Technology in the classroom
One of the biggest assets an instructor can have is flexibility. At least once a week a form of technology that I want to use in the classroom is unavailable, broken or for whatever reason I'm not able to access it. I always have to be sure to have a back up plan to the technology that I want to integrate into my classroom.
TED Talks and YouTube are among my favourites for supplemental material.
Technology is like an instrument or a machine that is only as good as the operator. Yes , there are so many technological aids to instructions . The computer age has given our students so many options to gather information, in fact too many.
Instructors must now have to be computer friendly. There are instances when students have more computer and technology savvy than instructors, so teachers must really keep up with the latest trends in instruction. But we must not forget the old fashion ways of just being in front of the class with a piece of chalk and a white board to do a great lecture.
With an ever changing world we live in we as instructor have to find ways of introducing technology in the classroom to keep our students engage
By having the technology in both the classrooms and labs , this allows students learn much more efficiently and will probably use some of this technology in there carreers.
Yes it is very important to be familiar with the equipment used in class as well as to be prepare for it to not work. In that case (just like when managing your time) is a great idea to have extra material (games) or print outs of the powerpoint in case of 'emergencies'
Podcasts are another very convenient way to convey knowledge.
Yes, I agree. I have found youtube videos that are interviews with key contemporaries in the field. These interview videos can actually serve as launching points for discussions on a topic that I will be covering in class that day. We watch the video and dive right into the relevance of that day's topic. The discussions are usually very engaging and exciting...for the students and for myself.
I am a huge proponent of various, diverse forms of technology being implemented in the classroom! (I also work in the highly technical field of Audio Engineering). We live in a technology driven world... Most of my students relate very well with technology upon enrollment. Diverse uses of technology allows us to connect with different learning styles and keep the classroom environment interesting and fresh. One must always be flexible and prepared with backup plans, as issues could arise unexpectedly.
I have found that some youtube videos aid in some things i'm lecturing on. In my field there are plenty of experts that create videos to help the students understand techniques that I'm not an expert at.
Adding technology in the classroom allows the students to stay interested in the course material and allows for a give and take in the classroom. In biology class you can have a microscope hooked to the computer which will allow all students to examine the sample and have an open discussion.
Backup plans are important. I learned that on my VERY FIRST day of teaching, when the projector wasn't working.
I make sure I have some sort of backup plan ready in case something like this happens.
richard,
This is a very important point. An instructor's credibility is always under scrutiny by their students, which includes understanding of electronic learning devices.
Tremayne Simpson
richard,
This is a very important point. An instructor's credibility is always under scrutiny by their students, which includes understanding of electronic learning devices.
Tremayne Simpson
You really have to know how to operate all the technology that you are using in the classroom
Most of the lack of incorporation of technology at my facility is because it is unavailable, broken, or not enough for usage. That is always a corporate capital expense that sometimes get put on the back burner or tabled over and over again. Instructors must become creative with visual learners, tactile learners,etc. I always try to stay one step of the learning process to help students.
Christina,
I agree. At some point, there will come a time when all instructors must be able to effectively troubleshoot, during a class catastrophe. It is important to have contingency plans and to try to predict the possibles obstacles that may occur.
Tremayne Simpson
