Ed Tech in HE Reflections

With so many new technologies, it can be difficult to know what things to incorporate and when. One of the best tools that you can use in your classroom (no matter the format- online, hybrid, traditional, or flex) are video lectures or presentations. Recording your lectures has a variety of benefits for both you and your students. Say goodbye to long lecture videos! Are you recording lectures that are 40 minutes long? Throat sore from talking too much? If your lectures can fit in smaller chunks, it is beneficial for both you and your students to trim them down! This doesn’t mean throwing out valuable content or talking faster, instead, you may just need to focus on certain concepts in one video. If Chapter 1 has three important ideas, then you may want to break that lecture down into three separate parts. This makes the content easier for students to digest, and more meaningful for them in the long run. Don’t be afrai

Coastal Office Of Online Learning (COOL) Mission Statement: "The mission of Coastal's Office of Online Learning (COOL) is to advance the University's ability to offer high-quality and high-value online courses and programs targeting in-demand content areas aligned to the academic strengths of the University. The COOL department has been working diligently throughout the academic year to ensure high-quality online courses here at Coastal." To ensure high-quality online courses, the COOL department offers incentive grants to faculty who teach both online and hybrid courses. In the current grant cycle, the COOL department issued $129,000 in grants to over 55 faculty here at Coastal. These faculty have put in many hours to ensure their courses meet the needs and objectives of their courses, the University’s Strategic Plan, and the best needs of the individual program. As part of the COOL grant process, we continue to recognize the exemplary faculty who exc

           Coastal Carolina University has officially adopted Hybrid Learning. Faculty on campus have been teaching in a hybrid format for quite some time, but it was never an actual term used nor was it being used as an option for students when registering for classes. The Distance Learning Committee at Coastal developed a definition for the hybrid learning that will soon go into place. The definition states: *Hybrid courses are defined here as courses with 50-99% of their required course activities completed in an online environment, as measured by reduced seat time requirements, with limited on campus requirements. Similarly, Hybrid programs would have 50-99% of their required coursework available in an online format for students to complete, with limited on campus requirements.              It is important to understand the definition of hybrid learning since the percentage, 50-99%, is what qualifies a course to be hybrid. In order for a course to be properly classified

Using closed captions is a fantastic way to ensure that multimedia is accessible for everyone. Closed captions give the user the ability to read what is being spoken in a video rather than having to watch the video. Many times, closed captions are looked at as an accommodation for those with disabilities. However, research shows that 50% of students use closed captions or transcripts as a learning resource; not 50% of students with disabilities, but 50% of ALL students. That is a large portion of students using captions as a learning resource which is why it is important to include them in all multimedia. Not only is this a learning resource wanted and used by students, but it is also a requirement for the Americans with Disabilities Act ( ADA ). The Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Section 508 was implemented to ensure that technology, multimedia, and web content must be accessible to all. Transcripts vs. Closed Captions  Transcripts is a text document that is not timed synced wi

      Video usage in education is accelerating rapidly across all grade levels, including higher education. Videos can be used for teaching and learning outside of the classroom. Students are growing up in an era of technology, so it is important to view technology as a way to engage students, rather than a way to distract students. Research states that using multimedia in the classroom increases student engagement and student learning. Embedding videos into your instruction can increase student learning and student engagement by doing the following: 1. Increase comprehension - Incorporating videos into a lesson is known to improve student comprehension. Videos allow for students to go at their own pace, stop and playback the video as much as they want.  2. Increase student motivation – Students enjoy using technology due to the fact of being raised in a digital era. When students enjoy learning, they are motivated to keep learning.  3. Easy to access – When

Online learning continues to grow in higher education. However, based on research, one of the drawbacks that students tend to have in online learning, is less interaction with the students and the instructor. Interaction in an online course is very important and can definitely be a drawback for students if the course is lacking in it. Interaction in a face-to-face course is a lot easier since the students are meeting with their instructor in a classroom once, twice, or maybe three times a week. Whereas in an online course, students are not meeting face-to-face. But, with technology being as advanced as it is, there are multiple ways to incorporate interaction in an online course. Student/Instructor Interaction Student/Instructor interaction is communication between the student and the instructor. Communication between the instructor and the student is key to making an online course successful. Communication can be done through many ways. In an online course it is a best p

        No matter how much students enjoy studying, there are times when studying can seem a chore. So why not make studying fun and more enjoyable? One way to do that is with Flippity. Flippity is a series of web apps that makes creating study tools easy. This tool is a free add-on to Google Spreadsheets. All you need is a free Google account and you can simply add it to Google Sheets.          Flippity is a tool for both teachers and students. The app allows you to easily turn a google spreadsheet into a set of online flashcards, quizzes, or games. Teachers are able to create random groups or mix and match activity. The app also allows for teachers and students to track students accomplishments by earning badges and certificates as they master each activity. For more information on how to use Flippity, click the links below. Flashcard Instructions   Quiz Instructions Author: Jessica Hall (Mew) 1/26/18

Accessibility for all is supported by multiple avenues, including faculty and service units. Three core components relating to accessibility are UDL, proactive requests for services by users, and a demonstration and attitude supportive of an immediate need for services being provided.  I've been asked many times recently by faculty, administrators, and even students: What's the deal with UDL in Higher Ed, and in particular within the online learning space? Why is everyone all of a sudden talking about accessibility and Universal Design (UD)?  Good question! There has certainly been a significant increase in interest in universal design as an approach for teaching and learning over the last 5 to 10 years within the Higher Ed community by the general community. Some of this has to do with a focus on improving the inclusion of educational services and academic coursework on college and university campuses.  Additionally, a number of high-profile cases have occurred in t