Exploring technology

These first couple of weeks, I have spent a lot of time just trying to figure out some of these new technologies which I have never used before.  I had never started a blog before, so getting one started did take a little bit of time for me.  Overall, I have found the process of starting and writing posts on a blog fairly easy.  I like the blogger site and feel it is user friendly.  I really did not have to venture from the website to figure out how to post and layout my blog.  I have also spent time just exploring technology and how it is being used in education.  This has been so fascinating to me and I am finding so much crossover from NUGR 533-Teaching Strategies, which I am also enrolled in.  The reality seems to be, students learn better with use of technology.  I found two very interesting articles which I bookmarked on Diigo regarding technology in higher education.  I really found the article from Education Technology very informative and gives an excellent visual to how technology is the future of academics.  The article is actually described as an infographic article, basically the whole article is graphs and visual aides.  The data for the infographic is taken from the ECAR Study of Undergraduate Students and Information Technology, 2012.  I have also bookmarked the EDUCAUSE homepage, which is the nonprofit organization which published ECAR study.

The last couple weeks have really gotten me interested in the use of technology in education.  In addition, I have discovered that I do not really mind playing around with new technologies and there are numerous resources out there if I really do not understand something.  I was having a very difficult time with Diigo, but a simple Google search gave me all the help I needed and I feel pretty confident using Diigo now.  As far as evaluating technology, there are also numerous resources to evaluate different technology.  I do think it is important to have at least one evaluation tool which is used by all education staff at given institution (much like the tool we are working on).  This will allow for some consistency in a program.  The multiple websites and tools which are available to evaluate technology are a real benefit.  This allows for someone to evaluate technology in multiple ways to ensure the material and technology being used is the most effective.  Overall, the first weeks have been a learning experience for me and I am looking forward to building on the skills I have acquired these first few weeks.


Here are links to articles and websites discussed and also a short video I found on EDUCAUSE.  The video is a short introduction to technology in higher education and how advancing technology can improve higher education.

How Technology is Powering Academic Success

EDUCAUSE