Low cost technology (video conferencing) being used in UG

Dear Friends,

On 18th March 2011, we had one experiment where School of Architecture wanted my help to have a two-way-video-two-way-audio conferencing with around 100 participants each at four locations in Guyana, viz. Georgetown, Linden, Berbice and Essequibo. I gave a demo to a student of Mr William Harris on how we can achieve this through Skype. Mr Harris deputed his students to different locations who did the configuration (at Linden, Berbice and Essequibo). At one site there was no webcam available but they could hear us. This conference was for Sustainable Architecture. We were web-casting it from Georgetown. See some images taken at GTI of the session:

Another instance of using technology is by our Personnel Division where now a days overseas candidates are being interviewed via skype. This is helping University in cutting costs for overseas calls.

Skype is can be used for teaching learning too!
See this interesting example, where a skype lesson was held between two countries: Istanbul-Turkey and Nin Brno in Czech Republic on 14 April 2011. 

See, how this can be used for language teaching too!

I am sure our teachers will try this experiment!!

Classroom of the Future & Classroom of 2011 Survey: Masie Centre

The MASIE Center and The Learning CONSORTIUM conducted a survey in March 2011 to examine the current state of the classroom and building a technology wish list for the "classroom of the future."

They received responses from 654 large organizations, detailing current and future uses of classrooms. These organizations included corporate entities (57%), educational institutions (21%), governmental agencies (15%) and non-profit groups (7%) in 46 countries, with the majority of respondents from North America. 

One of the findings:
Top technologies/capabilities desired for newer classrooms mainly include increasingly interactive options for learners and teachers. The list includes: interactive whiteboards, wireless access for learners, camera/microphone to record class, movable furniture, multiple displays, tablets for every learner, video conferencing via webinar and desktop, and audience response systems.

Read in detail at:
http://masieweb.com/classroom2011

Working on a document “simultaneously”

Tip by Joel A. Brondos and Miguel Guhlin (Mon, Apr 4, 2011) through  moodlemayhem@googlegroups

1) In your class, you may have been asking two or more students to work on one "document" simultaneously. These students need to be able to access, discuss, and edit the work. As a teacher you may also want your students to work on a text created by you, where they can add comments without actually changing the text.

2) The "document" needs to be "supervised" by the teacher.

3) The "document" needs to be seen by other students in the class, perhaps providing peer review.

Solutions?

A) Do the work in a shared Google Doc or MSWord (Live@Edu)?

B) Create a wiki entry with a topic for each of the student pairs. (Can wikis be graded/commented?)

C) Do a workshop activity?

D) Post the original item for discussion in a Forum?

E) Can a professor create a text page or web page which can be edited by the students?

F) Do something with the Assignments activity?

You can consider a solution like iEtherpad.com

http://ietherpad.com/

Also check this one too:

http://piratepad.net/front-page/

web facility for language teachers for allowing practice for speaking skills

If you wish to train your students (or yourself too) in speaking skills, then this site is very useful

http://mailvu.com/

This site enables you to send video emails to your contacts, students or who ever you want to send this to. You can create a video email of upto 10 minutes and the video can remain on the servers upto 365 days!

Another good feature is that you can create a "self-Destruct" after a certain number of views, if you wish.

Best part is that you donot need to create any account (login) or download.

So go ahead and use video mail!!

Ramesh Sharma

Technology4Teachers

Dear Friends,
Greetings.

Welcome to Technology4Teachers Blog.

The genesis of creating this blog lies in the Strategic Goal 1 of the University of Guyana Strategic Plan 2009 – 2012 which relates to ‘Improving the quality of teaching and learning’.

A corresponding expected outcome (envisaged by August 2010) is to:
‘Establish training programme for lecturers (instructional methods, assessment skills, research methodologies, new technologies, etc  (University of Guyana Strategic Plan 2009 – 2012, p.19)

Section M of the Strategic Plan elaborates upon the need for a ‘standing programme’ for lecturers and in particular notes
‘. . . . as the institution moves towards increased use of technology in teaching, instruction in the application of contemporary media to teaching becomes critical’     (University of Guyana Strategic Plan 2009 – 2012, p.35)

Use of ICT in teaching-learning much depends on personal teaching styles and motivation level of the teachers. Sustained interest is very important of its success. Since Internet is an inherent part of many such technologies now a days, teachers can use Web 2.0 tools in a variety of ways to enhance learning and keep the students engaged.

Through this blog we can share technology tips which can be used by teachers and students as well for improving the quality of teaching and learning in the University of Guyana (and elsewhere too!).

Keep reading and contributing...

With best wishes
Ramesh Sharma
Director
Institute of Distance and Continuing Education