BlogU

  • An Instructor Tech Floor

    By Joshua Kim May 27, 2010 9:29 pm EDT

    Dean Dad's "A Nerdy Academic's Tech Wish List" got me thinking about what tech behaviors and abilities that I wish every academic would adopt and posses. If I could wave my magic wand and set a floor, a baseline, for instructor use and adoption of technology in teaching then which behaviors and competencies would I wish into existence?

    - The LMS: In 2010 the uniform practice should be at a minimum to place a syllabus, links to any articles and readings, and library materials, into the LMS. Basic use of the LMS grade book, to at least let students assess their standing in the course, is highly desired by students.

    - Class Video: The final migration of long-form video from class time to instead distribution through the LMS (or another online system). Short clips shown in class that are interspersed with discussion and lecture are wonderful. Precious class time no longer needs to be taken-up showing any videos longer than 15 minutes.

    -PowerPoint: Unlike others, I think teaching with PowerPoint is just fine. What is no longer reasonable is to show text-heavy slides that use small font. Instructors should make sure that slides are designed using appropriate visuals, diagrams, and brief snippets of text. Never read off the PowerPoint.

    - Class Capture: If your school provides a class/lecture capture system, I hope that you will at least consider giving it a try. In my experience the concerns about attendance are hugely overblown, with student's reporting greatly improved learning and productivity when they can pay attention to the class without having to furiously write every word down.

    - Testing: High stakes tests, whether essay or multiple choice, are critical in many disciplines and courses. My hope is that instructors take advantage of the ability to easily offer low-stakes computer graded formative assessments (practice and retention quizzes) through the LMS.

    My last wish is that every instructor, whether you are a seasoned tenured faculty member or post-doc teaching your first course, should try to get to know your learning technologist and subject librarian. Many of us come from teaching backgrounds, we understand your pain points, and we get just how busy you are. We are committed to partnering with you to solve your teaching challenges and to help you meet your teaching goals.

    What would you add to the list?

Go to comments (3) »
Advertisement
On the Job Market Together?

Comments on An Instructor Tech Floor

  • Hope That Last Wish Comes True
  • Posted by stevenb , aul at temple on May 28, 2010 at 1:30pm EDT

  • You wrote:

    "My last wish is that every instructor, whether you are a seasoned tenured faculty member or post-doc teaching your first course, should try to get to know your learning technologist and subject librarian."

    Thanks Josh for being the one and only higher education blogger who consistently includes librarians in the conversation, and points to the value we bring to the teaching and learning process.

  • Posted by Anonymous on June 2, 2010 at 6:45am EDT

  • Why don't you read Frank Donoghue's The Last Professors: The Corporate University and the Fate of the Humanities to see why not everyone is so enamoured of Blackboard and its ilk? The way we're going, faculty will be only "content providers."

  • amour not required
  • Posted by Elaine Garofoli , Academic Learning Technologist on June 9, 2010 at 10:15am EDT

  • Dear Anonymous,

    Nowhere did I find Josh's comments to indicate that he was "so enamoured of Blackboard and its ilk".

    My institution uses BB university-wide, and even though I do not espouse BB is the greatest software application that exists, we do have it. And since we have it, I definitely agree with the six points that were made in the post.

Print
© Copyright 2011 Inside Higher Ed