Technology in education is growing in leaps and bounds. Choosing the right technology for the class being presented, instructors knowledge and comfort level as well as the students access is very important. When considering the type of technology that is best suited to the classroom setting and the information being presented requires an understanding as to how the information will be retrieved and how it will be used. I will utilize this blog to look at different types of technology and how they may be utilized in teaching. The first type of technology I want to discuss is Interactive web rooms. Interactive web rooms provide instructors the ability to connect with different colleges or universities and have an interactive exchange between speakers and the students. In this manner students in the United States can interact with a professor in China. Having this capability brings exciting new avenues for professors to have exchanges with specialist in the area the student are studying. Membership with TheNITLE Network is one option that will allow this type of interaction. The site is http://www.nitle.org. This is a free site that colleges and instructors can join and interact with other colleges or universities. Having access to this type of technology opens up educational opportunities.
Another area that is up and coming in technology educational opportunity involves Virtual communities of practice. Utilizing this technology effectively can open up the areas of communition, collaboration, documemtation and generation information to share with classmates and instructors. This type of technology enhances the felling of community between students and faculty in online courses.
Reference:
http://www.nitle.org/casestudies/enhancing_curriculumNITLE.com
Wang, S.K. (2008) Journal of interactive learning. The effects of a synchronous communication tool (Yahoo Messanger) on online learners' sense of community and their multi media skills. retrieved from www.ncolr.org/jiol
