In this session, we will discuss challenges faced by institutions in learning/staff training, and how these challenges drive learning outcomes, resulting knowledge loss and inconsistency. Videos technologies play a major role in making knowledge interactive and video being most effective medium of communication can influence learning to bring & achieve desired outcomes. A short demonstration of an interactive video solution will help you see real power of videos in learning and teaching. Read the rest of this entry »

Learn how one small professional development program has taken advantage of free and low-cost Web 2.0 and text messaging technologies to keep in touch with our core participants, reach out to previously untapped audiences and expand our “viral marketing” efforts. Read the rest of this entry »

It’s All About the Love handouts

Sharing the Love presentation handouts

Title of presentation:

It’s All About The Love – Creating and Supporting A Technology-supported Learning Community (TLC) in a Community College, Professional-Technical, or Undergraduate Setting

Purpose of presentation (why is this important and who is the target audience):

With full workloads, many undergraduate and community college faculty members find it difficult to maintain their current courses and, at the same time, look for ways to best meet the learning needs of new generations of students. Many of these students, as digital natives, are both prepared for and expect to see courses that are formatted to their learning styles. In many cases, this calls for the integration of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and the remodeling of long standing course outlines and materials. Add into the mix concerns and confusion about actually using these technologies, and catastrophe is in the air.

This presentation is targeted for individuals coming from a wide variety of teaching environments who are looking for ways to synergize their efforts in developing curriculum and acclimating to current trends in ICT. We would also encourage individuals who work with faculty development (instructional technologists, administrators, etc) to attend to consider ways of applying these practices in their own development efforts.

Objectives of the presentation (what are you planning to do):

The intent of this presentation is to talk about the practical experiences of developing and maintaining a TLC. The focus will cover the practical stages in implementing a TLC, lessons learned, and examine some of the products that have been developed through the TLC.

Practical applications (how can your results/strategies be used by others):

After the presentation, an attendee will:

* Understand the sequence involved in establishing a viable TLC
* Be aware of pitfalls and shortcuts involved in the process of establishing a TLC

Relationship to the conference theme:

The underlying theory of the TLC is the exchange of ideas, practices, and content among participants. Not only are these ideas exchanged, they are often modified, altered, and improved (talking of both the content and the faculty generating that content.)

In addition, the conference also addresses the concept of teaching with technology. By definition, technology is defined as a tool or process that can simplify an existing process or procedure. One of the most important goals of the TLC is to simplify or support faculty efforts to expand or innovate their courses. By using a distributive model of effort, faculty can greatly magnify their efforts in developing a new course activity or in learning a new technical process.

Information (data or theoretical base) to support what is advocated:

The presentation and workshop will rely primarily on the experiences of participants of the Gen. Ed. TLC. We will include as a part of the presentation additional resources and journal articles we used as references as we developed our working organization and goals for the TLC.

Participants interested in the original presentation materials can email the presenter for copies.

2nd-Day Hands On: Sharing the Love: Harnessing the power of ICT in a TLC
In this workshop, participants will be look at how they can develop stronger courses through the use of a TLC.

To access the sample site, please follow the following steps:

1. https://134.50.150.145/icet/login/index.php

2. There will be several security warnings. Please select the “Allow” or “Accept” options.

3. Create a new user account. Fill out the required info. This information will not be saved, so there is no need to use correct or verifiable information. However, you do need to use a correct email in order to access the course.

4. You will receive an email from “Michael Spall” containing a weblink to the course. Clink on the link.

5. You will be taken back to the website. Select the course titled, “Sharing the Love:…”

Biography
Clayn Lambert is an instructor in the General Education department at the College of Technology at Idaho State University, where he teaches courses in English and Critical Thinking. He received a Master’s Degree in English from the University of Idaho. He also provides support for instructional technology at the College of Technology, providing training and strategic assistance related to ICT throughout the college.

Title of presentation

Ready, Set, Blog! Using blogging effectively in the college classroom.

Purpose of presentation

The purpose of this presentation is to help educators understand how easy it is to set up and use a blog to communicate with students. Additionally, educators will have the opportunity to see how blogging can be used by the students as a reflective tool.

Objectives of the presentation

Generate awareness of free resources available for blogging
Demonstrate the ease of setting up a blog
Discuss why faculty might want to use blogging
Share examples of how blogging can be used to enhance communication
Share examples of how students can use blogging to learn and reflect

Practical applications

Blogging is a simple technology that can be used by anyone with an Internet connection and is an excellent and simple way for faculty to communicate with their students. It makes class information more immediate, personal, and reflective when used properly. Blogging is an everyday part of most of our students’ lives that we can use to help them be more reflective and engaged. It is something that conference participants will be able to go home and utilize that very day with no complex tools or rules to learn.

Relationship to the conference theme

This presentation represents one of the simplest new and emerging technologies out there that can be used very effectively and easily in the college classroom. The presenter will demonstrate how she has used blogging in her own classes and the lessons she has learned from those experiences, as well as what research is saying about the use of blogs in education.

Information to support what is advocated

The benefits of reflection in the educational environment have long been established in the fields of teacher education, nursing, and management, among others. To be more specific, journaling has been found to promote transformative learning. We also know that employers are looking for individuals who are reflective as well as technologically literate. Blogging brings together reflection, journaling, and technology in an environment that students are familiar with and that feels current and relevant to them. Additionally, students take great pride in their blogs, seeing them as more of a product than an assignment. Blogging offers faculty the opportunity to meet students halfway, demonstrating an understanding of their culture while inviting them to learn something new.

2nd-Day Hands On: Ready, set, blog! Setting up your own educational blog.
In this session, participants will have the opportunity to set up their own class blogs and utillize some of the features available to enhance the blog experience for their students.

Biography
Suzy Cox is a faculty lecturer in the School of Education responsible for teaching courses on integrating technology in the K-12 classroom. She has worked with numerous schools to train teachers in technology integration and studies how technology can help students learn.

ready-set-blog

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