not everyone is comfortable using the computer as a learning tool
most see the computer as a place to play or talk to friends, not learn
the student body is rather diverse, getting to kown everyones needs
Miranda,
I'm glad you mentioned accessibility. Many people don't think about that. Having easy access to the tools, being able to navigate within them and them working when they should are key elements.
Nice job.
I think the three most important things to consider are:
Accessibility for the students: The students must be able to easily access the technology communication tools.
User-friendliness: The tools shouldn't be so complicated that it takes the students (and me) forever to learn how to use them. They need to be user-friendly.
Reliability: The tools must be reliable. I don't like to use Skype and such because I've had some problems with the reliability of those tools in the past. I don't want the students to be afraid that the tools will crash or kick them off.
Rhonda,
Your are right on target with your input on this forum. Students must be able to use the technology, understand how it will benefit them in the course and the instructor must use technology to engage students in a variety of ways.
Many times it just takes some practice and effort. Thanks again.
1)The student and their ability to navigate different technologies should be the first consideration.
2)The subject matter, how can the instructor bring the subject to life and make it interesting
3) the instructor availability to engage with
the student.
Good morning Christina,
You hit on three very important topics: Ease of use, availability and personalization. Students need individualized attention/communication and must be able to navigate within the class easily. Communication must occur whenever it must occur to keep the process going.
Nice job.
Good morn,
When considering communication tools in the virtual learning enviroment, three factors should be kept in mind.
1) Ease of use. If the tool is overly complicated or is not suited for those who have older computers/slow internet connection speeds, the tool will not be effective.
2) Avaliability. The tool should be widely avaliable to everyone, without cost, and not over tax the students who primarily use tablets, netbooks, and simular electronic devices which may have limited resources.
3) Personalization. To develop a united classroom, the students should have the option to personalize the tool, if they so desire. For a discussion board, this could be as simply as uploading a picture or creating an avatar. The personal touch reminds others, as well as the user, that the online learning enviroment is more than empty cyberspace.
Victoria,
Thank you for your organized and complete feedback to this forum. I liked that you put your thoughts into three distinct questions instructors should ask themselves.
It is important to understand what the students know about technology and what barriers you may run into. Every class will be different.
But, as you noted, you must first understand your own purpose before beginning. Then, communicating to the students so they understand what they are doing or should be doing is equally important.
Thank you.
When assessing the use of technology in the classroom, there are numerous aspects to consider. After all, every communication tool will not be appropriate for every classroom.
Here are the top 3 things I consider:
1) What is my purpose? Different technology tools lend themselves to different end goals. If I want to encourage collaboration, then a discussion board or wiki would be far more useful than other options. If I want to work hands on with an individual student, then email, instant messaging, or a phone call would be a better form of contact.
2) What capabilities are needed? Different technology enables the user to have different abilities. To choose an appropriate form of communication you need to consider what the instructor and students should be able to do. Do you need to post one item, or do you need editing abilities? Will one person be responsible for content, or will multiple people contribute? Will everyone access it, or is it meant for individuals?
3) What skills do students have? The technological skills of my students vary, as a single class will include 18-year-olds as well as 60-year-olds. The overall gap of knowledge students come in with will determine how complex the technologies we incorporate can be; if students struggle to understand the basics of an online environment, then requiring additional complex technologies might hinder the overall ability to learn.
Rasiel,
Thanks for your organized thoughts. Making sure the correct technology is being used is very important. I am glad you also included the evaluation of the technology as well.
It is a constant cycle to utilize technology and continually evaluate the process and technology to make sure it's viable.
Thank you.
I think the three most important things are
1 .- the content that will provide
2 .- The number of students for the course and its characteristics
3 -. students access to the tools and if they know how to use them
In assessing the use of technology communication tools in a virtual learning environment three important things should be considered.
The first thing to consider is if the tool has the kind of applications that are needed for good communication in the classroom. For example, if you prefer synchronous and or asynchronous communications, you must be sure that the form of communication you need is available.
The second consideration when choosing the technology for communication is the availability of the tool and the cost to students. Obviously, students must be able to have access to any tool that they need for the course, and the expense to them should be minimal.
Finally, the communication tools that are used for the class need to be ones that most students are already familiar with, and training must be provided for any students who are not familiar with the tools.
The concerns discussed above are important in maintaining the focus of an online class. The purpose of technology in most classes is to facilitate the learning of course content and not to learn technology. Technology should be a tool and not a hinderance.
Rebecca Coleman
1 .- The type of technology used and the topic that we will try
2 .- group size and the possibility of access to technology for every student
3 .- The evaluation during the development of the impact of communication through this way and take into account the possibility of changes to improve if it is still effective
Diana,
I think your ideas will allow for a successful communication process with your students. Who will make sure the students have access to the tools and train them to use them?
Diana,
Great input. Thanks!
Using communication tools to help students reach course outcomes is of utmost importance. If the students are not familiar with the tools, it's easy to develop How To guides or record a mini-tutorial showing students how to use the tool.
Your last point is important also. There are communication tools better for large groups vs small groups, etc. Nice job.
I think the three most important things to consider when assessing communication tools are:
1. the subject matter--the tool must enable the students to meet the objectives of the course
2. the students--the students must have access to the tools and know how to use them
3. the size of the group--the tools selected must meet the purpose for which they are intended
Lisa,
I always heard it was Keep It Simple Stupid. . .but to be kind, Keep It Simple Silly.
Don,
What is the KISS principle? I have never heard of KISS.
I believe there are many things to take into consideration. I believe subject matter is very important. There are some subjects that don't translate well via virtual learning. I also believe it's important to have a good understanding of the course goals and guidelines. Is it possible to achieve the necessary results and will students benefit from technology that is utilized. Finally, I believe the teacher should have a reasnable understanding of the range of abilities students possess. Transitional or non-traditional students may require more support than the student who has been exposed to virtual learning. There has to be a balance for both students, which is always a challenge because most times, the student body is quite diverse.
Lisa,
You are right on target. These are good questions and you definitely should get student input about how the technology was used, whether it was helpful, etc.
Thanks for adding to the conversation in this forum.
