Teaching with Technology
This book describes various multimedia and technology options and resources that will likely benefit an instructor in a college setting. Teachers will learn about the different tools at their disposal as an instructor: from instruction to assessment. Plus, readers of this eBook will be offered various suggestions to explore when it comes to their student's college and personal life (while in college). As an instructor, you will want to make sure your students make the most out of their time while in college and see the most benefits from the tools you use. Teaching with technology may not seem like a new topic, but it has not been covered extensively for teachers or instructors (unless in a very specific course). Using this eBook will provide readers with a great starting point for using technology as a tool when they become instructors.
Being able to incorporate technology appropriately in the classroom will provide new teachers the ability to immediately gain the attention of their students, rather than relying on worn-out methods that are likely generations-old. Hard copy books for reading and paper exams for assessment have been replaced by eReaders (and similar devices) and web-based testing. Teaching with these up-to-date technological tools will help keep the material fresh and the students focused.
This book is ideal for a college freshman or sophomore who is just starting to work on their major. Are you planning on becoming a teacher/instructor? How will you incorporate technology successfully into your classroom? This eBook will offers suggestions for including appropriate technology in your classes so that you keep your students engaged. You might also find that your job gets a bit easier with these tools and that your students actually enjoy coming to class! While most of this material will be focused on college or university instructors/professors, it is possible that high school teacher could benefit from this information.
An Introduction to Teaching with Technology
Advances in technology impact every part of our life - from smart phones for texting and calling to mp3 players that help people relax to GPS units in vehicles that help us find our way. When it comes to life in college, students are likely already quite adept at using quite a few different devices. So, it makes sense that instructors have similar tools at their disposal. Funding and flexibility at the university level tends to be a bit more accessible than in high schools.
College operations are heavily dependent on technology. Applications are typically online-based ones where users engage with the school via their website. Student services are almost always available online (parking tag applications, IDs, and career services are just a few examples). Most universities automatically provide students with a web-based email account, as well. The instructor who takes advantage of these tools, or implements similar processes, will most certainly find that students are quick to grasp these new tools rather quickly.
The idea for this book came from a simple realization: students are often thrown lots of different toys and tools that help them get through their life (or even just their day). Most of those same students are from Generation Y and grew up surrounded by electronics. But, seldom are those tools aimed at those providing the instruction; typically, instructors must struggle to come up with their own methods to make learning fun and keep their students engaged. What’s the easiest solution? Use the same tools that students are accustomed to, but for educational purposes.
The university uses a wide swath of techniques to bring students on campus, so building on that type of interactivity should be relatively simple for instructors. In addition to making the classroom experience more enjoyable for your students, taking advantage of some of the tools at your disposal will often make your workflow more efficient. For example, speeding up the grading process for quizzes, papers or exams frees up more of your time to work on other tasks. Automating processes that would normally require more time and effort also means that you might have more time for additional classroom projects and material.
Besides making a lot of your processes more efficient, you will find that incorporating technology into the classroom will be readily adopted by your students. Today’s college freshmen were born in the mid-90’s and most likely had a computer with internet access before they turned two or three years old. They’ve been around things like DVR and mp3 devices. Not only will they likely expect you to use the latest tools, they are more likely to be engaged during class.