HINT!
This seems small, but I base a lot of my in class activities on the use of technology. It is HUGELY important to understand the technical capabilities of a room in order to match the different teaching mediums to what's available. Great ideas in the course. I have been caught twice with technology that didn't match the room capability and that completely derailed a whole day of class each time. I will walk the room!
Hi Chris,
Tech use is a complement to the instruction that is going in the class. We as instructors need to take advantage of these whenever they will work in our classes. We also need to make sure we don't lose sight of our end goal of preparing high quality graduates no matter what media or technology we use.
Gary
I too use a lot of tech. Instructors need to test gear out before hand and not be embarrassed by tech failure in class. I hate that!
This underscores the importance of having up to date computers software etc., and the role an I.T. department has in education.
Hi Alesha,
Welcome to the profession of teaching. I wish you the very best in this new career area. I know you are going to enjoy it very much. You are right about the supplemental materials and items being key to the process of capturing and holding the attention of students. Anything that you can being into the classroom to show relevancy and application will enhance the learning of students.
Gary
I am a new instructor, and as such had to kind of figure out some of the technology on my own. Lucky for me, the things we have doesn't scare me too much. I did a lot of testing it out before class to make sure I had it down, and to ensure I could log in! But I think that some of those "supplemental" items are the best way to recapture attention, especially if it is fun, light hearted or helps clarify a tricky concept.
Hi Aidan,
It is hard to recapture the attention of students when you are messing with a piece of equipment that won't work. We all have been there at one time or another. You are right about the need to test equipment before the class. Even then I have had it fail me during class and it is then I get to see how well I planned by filling in the blanks while get the LCD projector going again.
Gary
I can really feel the students attention and investment in the class session slip away when I have tech problems. I have learned the hard way to test stuff prior to class :-)
I agree, though I never was left with no lesson for the day. A couple of times this past quarter I was unable to show a clip I wanted my class to see. It was supplemental, so it was not that important, but I was not hard to tell that the class was a little let down. I dragged the VHS player into the room with me after that.
