June,
Anytime! I love learning through this venue!
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
The three most important things I consider in utilizing Virtual Environment Technology are Communication, Presentation and Efficiency.
1. Communication: The message must be clearly communicated from the teacher to the students. The expecations and materials must be clear and everyone has to be on the same page. Students will be able to perform their best and accurately demonstrate their knowledge when they know what is expected.
2. Presentation: The material should be well organized and user friendly. The material should be fun, engaging and easy to use. Time is a scarce resource these days and everyone will benefit from a well designed presentation.
3. Efficient: Technology should strive to make things quicker, easier and more multi-dimentional. If I can better accomplish the desired outcome with a pen and paper it would likely not be a sound investment of time and resources.
Hi, Kelly! I do tell students in my expectations announcement that I am looking for good grammar, punctuation, etc., in DB's. I suggest they do work in Word first and paste to the DB, remembering that Word is not infallible. I also teach grammar and mechanics in my second chat so they have a good overview, and I refer them to tools the school provides and, if need be, the Writing Center or even a tutor.
Thanks, Kelly. I appareciate your help!
June,
I use this all of the time with both my online and f2f courses. There are a variety of products that can be used some are free others are not. Start with Jing.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
June,
Great insight! When you teach in your English course, what are your grammar and punctuation requirements for your discussion boards? Just wondering. . . .
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Bill,
Wow! That is interesting. I do think we can do some pretty cool things with technology and not lose the human element.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Michael, I am intrigued by the idea of a voice-over PowerPoint. I teach online for a couple schools, and in one, as student once submitted such a PP with his voice narrating it. I was very impressed. I need to bone up on some of the latest in technology. This type of PP would be more interesting to students than the one with just words (music to PP's is also effective). I also give live chats that are archived but would like to learn how to allow students to participate orally once we have that function.
I think the most important things to consider are the instructor's ability to set up certain systems, the students' abilities to work with them, and the effectiveness of the tools chosen for the desired learning envirnonment and outcomes of the class. For example, I don't use polls in an English class as a political science teacher might, but I do work with students in three colleges/universities in which we use a variety of live chats, discussion boards. etc. Some of these are set up for us by the schools; some are set up by the instructors. I am eager to learn about some of the systems noted in this course so that I can set them up for the college that does not have them already in place.
Two things
use of Smart Phones and
Robotics
I was in Korea recently and visited a class of 3rd graders whose laptops linked into a robot teacher whose video was of a teacher in the Phillipines
interesting no
Bill
Bill,
Where does mobile come into distance education?
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
universal equipment support desktop thru mobile
global capability adjusting time zone capability
current technology software
Kim,
Thanks for sharing. I will put it in my "tool" box.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Hi Dr. Wilkinson:
I create crossword puzzles and speed match games.
I create the crossword puzzles in the classroom and speed match via http://superteachertools.com/
Students really seem to like the games!
Kim
Kim,
Great use of social media! What type of games do you create. I think that is great about giving student choices about learning.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Patricia,
What great answers! You are so right about comfort level and availability and reliability of the technology and those who use it (both faculty and student) great insight!
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
I believe the three most important things to consider when using technology tools in a virtual learning environment are:
1. Student's needs as well as training and ability to use the tool.
2. Communication between the instructor and student.
3. Student choice in regards to the number of tools that are used.
I created Facebook fan pages, use Twitter, created Weebly sites, and also create games and mini-lectures for my students. I like to give my students choice in how they learn and they can use all of the extra tools outside of the LMS or none and is totally up to them and their learning style.
Kim Houck
I believe the most important things to consider when using technology tools in a virtual learning environment are:
1. The clear communications between the student and the instructor.
2. The comfort of using the technical tool of both the student and the instructor.
3. The availability and reliability of technology when the student/instructor need to use it.
Daniel,
What a great point! In working with LMS's it is important to consider this. When you have students that can't access your course material the frustration becomes a big barrier.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Daniel,
You are correct in the steps to determine the tools to use. It is important to think of these things before developing the course(s). Good points.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
