MD4 Using Technology

One technology that I have used to engage my students was You Tube. I know people think of You Tube as just for fun but You Tube is very educational. My students seem to love it. I teach POLS 101 and it it really helps to get subjects across. Say for instance I am teaching on Shays Rebellion, there are many videos that I can consider from You Tube. 

I have noticed that majority of my students love to watch videos. Afterwards, they are eager to engage. Students spend so much of their time watching videos, using their cell phones, and ipads until I feel that it is a must that they are engaged the same way in class. 

 One disadvantage of You Tube is that there is so much debate on just about everything. Also, you have to watch the videos because they can get away from what you may be trying to teach the students. A benefit of You Tube is that a student can understand things from different points of views. In the future, I may consider uploading educational content, especially when class is cancelled because of bad weather, which is frequent in the winter. The students can look at the videos from their mobile devices allowing me to still get my lecture to the students ( Fuegen, 2012).

My children learn so much from their mobile devices. I remember one time I received a tweet from one of my students. I thought, hmmn "How can I use twitter to make POLS a fun and learning experience for my students. Although I teach F2F incorporating  You Tube, twitter, and blogging will also a sort of blended content experience for the students ( Greyling, Kara, Makka, and Van Niekerk, 2008).

 I have really enjoyed blogging although it was totally new to me. So many people blog and now I one of them. I am going to continue to blog. 

References:

Fuegen, S. (2012). The impact of mobile technologies on distance education. TechTrends, 56(6), 49–53.

Greyling, F., Kara, M., Makka, A., & Van Niekerk, S. (2008). IT worked for us: Online strategies to facilitate learning in large (undergraduate) classes. Electronic Journal of e-Learning, 6(3), 179–187.
Retrieved from the Walden Library databases

Blog 3 Teaching with Technology

 
 Five online technology sources that the community has where I am an adjunct is Blackboard, Instant Messenger, email, Microsoft Office templates, and links and videos that are in You Tube that helps the students with just about anything. I really love Black Board and I am certified to teach on-line. Blackboard  reaches students from diverse setting (Greyling, Kara, Makka, & Van Niekerk, (2008). The templates are great because sometimes students do not have word, power point, or excel to complete their school work.
   
     I am pretty good at using lots of technology. I live to learn new things!!!!! I am always curious when I see my children doing something that I have not tried on the computer, I pad, I pod, or even when playing games on their play stations. My biggest fear is being left being as technology advances. To keep my skills up I take advantage of professional development course at the community college. Also, I continue to further my education at Walden pursing my Doctorate in Education. One professional development course that I loved was the completion of my on-line instructor certification. Also, I attend the yearly conference that is sponsored by the community college.
 
     I use many techniques to teach and learn. I value You Tube because so many people use it and share their beliefs, leanings, and teachings. You Tube is very educational because professors upload their lecture which help people to learn. I love Blackboard, especially the grade center. I can also have my students email me through their class in blackboard. If I have my students download IM, I could communicate with my instantly creating a chat time. Kock and Garza (2007) argued that people need body language such as facial expression, and body language in order to learn. With this in mind,  creating voice links and uploading lectures really help students who need this sort of interaction to learn.

References:

Greyling, F., Kara, M., Makka, A., & Van Niekerk, S. (2008). IT worked for us: Online strategies to facilitate learning in large (undergraduate) classes. Electronic Journal of e-Learning, 6(3), 179–187.
Retrieved from the Walden Library databases

Kock, N., Verville, J., & Garza, V. (2007). Media naturalness and online learning: Findings supporting both the significant- and no-significant-difference perspectives. Journal of Innovative Education, 5(2), 333–355.
Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.