Placing Success in Their Hands: Engaging Students through Tools They Currently Use

Presenter: Lemar T. White, Ed.D., MBA, CFE

Introductions

What is your name and subject areas that you teach?

What technology do you currently utilize in your classes?

Question

Name popular technological devices or popular tools that you are aware of and can possibly be used in educational settings and state why you do not currently use it.

Connecting with Your Class

Strategies to Employ

“The research is clear: humans are literally ‘hard-wired’ with the desire andneed to connect” (Brown, 2014).

(1)Introductions – say something other than the standard information;

(2)Show them that you are in touch with what’s going on in their world (and that you are not just an academic think-tank);

(3) Give them several options to get in touch with you (cellphone, text messaging, e-mail, Facebook, twitter, etc.);

(4) Collect information on their background and incorporate it into casual conversation with them.

Student-focused Syllabus

Question

Why is the syllabus an important component of the class?

Consider this…

“…the course syllabus is like a roadmap with directions for succeeding in the class”

(The Importance of the Course Syllabus, 2014).

Strategies to Employ

(1) Start with a basic template of your expectations; (2) Allow input on graded components - number of assessments by category - type of assessments - weightings of assessments;

(3) Allow input on rules;

(4) Ask if there is anything else students want to add.

Question

Advantages/disadvantages of allowing student inputfor the course syllabus?

Facebook/Instagram/Twitter

Question

What are Facebook, Instagram and Twitter andhow can you use them to enhance your classes?

Strategies to Employ

(1) Use them for class announcements and important information;

(2) Use them to drill course content.

Example of Instagram

Common Complaints/Questions

(1) What if the student doesn’t use any of these?

(2) What if I don’t know how to use these?

(3) I don’t have the time to do this.

(4) What about security?

Question

Advantages/disadvantages of Facebook/Instagram/Twitter orany other reservations?

Smartphones, Tablets, Computers

Strategies to Employ

(1) Clickers (free app - Socrative);

(2) Questions/concerns in-class.

Question

Are there any other strategies that you employ or you think that you can employ using cell phones, tablets, etc.?

Flipped Classroom

Strategies to Employ

(1) Record lectures for students to watch at home; (camtasia, kaltura, screencast-o-matic)

(2) Use class-time for discussion, problem-solving, etc.

Advantages/Disadvantages

Advantages

(1)You can better prepare and you only do it once per class;(2)Students can re-review your lectures for study purposes;(3)Allows for more discussion/practice/exercises in-class.

Disadvantages

(1)Students may not watch the lectures prior to class;(2)Issues with recordings, availability of recordings, etc.;(3)You have to be accurate with your recordings.

Questions/Concerns

References

Brown, T. (2014). 7 strategies for teachers to connect with students. Retrieved fromhttp://www.teachersofcolor.com/2010/10/7-strategies-for-teachers-to-connect-with-students/

The Importance of the Course Syllabus. (2014). Retrieved May 5, 2014from http://www.duq.edu/about/centers-and-institutes/center-for-teaching-excellence/teaching-and-learning/importance-of-the-course-syllabus