Using innovative technologies in the classroom engage students in communicating with others, they are in an active role rather than the passive role of recipient of information transmitted by a teacher, textbook, or broadcast. In a classroom setting, it is difficult to assess if students have a fair understanding of the concepts covered. Thus, the use of technologies in the classroom can be useful. The following links provide a starting point for a faculty member seeking more insight on research, examples and tools that he/she can use in a face-to-face setting or to enhance a classroom experience.
Adopting Digital Technologies in the Classroom: 10 Assessment Questions – Answering 10 questions will help guide faculty in adopting digital technology for the classroom.
The Instructional Power of Digital Games Social Networking Simulations and How Teachers Can Leverage Them – Every day, many students are spending countless hours immersed in popular technologies—such as Facebook or MySpace, World of Warcraft, or Sim City—which at first glance may seem like a waste of time, and brain cells. But these genres of technologies—Social Networking, Digital Gaming, and Simulations—deserve a second, deeper, look at what’s actually going on. Some examples can be used at college level.
Examples of UM Faculty Using Technology in Teaching – This page provides links to resources with guidance for enhancing teaching and learning by using technologies. The articles in this section outline both the benefits and drawbacks of incorporating technology into teaching and offer practical tips on using technology tools.
Effects of Technology on Classroom and Students – When students are using technology as a tool or a support for communicating with others, they are in an active role rather than the passive role of recipient of information transmitted by a teacher, textbook, or broadcast. The student is actively making choices about how to generate, obtain, manipulate, or display information. Technology use allows many more students to be actively thinking about information, making choices, and executing skills than is typical in teacher-led lessons. Moreover, when technology is used as a tool to support students in performing authentic tasks, the students are in the position of defining their goals, making design decisions, and evaluating their progress.
Technology Integration: Ideas That Work– Technology has become integrated in the classroom in so many ways, that we often don’t even think about how we are using it. The Education World Tech Team offers lessons and activities to help educators make better use of technology tools for instruction, and to help students improve their technology skills within the context of the regular curriculum. Included: Integration activities that utilize the Web, PowerPoint, Excel, digital photography, SMART Boards, and more.
Using Technology in the Classroom Archive – This archive compiles many of the features we have done on the subject of using technology in the classroom. Many of these articles have been updated many times or even rewritten as technology changes. That said, due to the ever-changing nature of technology, there will be articles on this list that are a little past their prime period of usefulness.
Do Texting and Facebook Belong in the Classroom? – In this information age, we can now talk to each other in ways we never imagined. Teachers and administrators face a new challenge, however, as they try to find a way to safely incorporate this technology in the classroom.
The Evolution of Classroom Technology – Classrooms have come a long way. There’s been an exponential growth in educational technology advancement over the past few years. From overhead projectors to iPads, it’s important to understand not only what’s coming next but also where it all started.
Digital Portfolios for the Classroom – Increasingly, new electronic technologies such as digital video and the Web are being used for student projects. These technologies also lend themselves to the documentation of student progress in the form of digital portfolios.
ePortfolio Mash Up with Google Apps -Illustrates components that can be used to enhance classroom experience. Dr. Helen Barret has developed a Google Site to focus on the use of Google Apps to create ePortfolios. On this site, there are instructions on how to use the different elements of Google Apps to maintain e-portfolios. Read more at ePortfolios with GoogleApps.
Creating an Electronic Portfolio – Electronic Portfolios (e-Portfolios) are dynamic, developmental spaces representing your professional “self” on the Web. They are becoming standard practice for academics, students, and professionals and typically include examples of skills and achievements, as well as a reflective blog element.
ePortfolio Initiatives at Virginia Tech – he eP@VT site has all of the tools needed for any member of the Virginia Tech community to make an ePortfolio. In fact, faculty, students, and administrators can make many different ePortfolios to suit many different purposes. Additionally, faculty members can request ePortfolio tools for their classes. Members of the Electronic Portfolio Initiatives team will work with faculty and students to customize portfolios and create unique personal, intellectual, and professional presentations. Use this site to learn more about and get started using ePorfolios. For details contact: eportfolio@scholar.vt.edu
Socrative: engage the class using any device – a smart student response system that empowers teachers to engage their classrooms through a series of educational exercises and games via smartphones, laptops, and tablets. Watch a short video.
Nearpod – an all in one solution for the synchronized use of mobile devices in the classroom. Make your lectures more engaging through interactive multimedia presentations. Watch a short video.
Clickers in the Classroom: An Active Learning Approach – Clickers, or student response systems, are a technology used to promote active learning. Most research on the benefits of using clickers in the classroom has shown that students become engaged and enjoy using them. However, research on learning outcomes has only compared the use of clickers to traditional lecture methods. Although learning outcomes are higher when using clickers, the question is whether the clickers or the active learning pedagogies are the cause.
How clicker technology is changing higher education – For a long time, college professors had no idea whether their lectures were sinking in –until exam time, when it became clear that students either got the lesson… or didn’t. But in the last decade, the use of student response systems, or hand-held, wireless clickers, has enabled educators to promote learning and improve teaching.
7 Reasons To Leverage Social Networking Tools in the Classroom– Instructional uses of social networking software can provide opportunities for learning, connecting, and engagement.
Pros and Cons of Social Media in the Classroom – There’s an ongoing debate about the role social media should play in education. Advocates point out the benefits that social media provides for today’s digital learners while critics call for regulation and for removing social media from classrooms. Finding a middle ground has become a challenge.
3 Tips for Teachers Using Social Media in the Classroom – Social media opens up all new avenues of communication for college students, their classmates and their professors. A typical class may only take a few hours a week, but now with social media, the classroom can be a lively, 24/7 experience. Professors are more accessible, often clarifying assignments via Twitter or sharing content on their blogs.
Skype in the Classroom: An International Social Network for Teachers – Meet new people, discover new cultures and connect with classes from around the world, all without leaving the classroom. Skype is excited to team up with DonorsChoose.org to provide students and teachers with the tools they need to be successful in the classroom.
Teaching with Technology – The Idea Center brings you suggestions for how to use technology to achieve your teaching goals or to address a teaching challenge. Each topic provides you with practical strategies for using technology that you can incorporate into your teaching. Idea Center topics include teaching goals related to the topic, background information, strategies for using technology, and links to related resources. (Academic Technology Center – Worcester Polytechnic Institute)
A White Paper Based on the Literature Review titled “A Review of Flipped Learning – With interest continuing to grow, the Flipped Learning Network™, with the support of Pearson and researchers at George Mason University, undertook a comprehensive review of research relevant to the model. This white paper defines and describes the Flipped Learning model, briefly note its historical foundations and address common misconceptions. the document discusses some of the learning theories that underlie Flipped Learning and describe limited empirical research findings. See www.flippedlearning.org/review for full length review.
Notes.io – is a simple free web-based application for taking notes as quickly and as efficiently as possible. Notes.io’s ease of use and ability to share information immediately make it useful for teachers in a hurry or students who are just getting used to classroom technology. When you’re ready to share your notes click the “Short” icon in the right hand corner. You will then be provided with a link to share via email, text, or a document. Notes.io also gives you the capability of sharing via Facebook, Twitter or FriendFeed.
Scriblink – is a free online note-taking program that functions like a digital whiteboard. It allows user to share notes, drawings, or diagrams at any time. Scriblink’s ability to share free-hand sketches make it a valuable tool for any classroom full of creative students. No signup is necessary. The tools at your disposal include: a free-form pen, a straight-line tool, a square creation tool, a circle creation tool, an eraser, a text tool, an “Upload” button, a color selection bar for your lines and your background, a slider that lets you vary the thickness of your lines, an “Undo” button, and a “Clear” button. Utilize all of these tools to create something worthy of sharing. Then save it, send it, or print it!