academic & online learning leader embracing emerging #edtech
Google Docs includes a very easy-to-use forms tool that can be used for simple online surveys or other basic data collection activities. Here’s a quick introduction to using forms in Google Docs:
How might use of the data collection features of the Forms tool in Google Docs be helpful in an education context? Beyond online surveys, what other applications come to mind? When would you not want to use a Google Form? Leave a comment with your ideas!
One of the foremost concerns of online instructors is that teaching online requires more time than the traditional face-to-face classroom setting. The Strategies for Managing the Online Workload (SMOW) video podcast offers a collection of short descriptions, tips, techniques, and methods developed and used by experienced online educators to manage their time more effectively in the online teaching environment. *Note – The free iTunes software is required in order to download and view the video podcast episodes.
Here’s a video introduction to the podcast by Larry Regan, Director of Instructional Design and Development, Penn State University World Campus:
Additional contributions to this collection are welcomed. If you have an idea of how to save time when teaching online, contact Larry Ragan at Penn State University at lcr1@psu.edu for additional information on how to add your idea to this collection.
As Allen and Seamen (2008) note, online education has continued to experience steady and sustained growth and shows no signs of slowing anytime soon. I’ve personally found through my own experience that in these particularly challenging times for higher education, institutions are increasingly looking to online education as one way to not increase revenue but also expand course offerings. Allen and Seamen’s findings support the common approach among higher education institutions today to strategically implement online learning in overall programmatic development efforts.
Not only are institutions embracing online education today, but students are also flocking to online modes of learning in record numbers. As noted, over one-fifth of all higher education students are now taking at least one online course (Allen & Seamen, 2008). A primary reason why online education may be so popular especially among adult, non-traditional learners is the flexibility that it affords. The learner can continue his or her education while still continuing a career and maintaining other personal commitments.
What other factors do you suspect may be contributing to the steady growth of online education in higher education? Post a comment with your thoughts!
Reference:
Allen, I. E., & Seaman, J. (2008). Staying the course: Online education in the United States, 2008. Needham, MA: Sloan-C. Retrieved June 17, 2009, from http://www.sloan-c.org/publications/survey/staying_course
I’m leading the following hands-on workshops at the 2009 Faculty Summer Institute at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Follow @fsi and #fsi09 on Twitter.
Rhode, J. F. (2009, May 19). Getting started creating web pages with Google Sites. Presented at Faculty Summer Institute on Teaching Technologies, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. | handout | links |
Rhode, J. F. (2009, May 19). Quick and simple creation of educational tutorials. Presented at Faculty Summer Institute on Teaching Technologies, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. | handout | links |
Rhode, J. F. (2009, May 20). Mastering micro-blogging. Presented at Faculty Summer Institute on Teaching Technologies, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. | handout | links |
Rhode, J. F. (2009, May 20). Web 2.0 gizmos and gadgets. Presented at Faculty Summer Institute on Teaching Technologies, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. | handout | links |
Have you ever been in a presentation that dragged on and on? Or perhaps are you looking for an alternative approach to presenting information in a concise and memorable way? Then you need to give Pecha Kucha a try!
Pecha Kucha is a presentation format (usually creative) in which information can be easily and informally shown. This presentation style started back in 2003 in Tokyo, Japan, by Astrid Klein and Mark Dytham. Originally, this presentation form was created for young designers to meet, network, and show off their work.
The idea behind Pecha Kucha is to present information in a concise way. Each presenter is allowed to show 20 images, with 20 seconds per slide. The goal of the presentation is to keep interest high and information flowing. Pecha Kucha has sprung interest all around the world and currently occurs in over 157 cities.
Since there are no restrictions to the type of information presented in a Pecha Kucha style presentation this formula can be used in all types of learning formats. As several of my students have pointed out, there are numerous applications for how this type of abbreviated, engaging presentation format in any number of contexts.
Here’s a sample pecha kucha presentation to get a taste of what the impact is like…death to bullet points!
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