Emerging Technologies for Online Learning

A recent conference on Emerging Technologies for Online Learning brought hundreds of professors together to learn how to incorporate social media into their curricula. The Chronicle of Higher Education summarized some of the main takeaways, including concern about privacy and novel ideas for using new media as pedagogical tools:

"Among the more unusual suggestions during presentations:

Ask students to do role-playing exercises on Facebook or Twitter. For instance, students in an American-history course could each be required to set up a Facebook page for a historical figure and periodically post "status updates" of things the famous people did. Similarly, Utah State University organized a Civil War re-enactment on Twitter.

Learn how to use the tracking feature of YouTube to see how many students tune in to videos of lectures that professors post. Sam McGuire, an assistant professor of music at the University of Colorado at Denver, said by doing so, he learned that some students came back months later to watch his videos.

Send students one-minute video reminders about class assignments using a free service called Eyejot. Traci LaBarbera Stromie, an instructional designer at Kennesaw State University near Atlanta, said video messages, rather than e-mail reminders, could "keep students more engaged" in the class."

Here's how I've used YouTube in my class on embryology.

New media in the classroom

Believe it or not, summer will come to a close soon and school will be in session, but there is still time to incorporate some of these fabulous and user-friendly tips to using new media in the classroom. Although this site seems to be geared toward K-12 educators, the information is perfectly applicable to postsecondary and professional school curricula. You will find great information on using YouTube, Facebook, wikis, Twitter, GPS, and more in your course presentations. Props to Cory Ross for bringing this site to my attention!