10-Rep Learning ~ Teague's Tech Treks

Learning Technology & Tech Observations by Dr. Helen Teague

Aug
15

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Nerd Research Minute ~August 15 ~ Ed. Benefits of Twitter

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Twitter is one form of  digital and computer-mediated form of peer-to-peer engagement that functions with both communicative and outreach potential. Students enrolled in higher education institutions report that Twitter “provided space and opportunities to engage in academic activities as a new pedagogical tool” (Bista, 2015, p. 1). Our Canvas LMS also has a Chat Feature that can function as a intra-course micro version of Twitter.

Additional research confirms that social media application such as Twitter and the Canvas chat feature “aids students in building relationships, fosters students’ connections with each other, and allows them to create meaning through sustained communication” (Chapman, 2015, p.1).

Further, research by Bartosik-Purgat, Filimon & Kiygi-Calli, 2017, Junco, Elavsky& Heiberger, 2015, and Prestridge, 2014, indicate that there is a powerful constructivist teaming between instructors and students as they tweet and retweet course content, perspectives, and discussions on Twitter. This student- teacher and student-student engagement reinforces our enhanced Community of Inquiry framework (Hamm, Edwards, King, 2018) and student learning outcomes (Junco, Elavsky, and Heiberger, 2015; Prestridge, 2014).

Here are some recommendations for using Twitter or the Canvas Chat feature in your course:

  1. Model your own use of social media features for your students
  2. Set criteria for the social media use in your  course
  3. Create and share a hashtag for your course and/or content (lectures, discussions, resource-sharing, etc…)
  4. Positively affirm your students as they follow you and as they participate with the social media components of your course
  5. Read more tips from Educause

The best pedagogy is the one that is inclusive and meets learners where they are located.

References: 

Bartosik-Purgat, M., Filimon, N., Kiygi-Calli, M. (2017), Social Media and Higher Education – An International Perspective,Economics and Sociology, Vol. 10, No 1,
pp. 181-191. DOI: 10.14254/2071-789X.2017/10-1/13.

Bista, K., 2015. Is Twitter an effective pedagogical tool in higher education? Perspectives of education graduate students. Journal of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, Vol. 15, No. 2, April 2015, pp. 83 – 102. doi: 10.14434/josotl.v15i2.12825.

Chapman, A. (2015).  Tweeting in Higher Education: Best Practices, (2015). Retrieved from https://er.educause.edu/articles/2015/9/tweeting-in-higher-education-best-practices.

Junco, Reynol C.,  Elavsky, C. Michael  and Heiberger, Greg., (2013).  Putting Twitter to the Test: Assessing Outcomes for Student Collaboration, Engagement, and Success, British Journal of Educational Technology, Vol. 44, No. 2 (March 2013): 273–287.

Prestridge, S. (2014). A focus on students’ use of Twitter–their interactions with each other, content and interface. Active Learning in Higher Education, 15(2), 101-115.

 

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More Nerd Research Minutes

 

Note: this post originally written by Helen Teague and published on the HSU Online Ed blog.

Aug
13

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Back to School: Gear Up with Gratitude Mini-Lessons

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The busy timetables of the school year can leave little time for extensive new units of study. As teachers, instructional designers, administrators realize the compacted time demands of each day, other options are possible.

Consider mini-lessons of 10-15 minutes to reinforce essentials concepts to enhance the invitational component of your classroom or online course.

 

  1. All Ages: Invite students to give voice to their gratitude. Youngest learners may draw and younger learners through adult learners can write or type for 10- 15 minutes on this prompt: How do you feel when you hear the words “Thank you”? Students can also text their answers to this prompt or use the Penzu online journal.
    Research Reinforcement: James Pennebaker, professor at the University of Texas conducted research that points to benefits of writing/journaling on well-being. Read more at this Link
  2. For Grades PK-2: This video from PBS Learning media describes how important it is for youngest learners to show appreciation to the parents and caregivers in their lives that help them!  Watch Video
  3. For Grades 5-12: Braincraft has the science behind why expressing gratitude feels so good. Watch Video
  4. Have a little more time? Feeling and expressing gratitude can help students better appreciate the kindness of others and the importance of their relationships with everyone in their lives. Dive into this lesson plan from PBS Learning Media that will spark a discussion around the meaning of gratitude. Explore Lesson Plans

Aug
12

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Nerd Research Minute ~ Benefits of Gratitude

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Gratitude: it feels good to say “thank you” and grandma would nod in approval, but is there a research benefit to backup Grandma?  In eight different studies, gratitude was shown to reduce feelings of depression (Lambert, N. M., Fincham, F. D., & Stillman, 2012). Research has also revealed that a gratitude practice lessens anxiety and may help lessen the experience of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (Vernon, Dillon & Steiner, 2009).

Gratitude is catalyzed positively when we choose to reframe what happens to us in positive terms.

It improves sleep (Wood, Lloyd & Atkins, 2009) which in turn has a positive impact on mood. And anxiety. And just about everything. It improves overall cardiac health (DuBois, et al., 2012), both indirectly through improving mood and attention to positive health behaviors like fitness and nutrition as well as directly through reduction in inflammation.

It strengthens memory (Ramirez, et al., 2014). For elderly adults, practicing gratitude was shown to improve their overall sense of well-being and quality of life. And who wouldn’t want that?

 

 

References

DuBois, C. M., Beach, S. R., Kashdan, T. B., Nyer, M. B., Park, E. R., Celano, C. M., & Huffman, J. C. (2012). Positive psychological attributes and cardiac outcomes: associations, mechanisms, and interventions. Psychosomatics, 53(4), 303-318. PMID: 22748749 DOI: 10.1016/j.psym.2012.04.004

Lambert, N. M., Fincham, F. D., & Stillman, T. F. (2012). Gratitude and depressive symptoms: The role of positive reframing and positive emotion. Cognition & Emotion, 26(4), 615-633. PMID: 21923564 DOI: 10.1080/02699931.2011.595393

Ramírez, E., Ortega, A. R., Chamorro, A., & Colmenero, J. M. (2014). A program of positive intervention in the elderly: Memories, gratitude and forgiveness. Aging & mental health, 18(4), 463-470. PMID: 24229346 DOI: 10.1080/13607863.2013.856858

Vernon, L. L., Dillon, J. M., & Steiner, A. R. (2009). Proactive coping, gratitude, and posttraumatic stress disorder in college women. Anxiety, Stress, & Coping, 22(1), 117-127. PMID: 18791902 DOI: 10.1080/10615800802203751

Wood, A. M., Joseph, S., Lloyd, J., & Atkins, S. (2009). Gratitude influences sleep through the mechanism of pre-sleep cognitions. Journal of psychosomatic research, 66(1), 43-48. PMID: 19073292 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2008.09.002

 

Aug
10

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Weekend Ed. Quote ~ August 10

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“Surprise is the currency of adaptable change.” Roger Lewin and Birute Regine, The Soul at Work

 

 

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Aug
8

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Back to School with Instructions for VoiceThread – 9 Short & Sweet Steps

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VoiceThread is a collaborative caldron combining text, video, personalized comments, audio, and images. Participating in a VoiceThread conversation is free, with registration. Used in a classroom near you, here are 9 short and sweet steps to create your next voice thread.

Instructions for Uploading Your VoiceThread

  1. Create and save a file presentation: (.ppt), .docx, or .jpg
  2. Go to VoiceThread.com and sign-in
  3. Select “Create” in the upper left of the screen
  4. Upload your PowerPoint presentation by clicking on “Add Media”>”My Computer”>”Navigate” to find you file.
  5. Allow the presentations to upload to VoiceThread
  6. Return to VoiceThread “Home” screen and click on presentation.
  7. When presentation opens, click on the “+” in the bottom center of the screen.
  8. Choose the microphone icon to record your audio.
  9. Make your audio presentation of your resource. Use the arrows on the left to advance your slides.

Learn More: 

Getting Started with VoiceThread in the Classroom

24 Interesting Ways to use VoiceThread in the Classroom 

Aug
6

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Nerd Research Minute – August 6 – Reducing Distance Online

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Repost from Education Dive: 

Reducing ‘distance’ is key to online learner success at this link: https://www.educationdive.com/news/reducing-distance-is-key-to-online-learner-success/521166/

Responsiveness and individualized feedback addressing learners by name are just two of many practices that build a bridge that erases distances in distance learning.  Methods to close the “transactional distance,” or the space felt between a faculty member and a student in the learning process, include opportunities for in-class dialog, peer-to-peer video, text exchange, and/or exposure to campus culture.

 

Source:

Carter, J. (April, 2018). Reducing ‘distance’ is key to online learner success. Education Dive blog, retrieved from: https://www.educationdive.com/news/reducing-distance-is-key-to-online-learner-success/521166/

 

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Aug
3

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Weekend Ed. Quote ~ August 3

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“Isolation is the enemy of improvement.” ~Tony Wagner, author of The Global Achievement Gap

 

This quote is a good add for your bulletin board, letter to parents, and/or course syllabi. It encourages and hints at the necessary collaborative focus of the learning that will occur in your classroom.

 

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