Teaching with Technology

Why should I teach with technology?

Using technology in the classroom is not a new idea. Instructors have always used technology and technology has always evolved: slate/chalk to whiteboards, textbooks made possible through the invention of the printing press to ebooks, film strips to YouTube videos, overhead projectors to Power Point, mimeograph machines to copiers. As technology has evolved, so have students as users of that technology. Whereas it was once only the ‘class pet’ that had the ‘privilege’ to help the teacher run off mimeograph handouts, now most students cannot remember a day when they were not able to access information at will on the Internet and contribute to that content through YouTube, Wikipedia and many other online and social media sites.

Today’s students expect to use technology in the learning process. It is a valuable tool that can enhance teaching.

The annual Educause Center for Applied Research (ECAR) study of undergraduate students helps to shed light on how technology affects the college experience. The 2011 study gathered responses from a nationally representative sample of 3,000 students in 1,179 colleges and universities.

Some conclusions ECAR has drawn from the latest survey are:

• Facebook generation students juggle personal and academic interactions
• Students prefer, and say they learn more in, classes with online components
• Students are drawn to hot technologies, but they rely on more traditional devices
• Students report technology delivers major academic benefits

The survey also reported that students identified these four technology factors that support academic success.

How can you effectively use technology in your classroom? Here are some ideas:

Use technology to ENHANCE lesson content

Today’s students are more accustomed to interacting with pictures and video than words and speech. Adding visual learning tools (power point, graphics, videos, lecture capture, simulations) to in-class and online courses, increases their engagement and motivation by adding variety to the learning environment. Lecture capture tools, such as Camtasia or podcasts, also enable students to watch or listen to lessons again, on their own time, (and pause/repeat sections, if necessary), allowing them to increase their understanding.

Use technology to ENABLE collaboration

Today’s students are more accustomed to being part of an online community to share and exchange ideas. Adding components to your course that encourage students to collaborate using Skype, GoToMeeting, RingCentral, discussion boards/chat in Moodle will better engage them. These same collaboration tools can also be used to extend your classroom beyond the university. Use them to schedule students to interview/interact with professionals in your field of study at other universities, hospitals, laboratories or businesses.

Use technology to EMPOWER students

Engaged students actively seek information and express opinions, rather than simply passively receiving wisdom and regurgitating facts. Use technology to encourage students to:

• Find their own answers/solutions to problems both inside and outside the classroom by researching online.
• Express their own ideas by posting to discussion boards, YouTube, class wikis, podcasts, Moodle Glossary etc.
• Learn to be digitally responsible and understand copyright and other legal issues.

Use technology to EXCHANGE feedback

Modern students are used to giving and getting immediate feedback. This could be as simple as sending students test results or comments on a paper electronically, rather than waiting till the next lesson. It can also involve improving engagement in the classroom by using responsive technology tools (like clickers) for surveys and quick, low stakes assessments throughout a lecture.

Click on the links to the left for more specific ideas/instructions to use technology in the classroom.