I think that it is very important to consider:
- the course objectives
- the purpose of the tool
- the effectiveness of the tool being used.
The aim of technology tools is to facilitate the learning process. You have to ensure that the tools used does not distract from the objective of the course.
When reviewing your class for technology tools, it is important to know the type of students that you have. If you have a lot of older students it might be more difficult for them to grasp some of the technology. So you need to make sure you have appropriate instructions for any technology you use. Also, you might want to use easier technology for this group as opposed to a younger group.
I agree Dr. Kelly. The first chat lecture in each of my healthcare courses is about expectations. They also posted in the 'required reading' section of the announcement area. I offer them an open opportunity to contact me via email or phone. I have a phone system that locates me whether I'm with a patient, hospital administrator, meeting or at home. If I can't directly answer their call there is a message system to leave a number. Since 2005 this hasn't been an issue for me and I find students quite respectful and grateful for the opportunity to chat. Most of the time a 3 minute call is worth a dozen emails.
1. Keep it simple! I teach healthcare and want my students to understand their assignments, my expectations and to see the actual field of their study. These areas may include finance, administration, leadership, policy, ethics, etc. Students learn best when considering actual situations. Technology is useful as long as it doesn’t become the objective of the course.
2. One important key in healthcare, regardless of the course being taught, are the principles of coordination, communication and collaboration. Whether being a provider, manager or student these principles are primary over technology. When technology is used in the classroom one must remember our goal. Having students think, reflect and aspired to realistic goals.
3. I rarely consider my students as consumers. They are colleagues! Guide them in their learning and thinking through our experience in our fields of training and work. Technology can offer wonderful tools but let us not forget that we training a next generation in our fields and not computer science.
Tony,
You never want the technology to be the main barrier of learning.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Tony,
Great post. You are right, we do have to make some concessions in our delivery to use the technology to benefit the students. All of this is based on the outcomes of the course.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Anthony-- my students are predominantly adult learners who are attempting to learn the course content as well as keep up with current technologies. Changing technologies (such as the LMS) can be stressful to the students and faculty. This can stress can be a distraction. Educators must be very careful when changing technology.
Three important considerations are: (1) the course outcomes, (2) tools available to the students and faculty and (3) student’s learning styles.
In my organization, we are mandated to use a set number of tools. We must adapt our teaching styles to successfully employ the tools.
In the technology courses I teach, we use a LMS, and interactive collaboration tools (Adobe Connect) and a wiki.
Questions in our end-of-course surveys help us get student feedback on the tools.
Dennis,
See it can be done! It is the delivery method.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
That is the work I do with large school districts throughout the U.S.!! I have developed programs, units, lessons, activities for different publishers and school districts doing this. We totally agree on this! I have even developed some lessons and units for different on-line High Schools along this line.
Dennis,
That is the goal of using technical tools, to provide that immersive learning environment that engages and connects students, to you, to other students.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Tina ,
You make a great point. How do these technical tools align with the other tools is such an important consideration. This can be just as important as user friendliness. Great post.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Gilbert,
You are right! The hype can be so great and the realistic use never materializes. You have to be able to determine if the tool is worth the time and money for your students and for you.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
I love to use tech tools in a Virtual Environment in a similar capacity to when I do PD work in classrooms. I want to create high engagement for students to interact with essential content thereby helping them learn the content while improving and utilizing their literacy skills.
1. I would want to consider the type of technology that would be appropriate for the course.
2. I would want to consider the type of technology would align with the learning material to allow for more in-depth understanding of it with the students and myself.
3. I would want to consider what limitations the technology has in order to assess if it worth utilzing in the course. Furthermore, how "user friendly" the technology is for both the students and myself.
Tina Means
The most important consideration is the actual benefit of the tool; unfortunately, in too many cases the toll is unable to live up to its advertised capabilities.
Secondly is the benefit of the tool to the student's learning. The final consideration is the ability of the instructor to effectively use the toll's capabilities.
Vimlarani,
You are right. A good LMS should do be a hub of activity and content. You make a great point about content management that we don't always think about. The content has to be mapped and accessible in more than one way.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
A virtual learning environment or learning platform, is an e-learning education system based on the web that models conventional in-person education by providing equivalent virtual access to classes, class content, tests, homework, grades, assessments, and other external resources such as academic or museum website links. It is also a social space where students and teacher can interact through threaded discussions or chat. It typically uses Web 2.0 tools for 2-way interaction, and includes a content management system. These environments are the basic components of contemporary distance learning, but can also be integrated with a physical learning environment which may be referred to as blended learning. Virtual learning can take place synchronously or asynchronously, In synchronous systems, participants meet in “real timeâ€, and teachers conduct live classes in virtual classrooms. Students can communicate through a microphone, chat rights, or by writing on the board. In asynchronous learning, which is sometimes called “self-paced†learning, students are expected to complete lessons and assignments independently through the system. Asynchronous courses have deadlines just as synchronous courses do, but each student is learning at his own pace. These environments can also include students and teachers “meeting†online through a synchronous web-based application. The teacher is able to present lessons through video, PowerPoint, or chatting. The students are able to talk with other students and the teacher, as well as collaborate with each other, answer questions, or pose questions. They can use the tools available through the application to virtually raise their hand, send messages, or answer questions on the screen given by the teacher or student presenter.
The most important features of these virtual learning environments include:
Content management – creation, storage, access to and use of learning resources
Curriculum mapping and planning – lesson planning, assessment and personalization of the learning experience
Learner engagement and administration – managed access to learner information and resources and tracking of progress and achievement
Communication and collaboration - emails, notices, chat, wikis, blogs
Jonida,
Great points. Reliability is such an important consideration for tools. I have had colleagues at other institution have problems with technology that were beyond their control and the frustration level all around was awful.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Kenneth,
True, and you don't want the technology to be a barrier for learning or for teaching. The tool should be a good fit. Nice post.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
