Proven Technologies
Simple Instructional Tools that
Work
A showcase of simple - and cheap - technologies that
are truly more effective than traditional classroom
approaches. Includes academic games and basic office
and web programs. Links to templates will be available.
Topics
Student survey results
 PDFs
 Video response
 ClipArt.com
 Camtasia
 Surveys/testing
 Pre-tests
 Pre-made solutions
 Instructional games
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Results of student survey
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Technologies that “helped me learn”
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PowerPoint lecture notes in class: 94%
E-mail: 88%
Lab-based simulations: 88%
Computer-based simulations: 87%
PowerPoint with audio/video of instructor: 87%
Web sites: 87%
Audio/video: 82%
Document camera/projector: 80%
Results of student survey
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Technologies that “neither helped nor hurt
my learning” or “made learning harder”
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Online threaded discussion: 47%
Online chat: 46%
E-Reserves: 38%
Phone conference calls: 33%
CTools: 30%
CourseTools: 26%
PDFs
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For scanned documents
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Other tips
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Reducing file size is critical
Acrobat 6.0 and higher have a “reduce file size” button
that works on existing PDFs
Don’t post PowerPoint decks to CTools – create a PDF of
“handouts” and post that
Recommended: Acrobat Standard 7.0
Macs with OS X don’t need to buy Acrobat
Detailed instructions at
http://www-personal.umich.edu/~espring/bestPractices/pdfs.html
Video response
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Respond to student postings in distance courses
Keep it to 15-minute “chunks”
Requirements:
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Web cam - $50-$100 – Search on “web cam” in MStores
RealProducer Basic (free download)
CTools site
Don’t need a streaming server
Detailed instructions at
http://wwwpersonal.umich.edu/~espring/bestPractices/video.html
ClipArt.com
Clip art, photos, fonts, etc. Educational
subscriptions about $30/yr.
 Over 5 million items
 Excellent search engine
 Premium image quality
 Multiple image formats
 Web site: http://www.clipart.com/
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Camtasia
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Records computer screen and audio
Perfect for teaching computer techniques or
demonstrating software
Can also narrate PowerPoint slides…
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…but is this good pedagogy?
Online Surveys/Testing
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Current U-M software (Lessons) is not
highly recommended
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Samigo (in CTools)
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Inaccurate reports
Unstable for concurrent users
Will be replaced soon
Ready FA05 or WI06
SurveyMonkey
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Free for 10 questions or less
Easy to use; very reliable; nice reports
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http://www-personal.umich.edu/~espring/documentation/SurveyMonkeyinstructions.doc
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Pre-tests
Assess existing knowledge and point
students to review resources
 Formats
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Paper
Lessons
Flash
HTML
Other
http://www-personal.umich.edu/~espring/statsMod.html
Pre-made solutions
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Textbooks
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Web search
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Test banks
PowerPoint slides
Diagrams, videos, animations
Complete learning modules
Try restricting Google search to “site: .edu”
Equipment manufacturers
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e.g., Laerdal
Instructional Games
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Cindy Fenske
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Quiz game (Jeopardy)
Group quiz game (Family Feud)
Critical thinking board games
Memory
Bingo
Simon Says
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http://www-personal.umich.edu/~espring/bestPractices/games.html
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Contact info
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Emily Springfield
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espring@umich.edu
http://www-personal.umich.edu/~espring/
Cindy Fenske
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clfenske@umich.edu