Kenny,
Good points! It also increases interaction and the likelihood of engagement - have you foundthis with your students?
Dr. Ruth Reynard
USing new technology will help students develop real life skills needed in todays workplace. This will also build confidence in the students that they can be competitive in the workplace.
ILEANA,
Great examples and, yes, developing new skills happened when using new technology - along with the focused exploration and discovery of new information based on the specific learning needs of each student...
Dr. Ruth Reynard
Critical thinking and researching are skills that many students need to develop. Using projects to develop these skills can be implemented in most courses. I like to give my students choices so they can use various forms to technology to present their research topic. Not only do learn the inforamtion, but they learn to use a technology that they may not have ever used.
James,
Yes, multiple paths and possible solutions: which one, based on the specifics and crieria would work best and why? Problem solving and critical thinking :)
Dr. Ruth Reynard
The use of new technology can help the students develop problem solving skills by giving them more paths to find solutions and allowing them to come to those solutions by themselves This gives them a better feeling of accomplishment.
Hank,
Reasearch and exploration (discovery learning) is well suited to a technology-rich environment. The practical application is what affirms the learning for students. Good discussion!
Dr. Ruth Reynard
I have the students research ideas and topics from a knowledge level and a practical skills this approach is much more integrated and technology-rich in that they may come away with some unrealistic ideals.
Bob,
Yes, so the point is not whether or not technology but which technology and how it can help support learning and complete tasks.
Dr. Ruth Reynard
Joe,
Great! This enhances the student's analysis and application as well. Good example...
Dr. Ruth Reynard
The student we see today was born into the computor age , it is just a matter what they already know how to use it in the automotive field
The use of new technology helps student develop the new skill of how to deal with ambiguity. For example, While online researching a subject a student will find many different kinds of authors. Some of these authors will be good at written communication and some won't. After reading several authors the student is left to peice together the answer they looking for in order to solve thier problem.
shanon,
Tow things to keep in mind: keep learning and keep your mind open to new technology. Technology is constantly changing so just explore and innovate as you progress and you will find the technologies that you enjoy and that best support your teaching style and the goals of your students. Also remember that students are all at different places regarding technology: some will always be ahead of the curve and some way behind the curve. Facilitating a culture of learning with your students while keeping them as part of the learning and exploration will really help. Ask our students to try out a new technology with you and gather their feedback. This will help you learn and keep the students engaged. While you are learning, however, do not assign a total grade based on technology use - only part, so that students can succeed and not feel disadvantaged.
Dr. Ruth Reynard
"Develop in students" I'm the instructor that started very young! The technology we have today is nothing, compared to when i was a student. The things we have now were not even thought about then. What is a baby instructor to do? I want to be the best that i can be,i'm just not sure where to start!These type things are very hard for someone who has no interest in todays "tools. I"m willing to learn, it's gonna take a lot! What if I have students who feel the same way?
David,
...and how does this also "affect" the knowledge and use of technology by the instructor?
Dr. Ruth Reynard
Humans are inquisitive people, and by giving students time to play with and test out new technologies, we are feeding into that need.
Dave
These skills are this instructor’s shtick!
• Efficient communication
• Research
• Organization
• Analysis
• Sharing new found knowledge
THANK YOU
I think that new technology is very effective at developing critical thinking skills. While instructor-driven learning is valuable in some cases such as delivery of very technical and critical information that must be delivered in order to achieve a minimum standard in the field, as noted, this is really nothing more than memorization, which is not really knowledge but merely stored information. It is the point at which that information meets real-life application that the true learning takes place and becomes embedded in the student's skill set. Because life is entirely unpredictable, students are confronted with ever-evolving situations which may or may not mirror the environment in which the information was originally presented. In other words, if a student is asked to regurgitate definitions of particular terms in real life, they may be adequately prepared, however, that is rarely the case in which students are taxed to put their "learning" into play. Synthesizing concepts and applying them to new and rapidly changing circumstances requires a certain level of critical thinking and a reflexive mind-set. Trial and error and most importantly adaptation of the knowledge and skill set to the new information and new circumstances are chiefly critical thinking skills and as such, by moving beyond the paradigm of standardized testing into a technology driven paradigm that allows educators to assess learning in a more holistic approach can go a long way to foster the critical thinking skills that will serve students well for the rest of their lives.
The use of new technology in the classroom give students the opportunity to enhance their skills in communication, grow their "toolbox" of technology as well increasing their awareness as it relates to emerging technology.
Generally my students feel that they are learning a lot of things at once, this inspires a greater sense of confidence and boosts their self esteem.
I teach game design students all the time and have had those that are completely new to computers in general. In these cases I pace these students into working online and getting familiar with the course work through a platform that is new to them.
There are always a lot of questions but in the end these students have moved their existing art skills into the computer while simultaneously learning the class portal, the intended lessons, and the 3d programs they need to use.
3 strides in just one course. This coupled with positive reinforcement seems to be the way to go in terms for giving students that push they need to succeed.
