Fall 2008 Reflections

As we wrap up the semester, I'd like to take the opportunity to thank you all for participating in the Faculty Learning Community. I hope you all agree that we've had some fantastic conversations as we've looked at many new technologies and the myriad possibilities for using these tools for enhancing student engagement. I would like to offer a few of my own reflections -- both technological and theoretical, as I look back on the conversations and prepare for next semester, so here goes:
1. We all, as do our students, have varying levels of technological literacies and, as such need to continue to investigate and find tools that are a fit both pedagogically and from a ease of use perspective.
2. Applications such as Google Docs and Wikis are nice tools for facilitating various types of collaboration
3. Any technology should be embedded within relevant and authentic contexts. Students don't always understand the relevance and utility of new tools, so we need to model and support the use so as to not overshadow the discipline of study.
4. Various types of tools such as facebook, Doodle, and Ning can fulfill a variety of needs that support the teaching and learning process (e.g., connecting with colleagues, scheduling academic meetings, etc).
5. The iPod touch, while still largely a 'new' device, holds much potential in the instructional world.

This is just a quick summary to tack onto the obvious benefits of sharing dialogue with colleagues across campus. I am looking forward to another round of meetings next semester as we begin to bring some more specific needs, strategies and options into focus.

Happy Holidays!