Becoming a Millennial

205. Turning Point Increases Student Engagement

It is no surprise that the more students are engaged, the more they will learn.  Technology can play a part in fostering an environment of engagement and active learning.

This fall 20 faculty and nearly 40% of the student body are using the Turning Point classroom response technology in a wide variety of classes.  Students purchase the clickers in the ETC for $30.  A clicker can be used in multiple classes and for the duration of a student's time at Taylor. 

The clickers interface with PowerPoint slides that present multiple choice or T/F questions.  Students key in their responses and the results are immediately displayed as a bar graph or pie chart.

Professors can use the clickers for anonymous polling to check for student understanding of class material.  By registering the clickers with the students' Blackboard accounts they can also be used for graded quizzes, the results being automatically recorded in the gradebook.

204. Record Attendance at T4T Conference

Attendance at the annual faculty "Technology for Teaching" (T4T) Conference increased for the sixth consecutive year.  138 faculty and staff participated in the 2-day conference held August 14 & 15.  The majority of participants were from Taylor University and TU Fort Wayne.  They were joined by guests from Ivy Tech and Indiana Wesleyan University. 

 

Thirty-two different breakout sessions were offered on such topics as Switching to Word 2007, Teaching a Hybrid Course, Engaging Students Using Turning Point, Social Networking Tools, and Shooting Better Photos & Videos.

The conference opened with an engaging panel discussion on the topic, "Student Laptops in the Classroom -- Ban 'em or Embrace 'em?".  As students in greater numbers bring their wireless laptops into the classroom instructors face the challenge of minimizing the distraction potential and leveraging the laptops as a learning tool.

The conference received excellent feedback.  One professor commented, "A big thank you for continuing to expose us to new technology for teaching."  Another responded, "Thanks for a fantastic conference!"

203. Guitar Hero

Ben's last day of work in the ETC was June 20.  His informal going-away party included some fun with the popular music video game, Guitar Hero. 

A month ago at the CCCU Technology Conference I had the chance to play a similar game, Rock Band, with a bunch of young techies from Trinity Western University. 

I can see why these games are so popular.  You don't have to be at all musical to "play".  You set your skill level and then compete against your partner, trying to keep up with the simplified musical notation.  If you like the music it makes the experience even more enjoyable. 

This was definitely a "millennial" experience for me.  Not quite sure what prolonged hours of this would do to my fiddle playing...

 

202. Picnik

I was skeptical.  Not another photo-editing program!  Isn't Irfanview good enough?  This morning I spent about 30 minutes with Picnik (on the recommendation from one of my ETC staff) and came away a believer.  It is web-based, free, tons of effects, and a very easy interface.  In 30 minutes I pretty much tried all it's features, including the pencil drawing effect you see here.

201. 6th Annual T4T Conference

We were able to complete the schedule for Taylor's "Technology for Teaching" Conference to be held August 14 & 15.  It took most of the month of June to put everything together.  Nearly 40 of our faculty & staff are helping to present sessions.  

This year's theme is, "Engaging Students With Digital Technology" and many of the 40 breakout sessions highlight technologies to do just that.  I'm especially looking forward to the opening panel, "Laptops in the Classroom: Ban 'em or Embrace 'Em?".  The topic has already begun to generate some energy with our faculty. 

We expect an attendance of over 100, mostly our own faculty.  We have also sent invitations to faculty from neighboring universities.  It always adds a nice dynamic to have participation from other schools. 

If you are somewhere within driving distance and would like to join us for either or both days we would love to have you.  Cost is $25/day and includes breakfast and lunch.  Here is the registration information:

1.  T4T schedule

2.  T4T session descriptions 

3.  T4T online registration