Jing is a web 2.0 tool that would be great for any classroom teacher. This cross-platform screen casting program can be used for creating tutorials, screenshots, and much more. You can easily share anything you do in Jing on the web, email, IM, Twitter or even your blog. You can take a picture or make a short video of what you see on your screen. Its extremely simple and can eliminate phone and email time. The best part is that you can download it for free.
Any teacher could utilize this to clear up directions or even introduce a home work assignment over the Internet. A teacher could also be showing this on a projector or smart board while walking around the class room helping any kids. Also, it saves the teacher from repeating directions over and over again. If you record it once, then every individual student could watch it as many times as need and on their own time. I could definitely see myself using this in my classroom.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Monday, September 20, 2010
Back in Action... Sorta
When Good Technology Means Bad Teaching
We've all been there. In a dark classroom, with a monotone professor and the lecture dumped into a power point that students in the back can barely see. What a great way to get a college education. That is, if you can keep your eyes open. Technology these days are off the charts, but the professors trying to use it to make their classes better aren’t quite making the grade. Universities are spending thousands to millions of dollars for smart classroom and smart technology. However, the professors are uneducated in this area and most fail to us it successfully. The most common program used is Power Point. This can make or break the class. If a professor posts a Power Point to a form of Angel or Blackboard, attendance can drop 20% or the students that actually attend will pay less attention especially if they know they can view it later. If universities would just take the time to train teachers how to properly use the smart technology our kids would be smarter. Training would eliminate that extra 15 minutes wasted at the beginning of class trying to plug USB cords in the right outlets or tracking down someone else to do it. Schools with great technology are nothing but money suckers if they don’t have teachers who correctly and effectively use what is offered. Students love technology, but if not used in a practical way will hate the class. Artin Bastani, a senior at Miami University says it best, "If you're going to attempt to use technology, either use it right or don't use it at all."
We've all been there. In a dark classroom, with a monotone professor and the lecture dumped into a power point that students in the back can barely see. What a great way to get a college education. That is, if you can keep your eyes open. Technology these days are off the charts, but the professors trying to use it to make their classes better aren’t quite making the grade. Universities are spending thousands to millions of dollars for smart classroom and smart technology. However, the professors are uneducated in this area and most fail to us it successfully. The most common program used is Power Point. This can make or break the class. If a professor posts a Power Point to a form of Angel or Blackboard, attendance can drop 20% or the students that actually attend will pay less attention especially if they know they can view it later. If universities would just take the time to train teachers how to properly use the smart technology our kids would be smarter. Training would eliminate that extra 15 minutes wasted at the beginning of class trying to plug USB cords in the right outlets or tracking down someone else to do it. Schools with great technology are nothing but money suckers if they don’t have teachers who correctly and effectively use what is offered. Students love technology, but if not used in a practical way will hate the class. Artin Bastani, a senior at Miami University says it best, "If you're going to attempt to use technology, either use it right or don't use it at all."
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