IT Considerations
for the Classroom
From McKeachie (2002)
& selected feedback from former
and current STEP Fellows
Jennie Brown
CETL
May 2004
IT Possibilities
• Put learning “in hands” of learner
(“mindtools”…)
• Diverse content
• Opportunity for collaboration
= increased engagement and
motivation in some cases
Considerations before
implementing IT
•
•
•
•
Self
Students
Course content
Available tools
Teacher (Self)
• Considerations:
– Skills/experience
– Time
– Role as teacher/teaching philosophy
• Process:
– Lecturer to guide
•
•
•
•
Facilitating activities
Guiding search for knowledge
Mentoring
Supporting
Students
• Considerations:
– Skill/experience
– Access
– Learning styles
• Process:
– Passive to active learner
•
•
•
•
Monitoring
Controlling
Collaborating
Doing
How did you use technology
with your students?
• Virtual chemistry lab experiments
• Students explored audio/visual
examples in Matlab
• “I used it tons – I created a few
online simulations and an online
game. Also I did workshops on
common programs like Excel and
PowerPoint. One simulation was
of Galileo’s thermometer which I
used to demonstrate density…”
Course Content
• Identify learning objectives/course
goals
• Consider discipline-specific values
• McKeachie, pg. 208
– Knowledge comprehension
• Presentation and distribution
– Application & analysis
• Drill and practice
– Critical thinking & collaboration
• Interaction and communication
– Synthesis & evaluation
• Creation and manipulation
Concerns…
• How to use IT without taking up too
much class time
• How to “integrate” technology, rather
than “adding” it
– Only use IT that supports course content
and objectives. Weave it into daily
activities or homework, or use it to reserve
class time for face-to-face activities
– Focus on the teaching and learning, NOT
the technology itself
Available Tools
• Communication (present, collaborate)
– email, discussion boards
• Presentation (present, integrate)
– PowerPoint, Inspiration, Mimio, SofTV
• Information Search (present, integrate,
manipulate)
– Web, databases
• Audio and Video (present, integrate)
Available Tools
• Course Management (present, integrate,
interact)
– WebCT, CoWeb
• Creation (interact, present, apply, synthesis)
– Databases, Lectora, Dreamweaver, Flash
• Discipline-specific (present, integrate,
reinforce, apply)
– Matlab
• Distance Learning (present, interact)
– HorizonLive
Concerns…
• More active and interactive uses
of IT…
– Upload notes or presentations, so
that students can view content from
home and come to class ready for
face-to-face activity
– Focus on tools that promote
collaboration, application, and
synthesis
Barriers/Challenges
• Students not accustomed to using email or
Web apps on a daily basis
• “…I expected the computers to function a little
better. They had constant network and sound
problems. The IT department was very slow
in fixing anything. Students, the teacher, and I
would become frustrated when the equipment
did not work.”
• “There (was) limited access in the schools;
the students also were not expected to use
technology that much.”
• “I do not recommend Audio labs unless the
teacher has full control over the class…Some
students would just listen to music…or play
games and surf the Web instead of doing their
work…”
Facilitating transition
• Give students time to make
mistakes and learn how to use the
technology
• Collect feedback from students
periodically or encourage their
regular feedback
• Set and state clear expectations
Advice to new Fellows
• “Just use it as much as you can
because not a lot of these kids have
access to tools like this.”
• “Tell the students up front that you are
using instructional technology and that
you will ask them about the experience
later. I think technology is so infused
into our culture now, that even when
we use technology, we aren’t focused
on its use and just take its benefits for
granted…”
Advice to new Fellows
• “Do what you can with what you
have.”
• “If you do computer labs, make
sure the IT department gives you
timely access to install
programs…Also try to minimize
the number of students in the lab
(at one time)…”
• “CHECK WHAT’S AVAILABLE
EARLY AND OFTEN!”
Ask for assistance
• Talk to your teachers and IT
support at the schools
• CETL has resources
– melissa.bachman@cetl.gatech.edu
– jennifer.brown@cetl.gatech.edu
HTML Tools
Jennie & Melissa
Co-Web
• http://pbl.cc.gatech.edu/step
Other Web-editing software
• Lectora
• Dreamweaver