Technology for Teaching & Learning
Whether you meet your students in a physical classroom, virtual classroom, or a combination of both, technology can help to enhance the learning experience for your students. According to a recent Chronicle of Higher Education report, “Growing up entirely in the era of the smartphone and social media mean that GenZers see technology as an extension of themselves with respect to how they communicate, manage friendships, consume information, and learn.” (Selingo, 2018)
Tips for Teaching Technologies
- Human interaction with course instructors, TAs and peers is still the most important course element–don’t let technology get in the way.
- Don’t waste students’ time–they will appreciate explicit directions for using technology as well as details that describe how this tool will help them to learn.
- Use as few tools as possible–look for apps students may already use.
- When introducing new technology, provide as much asynchronous how-to information as you can.
- Make use of vendor guides and LinkedIn Learning (access via the e-Learning homepage).
- Provide a low- or no-points “try it out” assignment to help students become familiar with the tool.
- Keep Accessibility in mind.
- Some tools may not support all students, ask an Instructional Designer to help you determine the accessibility of a tool.
- Don’t wait to ask for help!
- UF has Instructional Designers available both at the department and college level as well as centrally.
- These folks are experts at using technology for teaching and can save you time and frustration.
- Request central assistance through citt.ufl.edu > click on the “Request Assistance” button in the upper right corner.
References
Selingo, J. J. (2018). The New Generation of Students: How colleges can recruit, teach, and serve Gen Z. (p. 26). Washington, D.C.: The Chronicle of Higher Education.
