Tips and Tricks for Selecting the Best Technology Tools to Support Course Objectives and Student Learning

Welcome!

What are Learning Objectives?

• Specific, measurable goals that outline what students be able to DO at the end of the course
• Exist at Program, Specialty, Course, and Module Levels
• Foundation for curriculum planning and course design

Examples of Learning Objectives

• Explain how total compensation systems promote external competitiveness and internal effectiveness.
• Assess environmental legal issues in terms of relevant laws and regulations.
• Describe application security principles and architecture basics
• Compare and contrast different approaches to measuring brand equity.

How to write objectives

• Think broadly about what students should be able to do/understand in context of program or specialty
• Select an appropriate, measurable action verb
• Craft the objective, taking into account Bloom's Taxonomy

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Example

• Understand Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Imaging
• Explain the value and benefits of Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Imaging research to the general public.

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Practice Writing Objectives

• Think about something specific you want students to get out of your class
• Write a sample objective, using an action verb and targeting a specific level in Bloom's taxonomy
• Post objective and Bloom's level in chat window

Connecting Technology to Objectives

Always identify objectives FIRST

What are the problems I am encountering in my teaching that technology might be able to solve?

Canvas Tools

Canvas Discussions

Canvas Wikis

Canvas Quizzes

Google Docs/EtherPad

Canvas Apps

External Tools

• UCOL Faculty Portal
• Symbaloo Aggregation
• Web 2.0 Tools
• Top 100 Tools

Determining purpose of technology

Technology as a Tool for:

• Enhancing Learning Process for Students
• Improving Assignment Design and/or Assessment
• Streamlining Course Administration (e.g. grading, sharing policies)

Technology as a tool to enhance the learning process for students

The Learning Process

• Using Technology to help students process new information upon first exposure
• Technology should reflect characteristics of learning environment and appropriate level of integration
• Ask: "How is this helping my students meet course objectives in assignments down the road?"

How Tech. Can Enhance Learning Process

• Illustrate complex concepts
• Contextualize info in real-world situations to help connect to prior knowledge
• Exposure to a variety of sources
• Allows students to track and organize their learning

Characteristics of Tech-Based Learning Environment

Technology as a tool for assignment design and/or assessment

Assignment Design

• Help provide elements of choice, self-direction and creativity for students
• Increase Interaction and Collaboration
• Opportunities for learning and application

Video Project: Chemistry

Technology as a tool to streamline/enhance your efficiency as a teacher

Administrative

• Grading
• Communicating Expectations
• Course Navigation

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Syllabus

Best Practices

• plan ahead, but be flexible
• consider learning curve
• consider upkeep
• educate students on digital citizenship
• accessibility

Best practices for implementing a new technology

Closing and Questions?