation
Screen captured Prezi video
Prezi
Facebook page
Twitter feed
Blog
Comic strip
Tumblr site
23. On the horizon
iPad and apps
Cell phone and other mobile devices
Social networking
24. My wish list . . . To investigate
iPad & apps
iAnnotate and Evernote organizer
RSS feeds
Voicethread
conversations in the cloud
Pearltrees
collect, organize, and share Web content
Pinterest (just because it’s fun)
Zotero
research organization
25. UC IT’s list of “8 Time-Saving Tech Tools
That We Can’t Live Without”
Zotero – zotero.org
Dropbox – dropbox.com
Jing – techsmith.com/jing
Google Calendar – calendar.google.com
Remember the Milk –
rememberthemilk.com (organizer)
Evernote – evernote.com
Diigo – diigo.com (digital bookmarking)
Doodle – doodle.com (meeting time poll)
Source: UC IT and Center for the Enhancement
of Teaching & Learning, Dec. 27, 2011
26. Teacher vs. Technology: may the
best human win
Do not let technology replace you.
YOU are the teacher. Technology is
your tool. Nothing beats a one-on-
one relationship between student
and teacher. (Nobody’s going to give
an apple – or a Starbucks gift card,
or a nice note, or a smile
– to your computer.)