Many of see technology as the newest iPhone, the newest Mac-book, or the the newest widget that makes our lives just a bit easier, albeit, maybe a bit more complicated. Instructional technology can be anything that can assist in teaching and make it more impactful to the student.
After going back to a classroom after 2 years due to the pandemic and trying to re-learn all of the newest gadgets the college had implemented to make teaching easier, I found that it was a bit over-whelming for both student and I. What I discovered was that it was something really simple that made that first week go a bit easier...the colored Dry Erase Marker. Being able to differentiate between ideas using different colors was a simple but very effective means to provide information and make it easier for the students to follow along.
My point is, is that when we think of technology, it is not always the latest and greatest things on the market but can also include the simplest things such as a marker and a whiteboard. Educational Technology, I believe, is there to enhance instruction and allow for better comprehension and understanding of the material. Technology should not be used just for the sake of using it, but rather it needs to have a purpose.
Using a simple PowerPoint presentation to present information is widely used and has become the default method of providing content to a classroom. However, many find it boring and repetitive. By implementing various techniques such as adding video, audio, embedded hyper-links, and clean transitions into the actual presentation slides, instructors are able to add value and break up the monotony of a traditional lecture.
Technology in the classroom should be used to enhance learning, interaction, and the overall quality of instruction. This purpose of this blog will be to discovery new techniques and methods of instruction using all forms of educational technology - from the colored marker to the most advanced video editing software. All of these things can be utilized as means to improve the classroom and increase student success. After all, our goal is to keep improving.
Daniel
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