Integrating Technology
I teach sonography so my students need to practice scanning on a daily basis. However, patients are not always easy to come by, especially when learning OB. My school has a simulator that looks like a real patient laying on the exam table. I am able to program the simulator with any and all pathologies, as well as pregnancy, to allow the students to practice their scanning.
I have noticed that some older students state that they hate computers. It is amazing how much they disable themselves with attitudes. It is also amazingly difficult to overcome those attitudes.
Not only are younger students more enthusiastic about learning using the computer, but adult learners are also. The computer provides a level of comfort and familarity that the students embrace.
I teach Business Communication. I require each student to open a Twitter account in the name of their future business. They are required to tweet 100 entries before the course end. This exercise helps with concise and clear (140 characters) communication.
I have found younger students to be more enthusiastic about learning material if they use internet or course content websites along with standard reading assignments
I see that a lot on instructors use Powerpoints and our classes are filled with them. I personally think they are boring perhaps because the individuals our corporation has making them don't really know what you can do with Powerpoint. My students recently shared with me, Prezzi, which is so much easier to use and more fun to look at.
We use simulations to teach Microsoft Office components as well. Students don't always love them at first, but they do like getting immediate feedback while working at their own pace. It takes getting used to.
