Using Technology to Promote Learning Seven Simple Tips and Ideas by Joe Hardenbrook 17 April 2007

Faculty Use of Technology  Recent survey says that fewer than half of faculty report using technology to enhance learning  Why? No surprise…lack of time and skill  Instead, focus on “small bits” not an entire course  Make sure technology supports what you are teaching

Student Learning and Technology  Students only want technology if it is used well  Typical comments:  “He just read from his PowerPoint slides”  “Doesn’t know how to use the computer equipment”  “Has a Blackboard course, but the only thing that’s there is her syllabus”  from EDUCAUSE Center for Applied Research Survey

#1: Strategies for Different Learning Styles  Visual  graphs, charts, pictures – insert into Blackboard, show in class  Verbal (speaking & writing)  online journaling, class “wiki,” Blackboard Discussion Board  Writing Class at Rennselaer Polytechnic InstituteWriting Class at Rennselaer Polytechnic Institute  Tactile  Divide class into groups, give them “group” space in Blackboard. Then have the group present in class.  Logical  look for online case studies, online problem-based learning scenarios

#2: Don’t Reinvent the Wheel  Look for a “ready to go” assignment or online content and adapt it for your students  Multimedia Educational Resource for Learning and Online Teaching (MERLOT):  MIT OpenCourseWare:  World Lecture Hall:

#3: No time for Blackboard?  Create a simple webpage instead  Go to your “H” drive and create a “www” folder  Then create a webpage with links and content using Microsoft FrontPage  Place the webpage in the “www” folder

#4: Using Technology for Assessment  “One Minute Assessment” (Weekly/Monthly)  What’s the most important thing you learned this week/month?  What questions do you still have? What needs clarification?  Put into the Blackboard “Discussion Board” section  Blackboard surveys (students must be enrolled in Blackboard course), & the Millikin Survey System

#5: Using Technology for Access to Research and Information  Create your own “electronic reserves” system  Directly link to articles from Blackboard via the Library’s databases

#6: A Culminating Experience…try an Online Portfolio  Get the point across: doing something for “school” and doing something for “me” is not mutually exclusive  Types: Marketing, Accountability, Learning  Examples:  Albion CollegeAlbion College  Spelman CollegeSpelman College  Several options:  wiki  simple web page  free software

#7: Ask for Help  Contact me for questions  …and don’t apologize!!!  Individual consultations  Class visits  Apply for a Technology Fellow  Web site re-design  Documentary filmmaking

Sources  Hanna, D.E., Glowacki-Dudka, M., & Conceicao-Runlee, S. (2000). 147 Practical Tips for Teaching Online Groups: Essentials of Web-Based Education. Madison, WI: Atwood.  King, B.R. (2007). Think Small! A Beginner’s Guide to Using Technology to Promote Learning. EDUCAUSE Quarterly, 30, Retrieved 12 April 2007 from,  Price, M. (2006, Dec. 4). What is the Purpose of an Electronic Portfolio? Is the Answer the Key to Your Successful Implementation. Campus Technology. Retrieved 14 April 2007 from,  Snoeyink, R. (2007, March 2). E-portfolios. Presentation at Associated College of Illinois/AT&T Teaching and Learning Mentors Workshop. Retrieved 13 April 2007 from,