Learning Theory and Educational Technology - EDUC 8845

Module 5 - Blog 5
New Technologies

One of the technologies in my workplace that many colleagues have low self-efficacy in experimenting with is the Smart Board. In simple terms, the Smart Board is an interactive whiteboard that uses touch detection for user input in the same way as normal PC input devices. I feel comfortable of using the Smart Board in the classroom and I want to help my colleagues to use it in the same.

My ultimate goal is to help my colleagues to use the Smart Board as a tool to enhance technology in the classroom. I already talked to my chairperson in the Computer Technology Division to offer in service workshops for my colleagues. Truthfully, there are instructors who hesitate to use technology when it comes to the Smart Board at the college where I teach and they represent all five divisions the college has.

Many times, professors find themselves overloaded with responsibilities and they do not want to get involved in something else that they have to devote time and effort. Curiosity is very effective when it comes to motivating students. According to Keller (as cited in Driscoll, 2005), “To stimulate more lasting curiosity, instructions should employ techniques that invoke a sense of mystery and involve students in solving problems” (p. 334). Instructors who will attend the workshop will get into groups and they will have debates in the classroom that will maintain their attention. At the same time, the whole workshop will have a series of small exercises connected to each other. Every exercise will add to the next one and all of exercises will stimulate the curiosity of every participant.

In addition, it is not an easy task to motivate people without personal relevance in the learning task. Every lesson should be in a format that satisfies the personal goals of each student (Keller, as cited in Driscoll, 2005). These workshops will provide instructors with material that covers all the five divisions the college has. For example, the workshop will include material for the Business and Accounting Division. Therefore, instructors from this division can take with them at the end of every workshop material that they can use when they have to use the Smart Board in their classroom.

Furthermore, there will be always learners who are afraid of doing specific things. There should always be a strategy to introduce confidence in students (Keller, as cited in Driscoll, 2005). Every workshop is structured to instill the confidence of each participant. Every participant will know from the beginning of the workshop what is expected of him/her. I will be working with the whole group or with one on one colleague in the class to build the confidence of each participant. At the end of the workshop, participants should be able to complete a task by themselves.

In conclusion, every colleague will receive at the end of every training workshop a certificate of achievement for participating in the workshop. According to Keller (as cited in Driscoll, 2005), “A final and important point is that people do not look at rewards in isolation” (p. 337). My colleagues will realize that they did not only finish the workshop but they also gained knowledge at the same time of how to use the Smart Board effectively.

Reference

Driscoll, M. P. (2005). Psychology of learning for instruction (3rd ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson Education.