Archive for September, 2009
Learning technology podcasts
Joshua Kim at Inside Higher Ed is starting a list of podcasts that are useful to those interested in learning technology. From his list, the one that caught my eye was Tech Therapy from the Chronicle of Higher Education with podcasts such as, “How To Start Talking About Green IT” and “Why Not Outsource E-Mail,” […]
Using google docs for knowledge surveys
A couple weeks ago, I posted about using the Form function in Google Docs to conduct surveys and collect data from students and colleagues, and last semester, the Kendall Center brought in Karl Wirth from Macalester to give a workshop on using Knowledge Surveys to help students assess their learning. Being into mashups, Sean has […]
Preventing sleep using caffeine
You might be demonstrating how to do video editing in Final Cut Pro or showing students how to collaborate on a word processing document using Google Docs. You stop to answer a few questions, look up, and the screen saver has started or the computer has even gone to sleep. Previously, I left myself reminders […]
Videos from instructional services
I wanted to highlight that in a comment on an earlier post, Joyce mentioned that Instructional Services “started creating mini instructional videos last year on some of the basics of Moodle and plan on expanding them, as well as including other topics. They can be found at http://instructionalservices.blog.gustavus.edu/2009/05/07/new-from-instructional-services-mini-instructional-videos/.” So far, they have instructions for uploading […]
Realtime collaboration with EtherPad
Colleagues working at different schools writing a conference abstract together or students living in different residence halls working on a group project are just two examples of times when real-time online collaboration is helpful. Google Docs can serve this purpose, but you should also consider using EtherPad. Unlike Google Docs, EtherPad doesn’t require account creation; […]
Collecting data using forms
Throughout the semester, it is sometimes useful to survey your students’ knowledge or familiarity with a particular subject. For example, you could find out about their familiarity with Excel or see how frequently they have used the PsychInfo database at the library. You can do this by visiting your Gustavus Google account (if you have […]
Doodle for polling and scheduling
Last year, I planned an event for both sections of my Developmental Psychology course, which is about 60 people. Trying to find the time when the most people could attend was made easier by using a free service called Doodle. It allows you to choose potential meeting times. Then gives you a link to send […]
Screen recording
In classes or research collaborations, you may need to demonstrate how to perform certain computer tasks such as, creating a Figure in Excel, contributing to a Moodle forum, or searching for journal articles in a discipline-specific database. While doing these demonstrations, you could use screen recording software to record your actions and then make these […]
Do internet-based technologies enhance learning outcomes?
Kelly Marsh addresses whether internet based technologies can enhance learning outcomes and motivate students to participate in the instructional process and includes links to more popular internet technologies and potentially effective ways to use them in the classroom. Has an internet technology improved learning in your classroom? If so, let us know what you tried in […]
Saving local copies of web videos
The number of short videos posted online relevant to class discussions continues to increase. Ideally you would stream these videos from the source website*; however, occasionally streaming problems arise (e.g., jumpy playback or slow buffering times). That’s where services like Vixy and KeepVid can come in handy. They allow you to save a local copy […]