UW Instructional Computing Services

HOW TO... Achieve Pedagogical Goals with Teaching Technology

Last update:  12 May 2006; R. Hill

If you would like to...

Make some written teaching materials into computer files that can be modified.

  Use scanning and optical character recognition to create electronic files.

The scanner reads and interprets the text, and then you can save the file in plain text or word processor or other office application formats.  Columns and tables can be preserved, and figures and charts can be saved as image files.

Dictate your course lectures or other expository materials.

  Use voice recognition software.

Dragon Naturally Speaking or other voice recognition software, available on lab machines and checkout laptops, will transcribe your dictation into text files after a few minutes of training.  You can also borrow a small digital voice recorder for dictating, and then use the software on a computer to transcribe into text.

Distribute your syllabus, lecture notes, and other materials:

  Use a supplemental online course.

Since students must authenticate (log in) to reach the course materials, some potential copyright violations are obviated.  Other mechanisms that might satisfy this goal include e-reserves from the library, and advance preparation of a CD.  See the Faculty Help questions.

Prepare a smooth class lecture in advance:

But note that such presentations are often stilted and boring.  Consider breaking up the presentation with other activities.  You can also use facilities that do not require proprietary software, such as Netscape Composer or SeaMonkey, instead of PowerPoint, to create slides in web page format.

Obtain simple feedback on course content, automatically counted:

  In the classroom, use a clicker response system to obtain immediate answers to questions you ask live and face-to-face.  

See the Classroom Response System documentation in "Faculty Help."

  OR

  Outside the classroom, have them take a practice quiz or survey in an online course, ungraded.

Results and statistics will be available to you.

Allow students to track their own progress out of class.

  Use self-assessment quizzes in an online course.

These as well as other assessment web services, such as WebWork, for mathematics, allow students to test themselves on your questions and obtain prepared feedback, at their convenience.

  OR

  Use grades posted in an online course.

Students who are anxious to know exactly where they stand at all time can find out for themselves.

Hold a thesis meeting with students when some committee members are out of town:

  Use Voice-over-IP or videoconference technology.

Simple free software (Skype or Gizmo) on each participant's computer allows you to make a "telephone call" on the Internet.  For a video picture, as well, if each member can get to a videoconferencing site with H.323 technology-- there are several on the UW campus-- Andy Bryson of Instructional Media Services, 6-2035, can arrange a session in advance.

Give students access to a list of readings without making copies of all of them.

  Use E-reserves.

See the UW Libraries page, .http://www-lib.uwyo.edu/services/reserverq.htm.  Library staff will, if possible, find the articles for you, create the electronic versions, and send you the link that will give your students access to the online materials.

We can help with these techniques.  Return to the Instructional Computing Services home page for location and hours.