Teaching & Learning 2.0 this week

A small group met in the CTL Wednesday to discuss aspects of “web 2.0″ technologies and their pedagogical uses. We discussed the various uses of blogs, wikis, and email groups.

• Blogs, best for one or a small group of “authors” who wish to put out information and receive comments from a private or public group of readers;
• Wikis – excellent for collaborative projects such as co-edited documents, or also good for a class work repository;
• Email groups – if you just want to get the word out about meetings, links, news.

We also looked at an actual BCC student gmail account, with its very simplified selection of google tools – basically email and calendar only.  Google apps http://www.google.com/apps/ may be an area for further explanation if/when we decide to open those tools up to students.

High-tech Tips from Comm College Faculty

Some interesting tips via video on flip video, wikis, and educational games:

http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid9958061001?bctid=1877562263

Teaching and Learning 2.0

A small group of BCC faculty met today for the first session of this faculty learning group on teaching and new technologies. The discussion ranged through a number of topics, including

• Guest lecturers in class using webcams through the Internet
• Various types of flash drives and their usefulness
• Wikis as “project space” for students to work on group assignments (kudos to Lois C. for this)
• Use of blogs for journaling; impact of adding comments
• Twitter: how is it different from email and will it be around long?
• Email overload and its impacts: “ADD” culture

Next meeting, Oct 20, 1-2pm, will continue the exploration and have a brief demo if there is interest of the webcam setup. Comments welcome!!

Teaching & Learning 2.0 Starts Tuesday

Tuesday, September 22
Teaching & Learning 2.0 breakfast kickoff meeting, 8:00am – 9:00am, CTL
Join in for a series of breakfast meetings (Coffee and Carbs provided) in the CTL this Fall, to discuss the impact of new technologies on teaching & learning. All faculty are welcome and you do not have to be a computer whiz to join the conversation! Coordinated by Diane Eulian and Dori Digenti, these sessions will be conversation-based, but we will also go hands-on when needed. Conversation continues on 10/7, 10/20, 11/4, 11/19, 12/2.

Register for workshops online (some events have separate invitations/links): http://tinyurl.com/nhmegj
Register to receive schedule updates, resources, and CC news right in your Groupwise inbox: http://tinyurl.com/kqfqox

Understanding Gartner’s hype cycle

The image below shows the Gartner Group’s assessment of where a number of leading technologies are on the “hype cycle.” This analysis can help us in higher ed to understand which web 2.0 technologies actually have staying power. While blogs, wikis and social networking in general have gone through the initial euphoria of high expectations and the trough of disappointment, microblogging (e.g., twitter) has not. It would make sense that we look at established technologies that likely have some staying power first to see what how they can support student learning, and avoid jumping on the bandwagon of the “latest and greatest” until it is proven. The hype curve is (hopefully) reproduced below (you will probably have to increase the view size to read it):

Summer Institute, Part III

Linked below is the full and complete report on the Summer Institute “Learning Outside the Classroom/Learning 2.0,” including several presentations, evaluation and participants’ reflections:

SI2009binder

Pics from the Summer Institute!

Many, many thanks to Colin Adams for these great photos!!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/carafox/sets/72157618512289507

Summer Institute, Part 2

Please click the link below to read the evaluation of the session

SI2009evalresults

Summer Institute starts today!

Soon 28 BCC Faculty and Staff will arrive shortly for Learning Outside the Classroom & Learning 2.0 – will report on the outcomes later today…

FAQ on BCC Summer Institute

FAQ on the BCC Summer Institute, May 20-21

Q. Is it all about technology?

A. It’s all about learning outside the classroom: first day focus is service learning, field trips, study abroad, experiential learning — pretty low-tech! Day 2 will focus on web 2.0 technologies in the context of supporting student learning

Q. Can I come to just Day 2?

A. The two-day program actually is a complete experience. Email me if you have questions; it may be possible.

Q. Day 2 might be way beyond my level…

A. We have a guest speaker who will put the technology in a classroom context: doable and potentially time-saving. The workshops will be focus on 1-3 easy things you can do to incorporate the tech in a pedagogically sound way. 

Q. Will there be outside presenters?

A. We will have presenters from HCC, GCC, HVCC, Boston College, and UMass Amherst. We will also have presentations from our own faculty and staff.