* What are some things that you have learned about effective teaching strategies when integrating technology?
The first time I read about the TPACK framework (two years ago) I knew that this was a model that all educators needed to be aware of when integrating technology into their teaching. In this class I learned a little more about the TPACK framework which further persuaded me that this model is very important for achieving a good balance between the important elements of technology, pedagogy and content. I know from experience working with other educators that the integration of technology with teaching can only occur successfully if all three elements are considered. Mishra explained in one of our lessons that technology and content have always been related and he gives the example of how information has been distributed over centuries actually changes our society. He notes that the context can affect how this model should be implemented, and it is up to teachers to come up with creative techniques for integrating this model in individual lessons.
* How did integrating the Internet help you think about and evaluate uses of technology?
I have to admit that I really was a skeptic of blogs and RSS readers until I used them a little more in this class. Now I use my Google reader on a daily basis. I also like the ability to access my blog and use it as a reflection tool for my thoughts and to read comments from others who visit and have comments about topics that I write about.
* Which of the assignments that you turned in do you feel really exemplifies good teaching with technology and why?
I think that the SIG project that our group did on Camtasia Relay was a good example of teaching with technology.
First, the software is a flexible tool that can capture content from a screen in a variety of ways and then export in a variety of formats. I think that because this technology will soon be available to any faculty at MSU and because it is easy to get started using the software that many some users will be encouraged to deliver content in a more creative fashion if they continue to use the product.
Second, we designed our presentation in a wiki to encourage visitors to explore the resources and have some control over their learning. The next step with the wiki would be to make it a little more attractive, create some interactive aspects within the wiki and encourage visitors to join a community of Camtasia Relay users.
* How have you met your goals established in your Personal Growth Plan?
I had three goals in my Personal Growth Plan.
1. Continue with my work organizing Videoconference Support Services to make conference technology and facilities more available for the MSU community.
Much of the progress in the organization of this service is tied to the bringing together of staff who have specific expertise in meetings organized with specific goals to accomplish. This continued the last two months as I assembled a group to focus on the creation of workbooks, manuals and promotional guides.
2. Testing of new desktop videoconference software.
I invited a faculty member from the College of Education, Laurence Bates, to give a talk and demonstration to a group on the use of some new software called Vidyo that links desktops to professional systems for more flexibility in conferencing. The demo was well received and now we are exploring further testing of the software.
3. Test Camtasia Rely for lecture capture.
In my SIG project I created a test file using Camtasia Relay. Then I created a video tutorial that introduced the product. This was placed in the wiki which will be further developed and then shared with some early adopters to new tech at MSU.
* Do you have any new goals? What are your plans for reaching your new goals and your long-term goals after this course is over?
My goals have evolved during this class.
I expect to be testing Camtasia Relay and sharing the software with some staff and some key faculty. I plan to invite these individuals to use the wiki to collect test files and share thoughts about their specific use of the software.
I have some very specific goals related to videoconferencing that I plan to accomplish before the end of next Spring semester. Some of these include: update the services website with new information; implementation of a ticket system to track user requests; formation of a new innovations research group; expansion of user groups of early adapters for testing and feedback; creation of online training videos, user workshops; and creation of a packaged communications plan to promote videoconferencing.