Using Technology Tools to Build Excellence in Teaching and Learning by David V. Loertscher and Elizabeth Marcoux

As we discussed in class, when I had read the article but hadn't yet annotated to this blog, the main point here is to "flip" the entire discussion of technology vis a vis teaching and learning so that we look not at the latest shiny toy and try to find a use for it, but we look at the skills and content we must teach and provide our faculty technological tools with which to do that.

I really really really like this approach.  It sits so well with my sense of what makes sense.  I've long been puzzled by the drive toward a "technology-rich campus" for no sake that I could see other than to say we have one; I've seen this at my children's schools for years.  Time and money are precious investments for a school community, and making that investment in what we judge to be the best avenue to effective teaching and learning is of course the way we need to be going about things.  In the authors' words, "begin with best practices you want to achieve and then fit the tool to that challenge.  Become the doctor, not the pharmacist."  I love that!

1. p. 2 - The very first "best practice," we have one of the greatest challenges to use of technology today--efficiency!  If it doesn't lead to more efficient ways of working, albeit with some training and practice usually, out it goes!
2. p. 4 - "Collaborative spaces raised “students’ level of concern...."  This reminds me of the idea in our The New Learning Commons book that some students will behave much differently, and, yes, more expressively and with greater commitment to the learning process, in an online environment than in person.
3. p. 7 - Aaaaa!  There is so much here that should instantly be in place in my school...it's like facing a Christmas tree ringed with wonderful building toys that each take 6 months to really get going!  Ok, the one that just hit me is the school that created its own YouTube-esque repository of the best of the best campus videos.  We have so many fantastic ones, they really will be great gathered into one place.  Hey, how about that as a geek squad's first job, collecting and installing the PRS YouTube space on the VLC?  I'll bet they'll come up with a great name, too.  Putting that on my to-do list right now.
4. p. 8 - "Inclusion of Different Types of Learners," a no-brainer when it comes to there being a very important place for technology in teaching learning.  Reminds me of the assessment article we read, outlining new technologies for layered assessment that takes the students' problem-solving process into account