There are some great blogs and websites that can provide information about teaching, learning, and technology for educators. Today, I’d like to highlight two of my favorites.
1) Free Technology for Teachers
This site is written by Richard Byrne, a Google-Certified Instructor and High School teacher. Richard believes “when used correctly, technology has the power to improve student engagement and student achievement.” As the name implies, Bryne provides free sources that can be used in education. Recent posts have discussed Google and Bloom’s Taxonomy, ways that students can share slideshow presentations online, and “If It Were My Home,” an interesting site that compares the U.S. with different countries. Each discussion ends with a note about how the online sources can be used by educators. While not all of the sources related to college teaching, many can be used by educators at any level.
2) Faculty Focus
The topics in this newsletter are almost always applicable to the college classroom, and often make me think about how I can improve or change my thinking. Unlike the previous website, this one doesn’t focus on technology, but on classroom teaching. If you go to the right side of the site, you will find topics that will surely peak your interest. Recent topics have included “Service Learning: Tips for Aligning Pedagogies with Learning Outcomes,” collaboration and test-taking, and how to deal with cheating in the classroom. You can download free reports on a variety of subjects if you click on the “Free Report” button on the top of the site. It’s a very thought-provoking site.
Learning never ends, especially when you're a teacher who cares about student learning. You can spend hours looking at the wealth of information on these two sites alone. Care to share your favorite sites that can help us improve our teaching?
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Thursday, March 10, 2011
My Facebook Experiment
I’ve been interested in using technology in the classroom for a long time. When I started planning for my SPCH 1321 Organizational and Professional Communication class, I wanted to incorporate many of the new ways of communicating. Since Facebook is so popular (500 million active users, according to Facebook’s statistic sheet), I wanted to see if this particular social network tool would work for classes, too.
All but one student either already had a Facebook account or had no problem in signing up for one. One student was concerned about privacy issues and is using EPCC’s SmartStart instead. On average, I post two to three times a week, usually reminding the students of upcoming events. I find that around six students are actively commenting, but other students chime in with questions or comments on occasion. The social networking aspect is kicking in a bit, since one student asked for help in a chemistry class the other day. Students also use the "Message" element of Facebook to communicate with me. They do have my EPCC e-mail on their syllabi, but I think it's easier for them to use my Facebook information instead.
The class’s current assignment, a PowerPoint research project, has to be uploaded to Facebook as a video. Most students had to learn some more-advanced computer skills, but it is something they can use in their futures. Once the videos are all uploaded, the students will select one or two videos to review and then provide comments.
I feel that students need to be aware of the power of social networking, and know that their futures will most likely include the use of Facebook or other networking tools. Other platforms, such as Blackboard, may have similar results, but since students were already on Facebook, I felt that it was an easier platform to use for this experiment.
Have you used social media for your classes? Feel free to comment below.
All but one student either already had a Facebook account or had no problem in signing up for one. One student was concerned about privacy issues and is using EPCC’s SmartStart instead. On average, I post two to three times a week, usually reminding the students of upcoming events. I find that around six students are actively commenting, but other students chime in with questions or comments on occasion. The social networking aspect is kicking in a bit, since one student asked for help in a chemistry class the other day. Students also use the "Message" element of Facebook to communicate with me. They do have my EPCC e-mail on their syllabi, but I think it's easier for them to use my Facebook information instead.
The class’s current assignment, a PowerPoint research project, has to be uploaded to Facebook as a video. Most students had to learn some more-advanced computer skills, but it is something they can use in their futures. Once the videos are all uploaded, the students will select one or two videos to review and then provide comments.
I feel that students need to be aware of the power of social networking, and know that their futures will most likely include the use of Facebook or other networking tools. Other platforms, such as Blackboard, may have similar results, but since students were already on Facebook, I felt that it was an easier platform to use for this experiment.
Have you used social media for your classes? Feel free to comment below.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Free Documentaries for Your Classes
From time to time, I receive catalogues from companies providing DVDs that might be of interest to my students. I usually find a few titles that I'd like to order, but the costs, especially with budget cuts, are prohibitive.
An online resource that provides documentaries at no cost is Snag Learning. This site prides itself on providing high-quality documentaries for niddle school through college. Teachers are encouraged to upload lesson plans for the documentaries, and there is a forum for discussion. Snag Learning adds a new documentary each week, and gets them from such places as PBS and National Geographic.
Some of the topics available on Snag Learning documentaries include Darfur, domestic violence in the Artic town of Iqaluit, historical events, Madagascar, therapeudic cloning, the National Museum of Women in the Arts, and many others. The webpage of each documentary includes questions that draw your class into meaningful discussions about the topic. The length of the documentaries vary.
Once you find a documentary you want to share, you can send to someone via e-mail, post it on Facebook, save it to as Google bookmark or Windows "favorite," or many other options. Some of the documentaries have sponsor ads, but that's a small price to pay for this great collection.
If you want to add a little bit of multi-media into your classroom, take a look at Snag Learning. You won't be sorry!
An online resource that provides documentaries at no cost is Snag Learning. This site prides itself on providing high-quality documentaries for niddle school through college. Teachers are encouraged to upload lesson plans for the documentaries, and there is a forum for discussion. Snag Learning adds a new documentary each week, and gets them from such places as PBS and National Geographic.
Some of the topics available on Snag Learning documentaries include Darfur, domestic violence in the Artic town of Iqaluit, historical events, Madagascar, therapeudic cloning, the National Museum of Women in the Arts, and many others. The webpage of each documentary includes questions that draw your class into meaningful discussions about the topic. The length of the documentaries vary.
Once you find a documentary you want to share, you can send to someone via e-mail, post it on Facebook, save it to as Google bookmark or Windows "favorite," or many other options. Some of the documentaries have sponsor ads, but that's a small price to pay for this great collection.
If you want to add a little bit of multi-media into your classroom, take a look at Snag Learning. You won't be sorry!
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Second Life-An Educational Journey?
Thanks to Leilani Benoit, from Dona Ana Community College, and her presentation at this year's Border Learning Conference, I spent most of one day in Second Life. Granted, I spent the majority of that time making my avatar look good, but I did learn to fly here and there. Think of Second Life as a universe that doesn't require transportation (except a high-speed computer) and unlimited locations. You, as an avatar you create, can visit places to learn, play, shop, and much more.
According to the Second Life Education Brochure,
There are hundreds of educational institutes using Second Life. Local Second Life sites include Aggie Island, used by Dona Ana Community College, and EVE Galapagos, used by UTEP's island to study natural selection. UTEP's Instructional Support Services provides hands-on training for faculty to create avatars and to develop virtual islands for educational use, and UTEP has funded three islands with a grant.
I found my first visits to Second Life interesting, but not easy. As a person who is, well, let's just say older than most of the twenty-somethings in my classes, I did not grow up playing video games. Even getting Mario to jump up and hit the boxes to get coins was somewhat difficult. So learning about a virtual world isn't second nature to me. Many of our students and faculty, however, are much more computer savvy and would find it fun and easy to get to different islands to learn and play.
If you're a Second Life resident, let us know about your educational experiences. If you haven't flown in to the world of Second Life, give it a try. Create your avatar and see what you can find on the islands. Do you think it's something we at EPCC should pursue?
Thoughts, please.
 |
| Second Life Logo |
According to the Second Life Education Brochure,
As I wandered around the Second Life universe, I had to ask myself if it was something that would be a great avenue for educational purposes, or if it would consume too much time to be effective. As I researched the topic, though, I realized that many colleges and universities have used it successfully.
Second Life is the leading 3D virtual world filled with user-created content and immersive experiences. In Second Life, Residents meet and interact with friends around the world, enjoy entertainment from live music to roleplaying games, explore unique environments and communities, and much more. Residents can also create, buy, and sell anything they can imagine, participating in the world’s largest user-generated virtual goods economy.
There are hundreds of educational institutes using Second Life. Local Second Life sites include Aggie Island, used by Dona Ana Community College, and EVE Galapagos, used by UTEP's island to study natural selection. UTEP's Instructional Support Services provides hands-on training for faculty to create avatars and to develop virtual islands for educational use, and UTEP has funded three islands with a grant.
I found my first visits to Second Life interesting, but not easy. As a person who is, well, let's just say older than most of the twenty-somethings in my classes, I did not grow up playing video games. Even getting Mario to jump up and hit the boxes to get coins was somewhat difficult. So learning about a virtual world isn't second nature to me. Many of our students and faculty, however, are much more computer savvy and would find it fun and easy to get to different islands to learn and play.
If you're a Second Life resident, let us know about your educational experiences. If you haven't flown in to the world of Second Life, give it a try. Create your avatar and see what you can find on the islands. Do you think it's something we at EPCC should pursue?
Thoughts, please.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Drop Box
I learned about DropBox from one of the attendees at the Southwest Seminar in October. DropBox is an online storage site that lets you sync your files so you can get to them from any computer. This means that you are able to get to your documents without mailing them to yourself or carrying a USB memory stick. The video below gives you some general information about DropBox. If you want more details, you can go to the website or additional YouTube videos.
DropBox gives you 2 GB of storage space, but you can add more storage, either by purchasing storage or by referring others. Dropbox allows you to have a public folder, which can be shared with others. Those looking at your public folder do not have to have a DropBox account. Students can use a DropBox account to collaborate on assignments.
Although I've just started using DropBox, I think it will be a great benefit. Every once in awhile, I forget my USB memory stick, so now I won't be lost without my files again! It will also be useful to have access to my files both at home and at work. I think DropBox will become one of your favorites.
Note: I can't find the name of the person who suggested this site, so if it's you, please let me know!
DropBox gives you 2 GB of storage space, but you can add more storage, either by purchasing storage or by referring others. Dropbox allows you to have a public folder, which can be shared with others. Those looking at your public folder do not have to have a DropBox account. Students can use a DropBox account to collaborate on assignments.
Although I've just started using DropBox, I think it will be a great benefit. Every once in awhile, I forget my USB memory stick, so now I won't be lost without my files again! It will also be useful to have access to my files both at home and at work. I think DropBox will become one of your favorites.
Note: I can't find the name of the person who suggested this site, so if it's you, please let me know!
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Are Used Texts Really the Answer?
At the beginning of the semester, textbooks are a common topic of conversation. In my classes, promote buying used books and often tell students to look online to find good deals. As I read the article Why are Textbooks so Expensive?, by Henry L. Roediger III, I wondered if I was, in fact, contributing to the problem of high textbooks.
Roediger says that the used textbook companies are to blame for the problem. The publisher has to spend money on the production and marketing of the textbook, which can be quite expensive. Students sell their books back to the bookstore or to a used textbook company for a small price. Those books are marked up and sold again. When the books are resold again and again, the publisher nor the author makes no additional profit on the books.
Richard Hull and Michael Lennie in their article Why E-Textbooks Just Make Sense agree with the thought that the high price of books is directly related to the used textbook stores. They say "perceived student savings from buying lower-priced used books is deceptive, because the used-book industry essentially forces publishers to prematurely publish expensive 'revised editions' for the primary purpose of reducing their losses from used-book sales." Hull and Lennie say that few course texts need to revised every three years.
Online texts, or etexts, may be the answer. Publishers often offer online texts, which can save the student quite a bit of money. Purchasing a text this way would give the authors and publishers some profit, and may stop some of the used textbook sales. The students, however, wouldn't be able to recoup any of the money at the end of the semester.
What are your thoughts? Do you feel that texts would become less expensive if students purchased more new texts? Should students purchase etexts? Would this require them to print out their texts if they are to be used in class? Many questions to ponder at the beginning of the semester!
Note: Thanks to Cheryl Bowman for today's blog information.
 |
| Photo from blog.georgetownvoice.com |
Richard Hull and Michael Lennie in their article Why E-Textbooks Just Make Sense agree with the thought that the high price of books is directly related to the used textbook stores. They say "perceived student savings from buying lower-priced used books is deceptive, because the used-book industry essentially forces publishers to prematurely publish expensive 'revised editions' for the primary purpose of reducing their losses from used-book sales." Hull and Lennie say that few course texts need to revised every three years.
Online texts, or etexts, may be the answer. Publishers often offer online texts, which can save the student quite a bit of money. Purchasing a text this way would give the authors and publishers some profit, and may stop some of the used textbook sales. The students, however, wouldn't be able to recoup any of the money at the end of the semester.
What are your thoughts? Do you feel that texts would become less expensive if students purchased more new texts? Should students purchase etexts? Would this require them to print out their texts if they are to be used in class? Many questions to ponder at the beginning of the semester!
Note: Thanks to Cheryl Bowman for today's blog information.
Monday, January 10, 2011
Movie Clips in the Classroom
The start of a new semester is always inspiring. What will you do to tweak your class this spring? I'm going to add a few movie clips to my lectures, just to spice things up a bit.
There are a number of ways to get movie clips. One way is to buy the DVD and then play the clip you have found. Another way is to use your Netflix account and pull up the movie, if available, via online streaming. You might also use movie trailers, available on many websites. I recently discovered an even easier way to find and use movie clips, and that's through the website movieclips.com.
The good folks at Movieclips have dissected over 1700 movies and have provided over 12,000 clips. Going through the clips would be a daunting tast, but because Movieclips has attached categories to each clip, it's a breeze to find the one that would work in your classroom. You can search the movie clips by movie, mood, theme, actor, director, or 25 other categories. Once you find the movie clip you want to use in class, you can embed it into your PowerPoint or Prezi presentation, or share the clip through e-mail, Twitter or Facebook. As with many cool online sites, this one is helpful, but can be a time-waster!
Here's a good one for the start of the teaching semester, even though it's related more to high school than college. Click on the link, and move the curser at the bottom of the video to :45 seconds into the clip to start the feel-good video of the day. I am a Teacher! (Note: The movie clip isn't embedded here because it's now allowed by Blogger.)
Movieclips provides a great service, but with any use of movie clips in the classroom, you need to follow a few general guidelines. Make sure the movie clip is introduced properly. It should be closely tied into the class topic. Test the clips prior to class to make sure they will work properly when you need them to work! Finally, don't overuse movie clips; they lose their effectiveness if used too often.
Questions? Comments? Please comment below or e-mail me a jrudnick@epcc.edu. See you next week!
There are a number of ways to get movie clips. One way is to buy the DVD and then play the clip you have found. Another way is to use your Netflix account and pull up the movie, if available, via online streaming. You might also use movie trailers, available on many websites. I recently discovered an even easier way to find and use movie clips, and that's through the website movieclips.com.
The good folks at Movieclips have dissected over 1700 movies and have provided over 12,000 clips. Going through the clips would be a daunting tast, but because Movieclips has attached categories to each clip, it's a breeze to find the one that would work in your classroom. You can search the movie clips by movie, mood, theme, actor, director, or 25 other categories. Once you find the movie clip you want to use in class, you can embed it into your PowerPoint or Prezi presentation, or share the clip through e-mail, Twitter or Facebook. As with many cool online sites, this one is helpful, but can be a time-waster!
Here's a good one for the start of the teaching semester, even though it's related more to high school than college. Click on the link, and move the curser at the bottom of the video to :45 seconds into the clip to start the feel-good video of the day. I am a Teacher! (Note: The movie clip isn't embedded here because it's now allowed by Blogger.)
Movieclips provides a great service, but with any use of movie clips in the classroom, you need to follow a few general guidelines. Make sure the movie clip is introduced properly. It should be closely tied into the class topic. Test the clips prior to class to make sure they will work properly when you need them to work! Finally, don't overuse movie clips; they lose their effectiveness if used too often.
Questions? Comments? Please comment below or e-mail me a jrudnick@epcc.edu. See you next week!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
