Is using more technology in your course a good idea? Hear what these students have to say about the ups and downs of their experiences when teachers use specific technology in class.
[Source: http://bcove.me/1ezeqj66]
Students Doing
Using screencast-o-matic for student presentations
Example: Art/Mus/Thr F200X Blogs (carolinemuniz) (westonsworld) (kncolquhoun) (annsterle) (eretterer.wordpress.co) (chetsblather)
Students create their own blogs to submit their assignments. These blogs are open to the public. Students post to their own blog as well as monitor and make comments on other student blogs.
Lisa Kljaich, the instructor for this course talks about why using the blog has been a good way to engage students:
1 – It raises the bar. When students start seeing the work of the peers, it generally elevates the level of the presentations after the first few assignments.
2 – It provides real life feedback. Some of my students have received comments from the living artists that they featured. How cool is that?
3 – Music, plays and film. The ability to imbed videos from YouTube has allowed students to present the performing arts in a much more vivid format.
4 – Some of my students have even done video blogs. Although these are frequently not very professional, it does give students another way to present what they know while getting away from having to write. This works well for students who aren’t good writers. See this blog: http://daleowen.wordpress.com .
5 – Visual appeal and artistic creativity can be included in the blog format. Discussion Boards weren’t nearly as visually stimulating, nor are they very personal.
6 – The instructor isn’t the only bad guy. If a presentation is deficient, students usually point that out. Most of the time the students will point out missing content or citations with a level of diplomacy that is admirable. That means I’m not the big old bad instructor that doles out capricious bad grades. I love that.
7 – Blogging is a skill that has real life applications. Blogs can be monetized and several of my students have done that while taking the class. Journalists, and aficionados of all types of human activities can make money by blogging. In addition to the course content, the students learn a real-life skill. One of my students went on to blog about Native Alaskan culture and politics.
8 – Easy access to internet references. Most students are utilizing online sources for their presentations, and they are required to cite them. If the reader wants to learn more, they can. This semester I have already been directed to some excellent websites and video presentations by my students.
The downside of blogging is that some students lack the computer skills to deal with a blog. Some are not good at comprehending technical writing. These are skills that they gain and develop throughout the course.
Students Sharing
diigo groups
Using twitter hash tags to
Example: ED F655, ED F653
Students Using
Referencing online resources like:
UAF Journal Resources
Khan Academy (collection of video tutorials on a variety of topics)
