What about Facebook and Texting
Texting and online sites such as Facebook can also be very time consuming. Yet these are technologies that our students use on a regular basis and are one of their primary methods of communication. How do you cope with these technologies?
-Glenn Hobbs
Marion, What a great resource! Thanks for sharing. I love the idea of using technology to amplify student conversation around key course topics.
Dr. Melissa Read
I've found the use of Edmodo to be wonderful! Students can have discussions with each other, pose questions and even take short quizzes all online.
So far, I have found that students who know one another communicate things about the course by texting one another. For example, they may ask one another directly about something they were not clear on. Also, it is not uncommon at the beginning of a class period, while taking attendance, for a student to tell me that a missing students has texted her that she is delayed, and will be in class in a few minutes. Otherwise, I am not sure texting can play a role in the instructional aspect of a course, but I would be curious if an instructor has done this.
I cope by being qick to the point so there's not any chatting going on. I also can control who views when I am online.
Henry, Those are fantastic ideas. Thanks for sharing. Yes, technology can be one of our most powerful tools. We've just got a way to use it to our advantage.
Dr. Melissa Read
I would say to use it to your advantage. Find a way to make the technology as a tool for learning. Maybe creating a page on a social network like Facebook for lectures or studying material and also for a place for students to converse on the material at hand. It can be a very powerful tool.
Glenn, That's a great question. Technology can be our best friend or our worst nightmare. We've got to find ways of putting it to good use, and not letting it distract us from our work. That's the key.
Dr. Melissa Read
