Technology in the Classroom
The online teaching environment requires the use of techniques to enhance the learning experience for students. It is easy for students to get bored with the material being presented during class. Unlike the traditional classroom I cannot see that some students have mentally checked out because they are having a hard time understanding the concepts or they are just bored with the presentation.
As an online instructor, you must compete with so many distractions for a student's time. The need to jazz up the online experience to engage and keep the students interested is a necessity. The use of savvy technology in the course room is a way of keeping students focused during your lecture. Incorporating innovative technology can be beneficial to both the instructor and the student. The student benefits by keeping their focus on the information being presented to help them understand the material. This can translate into better participation on discussion boards and tests or quiz scores. The instructor benefits by challenging themselves to be more creative in the classroom. This helps to think outside of the box.
There are so many new innovative technology ideas that can be incorporated into the classroom. I am making it a point to learn how to use a new technology in my classroom to make the course interesting to my students. I have learned about a new technology this past week called Animoto. Animoto allows you to take your pictures and music and create a cool movie trailer. You can use your own music or use the music library from Animoto. Once you have created your video you can download and email the video to friends, family, etc. Animoto is quick, fun and best of all, free for the 30-second videos. If you create a longer video there is a charge. I will encourage students to make their own videos and share with the class. I plan to use Amimoto to create a better online community with my students by adding their photos and sharing birthday information.