Author: Carmel McNaught

La Trobe University (Melbourne)

Keywords: technolgy in teaching, multimedia

Article style and source: Teaching tip

Contents

• Using technology in teaching - getting students in on the act
• Feedback on this tip

Using technology in teaching - getting students in on the act

Here is one simple idea about multimedia which clearly puts the students at the centre of design and production. Choose a subject where student presentations are appropriate. Select a simple presentation or authoring package such as PowerPoint or HyperStudio (both of these are cross platform). Most students will be able to learn how to use these simple tools after a couple of hours of instruction. (Most academics can, and I assure you that students learn about computers faster than staff!) Students then prepare and present their seminars using one of these tools.

You do need to give some thought to what sources of visual material might be useful for students to access. The Web is an obvious resource. Digitising slides already in your department is another; this can be done quite inexpensively though commercial avenues such as Kodak now.

Our experience here at La Trobe is that students enjoy the experience, appreciate learning computer skills, put more effort into their seminars and produce excellent presentations. The way in which students put their presentations together often gives staff a clear idea about the strengths and weaknesses of students' knowledge in the area.

Try it and enjoy the process!

About the author

Email: C.McNaught@latrobe.edu.au

Copyright © Carmel McNaught, 1996. For uses other than personal research or study, as permitted under the Copyright Laws of your country, permission must be negotiated with the author. Any further publication permitted by the author must include full acknowledgement of first publication in ultiBASE (http://ultibase.rmit.edu.au). Please contact the Editor of ultiBASE for assistance with acknowledgement of subsequent publication.

Feedback on the Teaching Tip

1. This is an excellent idea, a problem based approach to learning, however, isn't there always an 'however'? What are your strategies for employing this technique with distance/independent learners? I can see a problem with software copyright, ie in providing the programs to off campus. For these students there is a significant cost burden in having to purchase the software. How would you deal with this?

Alan Wylie (awylie@metz.une.edu.au)
Distance Education Centre
University of New England
7 August 1996

2. Teaching tips are a great idea. I particularly liked Carmel McNaught's focus on students, and using technology to help them do what they already have to do. Sometimes using technology becomes another task, rather than a means to perform an existing task.

Michael Jackson (michaelj@sue.econ.su.oz.au)
University of Sydney
26 August 1996