FTLC Fall Conference on Teaching and Learning

Session Title

What are you packing (to class)? Embracing the Technology You and Your Students Bring to the Classroom

Presenter Information

Paul Lane, Grand Valley State UniversityFollow

Session Location

Eberhard Center 411

Session Start Date and Time

24-8-2011 11:00 AM

Session End Date and Time

24-8-2011 12:00 PM

Session Abstract

Learn about embracing the technology that students bring to class. You will develop strategies for using this technology in the class environment. Across the disciplines you will brainstorm how to engage and excite students of different backgrounds, learning styles, and abilities. You will use an intercultural example to see how this works in class. You will have a chance to see how it is fun, interesting, and dynamic to embrace technology. You will develop an exercise for this semester. You are encouraged to bring your own technology to this session.

Session Description

At a recent conference when speaking on the use of technology in the classroom it was surprising how interested and lively the discussion became. For many, technology is something to be use in on line and hybrid classes. The idea that the use of smart phones, ipads and more could make the class room lively and involve students created a great discussion. In this workshop faculty can explore by doing an exercise that would be suitable in an international section or for Martin Luther King Day based on their preferences. The group will be divided into and ask to use whatever technology they are carrying (packing) such as their smart phone, laptops and Ipads to look up information on sub cultural groupings in the United States and if there are enough on some countries. Students are often amazed to learn about the size of different populations in the United States, how their family structures are different, how they shop differently, and so much more. This is a great opportunity for discussion but the facts are theirs. Sure the risk exist of getting some weaker information but the focus here is engagement, excitement, and discussion of their world. Minorities present often speak up to express their feelings about the information. They are often amazed to realize how important they are on a national perspective as compared to West Michigan.

This exercise works really well for students of different levels of preparation as all information can be shared. Weaker students may not have as much background in a topic area but they may be really excellent at searching for information. Depending on who is in the classroom you can select the topics to be explored. For example, if there are Veterans in the class you can use them as a group to be explored. Students with hidden learning differences often shine here as it does not require the same skills that are normally important: reading, analysis, and writing. International students like it as they can shine searching sites that are linguistically different with fresh perspectives.

After some discussion on the results from the faculty searches in the example, the focus switches to how to use this style of learning in their respective disciplines. It is always important that the take away from these FTLC workshops be useful and applicable. Faculty members will attempt to develop an exercise that will work in class this fall. In the past when presenting these kinds of workshops this has been the richest section. Multidisciplinary thinking is often amazing! A short brainstorm from colleagues around the university often can help you to see things in new ways. The more faculty members the better, the more creativity to help each other think of valuable class exercises. The goal here is to change the strategy from competing with technology to embracing it as a way to improve learning for all kinds of learners, and make the class more dynamic and interactive and accepting.