Choosing, Preparing, and Integrating Instructional Technology into your Course

Choosing Technology for your Course

When choosing a technology to use in your classroom, you must think about yourself as a learning guide. You should never use something you aren’t comfortable with. Ask yourself:

• Will I be comfortable with placing this tool into my curriculum?
• Does it fit my teaching style and course objectives?
• Do I have the time and resources to develop or rebuild items in my curriculum in a different way or style of presentation?
• Am I comfortable with the time it will take for rehearsal and preparing to present with a new tool?
• Will it meet my students’ experience, learning style and educational goal?
• Your students play a big role in the application of any tool you choose to use. After assessing your comfort level, think about your audience.
• How do I create a variety of ways for students to see, process, and rehearse my learning material and content?
• Do they have the skill and experience needed to use the technology I choose in the manner I intend it to be used?
• Is the hardware and software accessible wherever they may choose to use it?
• Don’t assume they know more than you about using technology. It isn’t often the case!
• When choosing technological tools, you must first decide if you are planning to use the tool in class or as a distance learning option. Some option available include:
  • pictures
  • slide shows
  • videos
  • enhanced Power Points
  • audio and video conferencing

Using the tools in a face-to-face class is helpful because you can demonstrate the use of technology and observe how students use it to learn. It is important to remember that most of these options can be made available outside of class. Students appreciate having resources they can access to increase their learning anytime, anywhere.

Technology Production Resources and Media Equipment Check Out

When selecting technology for your course, know that there are a variety of technology production resources available for use by faculty including:

• Conversions (changing file formats)
• Dubbing (copy of audio and/or video)
• Off-air recordings
• Streaming using Panopto
• Video conferencing with Zoom
• Video recording with webcams and small video cameras
• CD/DVD duplication
• VHS to DVD conversion

Faculty can also check out various types of media equipment including:

• Laptops
• Portable PA System and microphones
• Portable Projectors
• Portable Projector Screens
• Wi-Fi Hotspots
• USB Wireless Microphones
• Webcams

The equipment may be checked out for short-term classroom use by faculty and staff for up to two weeks. Equipment is not available for student check-out or use.

First-time users, contact the instructional technology specialist for training and assistance.

Preparing and Integrating the Material into your Course

Once you have chosen a tool, you will need to prepare and integrate the material into your course.

• Always test material before you use it with students. Use the equipment in the classroom in which you are presenting it so that you are familiar with how to start it and all of the functions you will need.

• Plan for the time it takes to boot and load material. Boot time on the system doesn’t have to be dead class time: use this time to give assignments, answer questions, or get groups organized.

• Have a backup plan. No matter how much you prepare, there is always the potential that something totally out of your control can happen. Your first line of defense in the classroom is a duplicate copy on disk or jump drive. If the network goes down, your resources are otherwise unavailable. Having a print copy is also helpful.

• Rely on a variety of tools. There is a tendency to want to show off our newest learning, gadgets, and toys. Don’t let good tools in your toy box go unused just because the newest thing is here. Update older class materials by integrating technology—your favorite lecture can partner with podcasting and Smart carts. Students desire a variety of stimuli and will use it to their learning advantage.

• Make technology comfortable to use. One of the best ways to get your students interested in using technological learning tools is to make it fun for them. Invite students to contribute to content development. A blog or student picture gallery allows each student to take what they know and integrate concepts with others’ knowledge. Students who complete projects quickly can be great peer tutors. Collaboration amongst students and other faculty members enriches everyone’s toolbox and can cause the learning object base to grow exponentially.

• Always be ready to modify. No matter what you do and how successful you are, you will always find a new way to approach your content. It may be a student suggestion, a problem that isn’t solved, a concern identified on an evaluation, or just a gut feeling. Hitting the save button does not mean your content is written in stone.