Tricks and Treats: Quick and Easy Technologies to Support Teaching and Learning Ann T. Luck Senior Instructional Designer Penn State University

Ann T. Luck - October 31, 2003Oakland Community College Why Technology?  Technology can support our work…and make it easier, more effective, and more efficient  Particularly useful with adult and commuting learners  Not always the answer - Don’t “fix” something that already works well!  No magic cure-all: “Better to turn a screw with a screwdriver than a hammer--a dime may also do the trick, but a screwdriver is usually better.” (Chickering and Ehrmann, 1996)

Ann T. Luck - October 31, 2003Oakland Community College How Does Technology “Fit”?  Pick a theory…any theory! (Funderstanding) Funderstanding  Then add what the research says about effective teaching and learning  Then consider which tool is right!  For today, let’s return to a familiar structure for our discussion about technology… (Recall “Seven Principles for Good Practice in Undergraduate Education”)

Ann T. Luck - October 31, 2003Oakland Community College The Seven Principles  Encourages contact between students and faculty  Develops reciprocity and cooperation among students  Encourages active learning  Gives prompt feedback  Emphasizes time on task  Communicates high expectations, and  Respects diverse talents and ways of learning.

Ann T. Luck - October 31, 2003Oakland Community College Principle 1  Encourages Contact Between Students and Faculty How can we use technology to support faculty-student interaction?

Ann T. Luck - October 31, 2003Oakland Community College Technology Ideas to Aid Faculty-Student Interaction  “About the Instructor” Web page (Gary Kuhne) Gary KuhneGary Kuhne  , Discussion forums  IM (AIM) AIM  Mailing lists (Yahoo Groups) Yahoo GroupsYahoo Groups  Web Conferencing (HorizonLive) HorizonLive NOTE: YOU need to determine the limits and set expectations for interaction

Ann T. Luck - October 31, 2003Oakland Community College Principle 2  Develops Reciprocity and Cooperation Among Students What technologies can support student-to-student learning?

Ann T. Luck - October 31, 2003Oakland Community College Technology Ideas for Student Collaboration  , Discussion forums, IM  White boards  Web conferencing  Team e-portfolios (e-Portfolio site) e-Portfolio sitee-Portfolio site NOTE: Technology can help commuting students who have varying schedules; Design activities with cooperative learning principles (Johnson & Johnson) Johnson & Johnson & Johnson

Ann T. Luck - October 31, 2003Oakland Community College Principle 3  Encourages Active Learning Learning is not a spectator sport--what technology be used to encourage active learning?

Ann T. Luck - October 31, 2003Oakland Community College Technology Ideas to Promote Active Learning  e-Portfolios (EM SC 602) EM SC 602EM SC 602  e-Interviews (Ask the expert; guest facilitators)  Blogs for learning journals Blogs  Quizzes to “wake up the brain” (Jonathan Matthews, Penn State)  TrackStar TrackStar NOTE: Activities must be seen as meaningful

Ann T. Luck - October 31, 2003Oakland Community College Principle 4  Gives Prompt Feedback What technologies are readily available to help me give my students feedback on their progress?

Ann T. Luck - October 31, 2003Oakland Community College Technology Ideas for Giving Students Feedback  Automated Quizzes (Hot Potatoes) Hot PotatoesHot Potatoes  RATs (as quizzes, , postings)  Annotation tools (Microsoft Word, Markin, Annotator) Microsoft Word,Markin, AnnotatorMicrosoft Word,Markin, Annotator  Peer Reviews (CPR - v03091) CPR NOTE: Take advantage of ability to provide meaningful, and positive, feedback

Ann T. Luck - October 31, 2003Oakland Community College Principle 5  Emphasizes Time on Task Are there technologies available to help my students spend more time on task?

Ann T. Luck - October 31, 2003Oakland Community College Technology Ideas for Helping Students Spend Time Wisely  All of the above! Online materials and activities can reduce travel time and let students/faculty study on their own schedules  Online library access (FindArticles.com, Internet Public Library) FindArticles.comInternet Public LibraryFindArticles.comInternet Public Library NOTE: Help students learn how to learn (Calc course “homework journals”); Provide guidance for technology activities (how much time, how deep to explore, etc.)

Ann T. Luck - October 31, 2003Oakland Community College Principle 6  Communicates High Expectations Are there technologies that will help me communicate my expectations for my students?

Ann T. Luck - October 31, 2003Oakland Community College Technology Ideas for Communicating Expectations  Build an “electronic file cabinet” with examples of outstanding student work (Netscape Composer, Homepage Maker; How-to documents) Netscape ComposerHomepage Maker;How-to documentsNetscape ComposerHomepage Maker;How-to documents  Create rubrics to communicate expectations (Rubric resources) Rubric resourcesRubric resources

Ann T. Luck - October 31, 2003Oakland Community College Principle 7  Respects Diverse Talents and Ways of Learning What technologies might help me address diverse students and diverse learning styles…and bring more diversity to my classroom?

Ann T. Luck - October 31, 2003Oakland Community College Technology Ideas for a Diverse Classroom  Online communication can let introverts have a voice (MBTI) MBTI  Provide diverse learning materials to address different learning styles ( VARK) VARK  Put course materials online to allow students to review as often as needed ( Ian Harrison, Flash) Ian Harrison,Flash Ian Harrison,Flash  Use lists, discussion forums, chat, etc. to connect students to experts and cultures around the world

Ann T. Luck - October 31, 2003Oakland Community College Looking for other ideas?  Useful URLs Useful URLs Useful URLs  The File Cabinet The File Cabinet The File Cabinet  Examples of Learning Activities Examples of Learning Activities Examples of Learning Activities

Ann T. Luck - October 31, 2003Oakland Community College Thoughts? Questions? Ann T. Luck