Technology to Engage
Technology is growing exponentially at university and as more than half of Charles Darwin University's (CDU) students are off-campus, it is important to keep abreast of new technology. To ensure students are able to access the Academic Support services at CDU, technology to improve the student experience is constantly tried and tested.
To showcase the engaging way we use the online space, Dr. Brian Philips and myself presented at the Blackboard conference in Sydney at the end of August 2016. The presentation on engaging external students in the online space highlighted how involved and present students can be when two lecturers with different perspectives and different fields of expertise work together to improve the literacy of students.
To showcase the engaging way we use the online space, Dr. Brian Philips and myself presented at the Blackboard conference in Sydney at the end of August 2016. The presentation on engaging external students in the online space highlighted how involved and present students can be when two lecturers with different perspectives and different fields of expertise work together to improve the literacy of students.
Blackboard Conference presentation Sydney 2016
| phillipsjanssen_-_final.pptx |
The technology we use in ALLSP is not always fit for purpose. Below some of the affordances and limitations are discussed.
iPads
The School of Academic Language has eight iPads for students to complete surveys. During semester 2, 2014 they were used to allow students to be more active learners, by researching their subject matter during workshops. The affordances and limitations of using this are set in the document below.
| ipads.docx |
Blackboard Collaborate
Blackboard Collaborate is CDU's online classroom tool. Usually in ALLSP they are only used to conduct workshops. During semester 2 2014 they were used to conduct individual consultations with students. The affordances and limitations are set out in the document below.
| blackboard_collaborate.docx |
Skype
Using
Skype to conduct individual consultations has been available to students;
however, it is only in the past semester that students have used this tool.
Charles Darwin’s Office of Learning and Teaching have created a YouTube
video explaining the affordances of this
mode as a web-conferencing tool accessible through the link. The attached file explains the affordances and limitations of Skype.
| skype_for_individual_consultations.docx |
Observations
One way of developing teaching is to have peers observe your lessons which gives new insights and perspectives of teaching from other staff members. This is valuable as in a non-threatening environment discussions are held between the lecturer and the observer where both of them learn from the experience.
In ALLSP, the lecturers encourage each other to observe regularly our workshops, individual consultations and drop-ins.
Some of the observation feedback forms on individual consultations have been attached.
In ALLSP, the lecturers encourage each other to observe regularly our workshops, individual consultations and drop-ins.
Some of the observation feedback forms on individual consultations have been attached.
| observation_tues_7_oct_11am.msg |
| observation_7_10_14.docx |
| julias_observation_of_amanda_2.docx |