1. This first ting to consider is how the student will interact with the technology, i.e. what do I as the teacher want them the student to do and learn, and what will they actually do? Sometimes we get lost in what we want them to do with the assignment/reading/activity etc. and not what they actually do to accomplish the objective. The technology should intuitively guide them through the actual steps the instructor believes are beneficial.
2. Time! When we are not in a f2f classroom it becomes harder to manage our students time with content. The selection of technology should balance (ie not too much or too little) time with course content
3. Resources. Unless all students receive the same resources (ie getting a laptop as part of tuition costs) it is important to know what the median resources are. If students CAN'T interact with the material or the VC then the teacher preparation of material is for naught.
I also think frustration could be a big issue. The technology should be very easy to use otherwise students will not be motivated. Learning the material at hand is hard enough for some; adding to this with a hard to use technology could set up the student for failure.
I think 3 most important things to consider when using technology in an online learning environment are:
1-Do students have the tools necessary; dependable high speed internet, a dependable computer and printer, or access to these.
2-Consider students' technology knowledge. How much exposure has the student had regarding the internet, facebook, blogs, MS Office etc?
3-Is the technology tool difficult to use; will students get frustrated with the difficulty?
I believe that
1.The technology must be user friendly , easy to navigate and relevant to the course(For example “Sketchpadâ€)
2.Students must have some kind of prior knowledge on handing the technology tools.
3.The technology tool must be provided by the institution or it must be integrated with course (if it is a part of the course). If not, it must be affordable for the student.
Using technology tools require one to assess
>students demographics
>motivation
Accessability.
I think it absolutely vital that a student goes through an introductory course. Unfortunately, some colleges do not have the availability of an introductory course in their curriculum. Students can learn how to use the LMS during student orientation. They could have a checklist of items they need to complete before they “pass†student orientation. These items could include accessing the LMS, uploading files, sending emails, etc.
The student, does the student have access t the technology that they need to accomplish the task?
Does the student understand how to accomplish their goals?
Can the student organize their time to accomplish on line learning objectives?
Some students do not realize that the time to accomplish the assignments might be more lengthy than the first assumed
The three most important things I consider in utilizing Virtual Environment Technology is Communication, Presentation and Organization.
1. Communication: Gives the students guidance from the instructor as well as feedback from either the Instructor and/or Students as well as encouragement
2. Presentation: Gives the students a better understanding of the course materials
3. Organization: Makes it easier for students to follow the curiculum giving them a better understanding.
When entering any classroom, I have to assess my audience. What works for one group may not work for the next one.
When using technology tools in the virtual learning environment, it is important to make sure that the instructor and students become familiar with the tools before they need to actually put them to use. It is also essential that the instructor has a clear understanding of how this tool will best serve the intended learning outcome. If there are students who are unfamiliar with the technology or have technical issues, there must be support available to them.
When using technology tools in a virtual learning environment, what do you believe are the three most important things to consider?
In an online or virtual environment, technology can greatly enhance the learning experience for a student and an instructor. With this said, the technology utilized needs to be reliable. I feel that this is an important item to consider before implementation. For example, if you are running a synchronous live session, is the software reliable and efficient?
The second item I feel is important to consider is ease of use. If a student is not able to utilize the technology this could lead to frustration. Frustration could affect retention. Some students may utilize a computer that is not their own to complete their school work. Do they need to download the software? Is the software part of the LMS which can be accessed from any computer?
The last item is cost. Is the technology cost effective? Does the cost outweigh the benefit? I hate to bring money into the discussion, but I feel it is an important aspect that must be considered. If the cost is tied into the student’s tuition, is it something they will actually use?
These are some questions I would have to ask when implementing any technological tool into a classroom.
1.Is the technology appropriate for all learners in the forum? Will every student have and equal opportunity to use the type of technology selected?
2.Is the learning synchronous or asychronous will determine the type of technology used.
a. If sychronous live blogs with live pod-cast lecture may be used and need to be conducted at a particular time.
b. If asychronous the forum may use more discussion questions with recorded audio and video seletions allowing students the flexability in schedule to meet set time lines for responses and assignments.
3. What type of Learning Managment System (LMS) will the facilitator be using to meet the classroom objectives. Is the material in e-books for reference or module type programs that have menu selections for students to follow?
Ellie,
You are right, sequencing is important.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
When using technology in my classes I first take an inventory of what type of students I am teaching. I want to make sure that the tools I utilize will be the most beneficial to them and to me assessing them. There are times when students are memorizing facts. I don't necessarily think a journal would be key here but perhaps pod casts with helpful hints for retaining information. I also would look to see how I want the information to flow to the student. There may be times when I feel the visual part of the class may need to come first and then the audio.
I also look to see if a section of the class needs to come together as one and then tailor the lesson to that need.
Ana,
Nice job. Students do need to know what is expected to them, how to submit assignments, and how to communicate with the instructor and their peers. Engaging them in their learning is very important. Thanks!
Three things to consider when doing virtual envronments are
1) Make the objectives clear.
2) Have content that is clear and easy to understand, is engaing (visual)and have examples that are applicable to the real world to make it memorable.
3) Make it engaging.
Krista,
all three points were valid reasons to consider using technology in an online learning envionment. For example, the instructor must be comfortable with the technolgy and training in order to be able to effectively disseminate the information that is intended to be relayed to the student. The technology becomes ineffective when there is a bottleneck in the usage of the technology by instructor or student.
1. Does the use of the technology provide the student with an appropriate method of instruction for the course.
2. Will the student be inspired to use the technology and find why it is useful to them in the course.
3. Is the technology reliable and available when the student/instructor is wanting to use it.
The three most important thins to consider in using tools in a virtual learning environment are:
1. Are the tools appropiate for the material being presented.
2. Are the tools easy enough for all users to use.
3. Can these tools be accessed on every computer or just certain one.
In teaching in a virtual environment, there are many elements to consider. Do the tools enhance the lesson. Do these tools encourage communication within the learning community. Do these tools help learners to think creatively.
Instructors need to be comfortable with the tools as well as teaching online.
1) Not everyone will be comfortable with using the technology and there may be a learning curve. In an online class we do not get to see the fear or frustration of some students as they work in this medium and we have to keep that in mind.
2) Feedback is important; otherwise the student is left wondering not only how they did but, then, if the work was ever received.
3) Sometimes the technology fails and you need to have a backup plan.
