Less than technologic technology students...
I have been working diligently to use more technology in my courses at a local technical college for the spring term. I have been very surprised at the number of students who are not as savvy as I expected and was told they were. I have had a ridiculous number of students who don't use their school email accounts to their advantage and who have difficulty understanding how to submit work electronically. Has anyone else had these difficulties? Are you pulling some of your non-traditional and economically depressed students by the nose into the blended environment?
Jeremy,
I agree that it is vital instructors stay in touch with their students and work with them directly when needed. I like your real time interventions for students who are struggling.
Dr. Ruth Reynard
Jeremy,
I agree that it is vital instructors stay in touch with their students and work with them directly when needed. I like your real time interventions for students who are struggling.
Dr. Ruth Reynard
Yes! I think these challenges are inevitable when in an fully online curriculum as I am. It is also especially difficult to help students who live across the country because we rely on technology to communicate anyway! Fortunately there is always the phone to help! :-)
When a student is struggling with technology, I suggest a phone conversation as quickly as possible to try to get the student caught up. We also have "workshops" 5 days a week, where a student can visit a livechat 'classroom' to get one-on-one assistance. This allows us to view each others' screens - very helpful to troubleshoot. In some cases students lack the confidence or motivation to ask for help, but this is a challenge in any teaching format.
Valerie,
Yes, very true. I believe that institutions should increased their technical support or out source it so that students have direct access to technicians when using these new technology tools - it should not be the work of the instructor.
Dr. Ruth Reynard
The digital divide is a real thing. As instructors, it's important to support and help where possible, but we cannot also serve a full time help desk. I think it's important that universities also recognize how much time trouble-shooting tech issues can be for instructors, which can take away from our other teaching role.
Valerie Thompson
I agree. Again the teacher and students interacting in their classroom community (online or face to face) is most important. I also love that technology forces students to take an active role in learning instead of just a teacher lecturing model.
Mariska,
I have found it quite frustrating. Much of the time it is not the group I expect that have issues - non-traditionals and economically-challenged.
I feel as though many students know how to use technology to chat with friends (Facebook) and to play games but have never been taught fundamental things like e-mail, doing attachments, etc. I set up a lot of telephone call appointments to try to walk individual students through these steps because I just don't know what else to do. It does get frustrating when one has multiples sections.
Lynne,
Well said - yes, technology use is really no longer an option if employment is the goal. I agree, however, with your comment that we do need to give time for those less used to it than others. Good point.
Dr. Ruth Reynard
I have assigned homework to students and given key terms and concepts via email and most folks use it just fine but a few always seem to have difficulty. We need to be mindful that everyone has different skill levels with technology. That being said students must come out of the educational system with technology skills they will be immediately expected to use in the workplace. So we need to be coaches/mentors of technology as well as users of it.
Beverly,
Great point! Do you have a process you use for evaluation before implementation?
Dr. Ruth Reynard
I am finding that for most students, the more interactive the learning the more enthusiastic the students are. I think instructors must be careful how and when to use different technologies -- a new technology must not be used just to use it, but its application must make sense and be useful to the learner.
In my opinion, mere technology in itself can’t make much differences in education. But a well-structured educational process taking place in institutions that can embrace technology to enhance that process, then technology may offer a huge advantage.
I find that these situations instill a lot of fear and cause negativity or resistance to learn the new technology. At times it takes a little hand holding to get them through the initial use of a PC or online program to eliminate the fear.
Kassy,
I agree...not everyone has had the same access to technology, however, new technology has changed society so much that we must equip our students well for work and study in today's world. Have you heard the new "buzz word", "screenagers"? This is a descriptor of everyone (no matter which age) who is fascinated and obsessed with a screen - computer, phone, IPad, readers etc. Interesting...
Dr. Ruth Reynard
There is an assumption that all students now are digital natives.. that is,, they have grown up with all this technology therefore they should all know how to use it proficiently.. Obviously this is not the case. It's great to incorporate lots of different tools,, we just have to be sure we have tools that students can use...
Kathy,
Absoluteky - using any and all available contact and communication methods means that the flow is as streamlined as possible.
Dr. Ruth Reynard
I have noted a number of students who do not use the student e-mil accounts , but do respond to the personal e-mail accounts. Currently I send communications out to both until I get them accustomed to using the student e-mail account.
Charles,
Yes, all students who are prparing for today's workplace must be coached and encouraged to use technology, no matter how ich they dread it. Sometimes older students can be very open minded about technology, so it is not always age-related.
Dr. Ruth Reynard
I agree that many studentes have to be pulled into the technology. What I have found is that the younger students, those who have been on computers all their life, know only a few ways of doing things. What we have to teach them is the many different ways of doing things. Teaching them the multi-use of technology is sometimes very hard and can cause the students pain. The problem is that their employer will what them to understnd the many uses of technology and we must try to teach that to all our students.
