Technology for Teachers: Opportunities, Part 2

In my last post, I talked about technological opportunities for teaching. In particular, I talked about desktop document creation, website creation and network-enabled interpersonal communication being enhanced by existing computer and network technologies. In this post, I will discuss technologies or systems that are related to a bit more advanced teaching functions, but you do not need to fear of tech-speak. I am not a technical person (Although I am technically capable, from a user-point of view.).

I would like to assure you that I will always remember that not all teachers are technically oriented. I always remember that my aim here is to share existing technology that you can use without need of great amount of time and effort of learning.

Before I go on to the second part of the opportunities for teachers, I would like to review first, however, the audio-visual communication continuum, in particular, the media richness model. This model is better discussed in this website.

The model essentially suggests the proper selection of communication channel in an organizational setting. In training, proper selection of channel is very important as learners have to get what you intend to say. You have to make sure that a channel for feedback is available whenever possible.

The proper selection of your audio-visual communication channel will make your messages more effective and your image more sincere, consistent and audience-focused. This will make your audience more receptive and will be able to better judge your messages more efficiently. In learning, it is pretty much the same—whether it is traditional classroom learning, e-learning or blended learning.

Another idea that you have to consider is time. Due to the availability of various computer-aided communication and learning technologies, trainers use some types without proper consideration just to get into the fad. This, unfortunately, produces bad effect to the learners.

Take for example the use of websites. Lessons can be posted in websites, sure. But you have to consider the things that you will discuss. Complicated subjects that require more cues and immediate feedback (particularly questions) may not be effectively delivered through this channel. While e-learning enthusiasts will promote this due to always-available lesson, this asynchronous communication has to be properly planned and implemented.

With this, let's go to technological opportunities for teachers:

• Asynchronous Lesson Delivery - This refers to delivery of lessons at different times between the lesson initiator and the lesson receiver. This is practiced in cases of blogs, online blackboards, and online learning management systems like Moodle. This is useful for lectures that are pretty straightforward, or maybe as preparatory reading for discussion in the classsroom.
• Issues and News - Most of the lessons being discussed in the classroom are better related to current news and issues. With RSS (Rapid Site Syndication), you can include in your website the latest trends that are related to the topic you are discussing. RSS is integrated in most blogs and online journals, meaning, your audience can subscribe to the RSS without divulging personal contact information.
• Professional Relationship - Teachers and learning facilitators need to be in connection with people who are within the same discipline or specialization as they are, or maybe for related fields for teamwork or possible mentoring. Social networking websites, such as Friendster, Facebook, and Linked-In, provide such services for free. In the Philippines, Friendster seems to be more popular, but I have seen the credibility of Linked-In with my co-workers at the University.

Let's stop here for now. Next time, we shall discuss online collaboration tools available to you.

In the mean time, please accept my greetings of Merry Christmas!

Technology for Teachers: Opportunities, Part 1

Working as an information officer (an administrative support, non-IT position) at the University of the Philippines—while I myself have a background in communication, management and training—I have observed that even the premier tertiary educational institution in the country has yet to better appreciate (that is, understand, value and use) the opportunities of technology for teaching.

I am not exactly an advocate of distance learning as I appreciate that existing systems and culture cannot handle full e-learning applications or solutions. Teachers or faculty, however, are not using the full functionality of an Internet-enabled computer for more effective learning.

Situation
While I do not have statistics or formal studies to support my statement, I have the courage to say that faculty members at UP Manila do not use information technologies available to them. Take a look at the classrooms or the lesson plans (if there is one available) and you will see that IT-supported teaching functions are only on audio-visual presentation (which is limited to non-interactive presentations), basic interpersonal communication (like email and announcements through e-Groups) and basic grade recording system (the spreadsheet). Even faculty of computer science have yet to know more about the opportunities available—most of them free!

There are few who use blogs, but these are just for announcements and getting feedback.

In short, opportunities are present and numerous. We just need to learn how to use it—and even this is not that difficult.

(A lot of faculty members from UP Manila know the Internet but fail to use it for their tasks, often giving the excuse of difficulty of learning how to use it. I beg to disagree as practically all online systems available are intuitive and have available tutorials. For example, I created a basic customer contact management system for my training for call center wanna-bes even though I have no training in programming nor database management systems! I guess it is just a matter of humility to admit that there is something else you can learn, or plain laziness in pursuit of professional growth due to pursuit of personal pleasures.)

Enough with my personal opinion. Let's go to the different teaching functions (that I know from experience) and see what technology or technologies are available for you. They are usually free.

Basic Teaching Functions
This is where you would see teachers really use the information technology, but even here, there are other opportunities available.

• Audio-Visual Presentations - Most teachers use information technology for audio-visual presentations, like presenting their reports, lectures, and important points. Audio-visual presentations, however, should be used as support and should not replace the experience of the lecturer or speaker. Interactive presentations, however, have to be improved. For example, Microsoft Powerpoint has options for using links which can be compounded to be used for games.
• Records management - When I first became a trainer for ROTC (Reserve Officer Training Corps), I immediately saw the need to automatically calculate the grades of cadets. There is also a need to create a profile of the student population. A spreadsheet software will help here. There are, however, other functions that can be added, besides managing records of students. We'll look into this in the section for learning management system.
• Interpersonal and Group Communication -Email, instant messaging (chat) and electronic groups are useful here. However, these are not used effectively as they can be compounded with online presentations and storage of files. You can also use social networking sites, blogs and other Web 2.0 technologies.
  

I will stop here. Watch out for my next post which should discuss the following:

A Bit Advanced Functions
Blogging and RSS
Social Networking
Website Publishing

Advanced Functions but Still Easy-to-Learn Systems
Online Document Creation and Collaboration
Online Brainstorming
Learning Management System (LMS)
Niche Social Networking
Project management
Research
Collaboration
Web Conferences
Web Meetings
Webcasts and Online Stored Presentations
Sharing Information and Wikis
Simulations
Others!

If you have more ideas, please do not hesitate to add your comment or email me at info.casupm@gmail.com. You can also view my mindmap for this article here.