Computers in Classrooms & Classrooms on Computers:
Ideas from Your Colleagues for Teaching & Learning with Technology

The ideas listed here were generated at a roundtable session sponsored by the Teaching-Learning Center and made possible through a grant from the NC Community College System. The roundtable session took place at Durham Technical Community College on April 8, 2003.

Ideas from Josie Williams, Reading Instructor
Using a computer and projector to enhance classroom instruction:

Note: Josie had no "advance warning" that a computer and projector would be installed mid-semester in the room where she teaches most of her classes (904). Here are some of the ways she began incorporating the equipment into class activities.

I have used the computer and projector to write class-generated paragraphs. They tell me what to write, and we put it together on the screen. WAY COOL!
I've used the equipment to go over tests and sample "A" papers. Also WAY COOL.
I have used it to show students how to go to the online library databases and find articles for class. Then they go home (or to the library) and find/print them for class. (That gets around that nasty copyright issue.)
I have used the computer to access search engines (e.g. Google) and show students how to find out more about the professional journals they read.
I have used it to show them an online dictionary (http://www.m-w.com) and its pronunciation feature (although I couldn't get the speakers to work that day).
I have used it to show students (RED 070 and 090) the course listings for classes so that they could early register for summer (great since the booklets were late coming out).

Ideas from Mary Anne Grabarek, Executive Dean and TLC Director
Using computer and projector to help students develop presentation and note-taking skills:

Instructors and/or students working in teams can use the projector and computer to develop and deliver PowerPoint presentations.
A partner instructor or a student can take notes on the computer, projecting the notes on the screen for the class to see. In this way the students can either model the note-taker and learn how to take notes or challenge the note-taker if the note-taker seems to have missed an important point. The notes can be transferred to a disk and emailed to students who miss the class.
Both items mentioned above can be made available on Blackboard for review outside of class.

Ideas from Sam Cheung, Math Instructor
Using a computer and projector in class to demonstrate how to access course materials online:

Sam uses the equipment in room 904 to show students how to access resources on the course Blackboard site:
- Demos to students how to retrieve the course syllabus from Blackboard
- Encourages the students to look at the announcements each week, which address the tests, quizzes or project due days
- Posts the students’ grades on Blackboard and updates them weekly
Also, Sam shows students how to log on to publisher’s web site (students must use passcode from their textbooks). On this site, students can access video lectures, multimedia tutorials, and practice tests. Can also get assistance from online math tutors.

Ideas from Karen McPhaul, Director of Instructional Computing
Using Blackboard surveys to prompt class discussion:

When teaching CIS172 (Intro to the Internet) in the classroom, I create surveys in Blackboard to find out what students already know or don’t know about a topic before we begin covering it in class. I use the survey feature (instead of the quiz) because it is anonymous and not graded. Students take the survey in Blackboard, and then I use the computer and projector in class to share the results with the entire class. This usually creates a springboard for discussion about many misperceptions people have about the Internet.
Also, I post on Blackboard copies of all handouts I give in class (as Word documents). Students who miss class or lose handouts have to go to the course Blackboard site to get additional copies (and I no longer have to carry extra copies around!)
One semester, I gave students the assignment of writing a 3-page paper about an Internet-related topic. Then, I taught students how to use HTML and FTP to publish their papers on the web (including links to online sources, etc.). I found this to be a very trying experience--not because of the technical challenges of showing students how to put their papers on the web (that was pretty easy)--but because the papers were terrible I had no idea how to help students bring their writing to an acceptable level!! I would like to try this activity again. Perhaps this time I can team up with an English instructor who wants to try a similar activity—I could help them teach their students how to put their papers on the web, and they could help me with the writing piece… Any takers?

Ideas from Karin Abell, ESL Instructor
Using Blackboard (outside of class) to maximize use of in-class time:

Having Blackboard as a supplement to my ESL class allows me to use class time more effectively. In the past, I would sometimes have students who spent more than their share of class time asking questions that weren't always of general interest. I set up a "questions" forum on the web site and this has helped by giving such students another chance for me to answer their questions. Because it's public, other students can read the questions and answers OR ignore them.
Answer Keys. One of the first things I did when I started using Blackboard was to start posting answer keys to the worksheets that we do in class. I do this not only because I want the students to have the right answers, but because I know that ESL students sometimes copy things down incorrectly and I wanted them to be able to see the answers with correct spelling.
With Blackboard, my students have opportunities for extra practice with class material. One way is through quizzes that I post. Also, it's possible to attach documents, so at times I have attached worksheets for students to complete. I've been surprised to see that many of them have done so.
I try to encourage students to learn outside of class, and Blackboard offers some good opportunities for this. I've provided links to various sites that students can peruse at their interest, and I have put up a "recommended book list" because ESL students often have trouble finding books to read that aren't overly difficult.
I set up a “course” on Blackboard for ESL instructors--to share info with them. ESL instructors are all part-time employees and teach at locations all over 2 counties, so this is an attempt to improve communication among them. (I did not make this course available to guests, because I didn’t want students to see some of the info.)

Ideas from Marianne Williams, Reading Instructor
Uses computer and projector in classroom to…

Model note-taking
Brainstorm with students
Share student papers with the class (project student's file from diskette instead of making overhead transparencies of their papers)
Visit publisher’s web site
To advise students in class: show DTCC web site; show students how to find their plan of study and course outlines online
This week, the class visited the NPR web site to listen to a news story that was pertinent to class.

Ideas from Stacey Whitlow, English Instructor
Here are just a few of the many ways Stacey incorporates technology into her teaching…

Uses computer and projector in class for student PowerPoint presentations
Requires students to keep running lists of their grammar mistakes. Students must find grammar web sites that address these issues and describe how the web site was helpful. In online classes, students can see each others’ lists and sites.
Tip: Use the "freeze" or "mute" buttons on projector’s remote--these allow instructor to use the computer without students seeing what the instructor is doing.

Ideas from Tracy Constantine, English Instructor
In addition to many of the uses listed above, here are some ways Tracy applies computer technology in her classes:

Posts links to online news that relates to what they are reading in class
Uses computer and projector in ENG113 for student presentations. Students are required to use PowerPoint or overhead transparencies with their presentations. This helps them organize their presentations and not read them. Tracy then posts these presentations in Blackboard.

Compiled by Karen McPhaul
mcphaulk@gwmail.dtcc.cc.nc.us
April 8,2003

Computers in Classrooms & Classrooms on Computers: Ideas from Your Colleagues for Teaching & Learning with Technology

Ideas from Josie Williams, Reading Instructor Using a computer and projector to enhance classroom instruction:

Ideas from Mary Anne Grabarek, Executive Dean and TLC Director Using computer and projector to help students develop presentation and note-taking skills:

Ideas from Sam Cheung, Math Instructor Using a computer and projector in class to demonstrate how to access course materials online:

Ideas from Karen McPhaul, Director of Instructional Computing Using Blackboard surveys to prompt class discussion:

Ideas from Karin Abell, ESL Instructor Using Blackboard (outside of class) to maximize use of in-class time:

Ideas from Marianne Williams, Reading Instructor Uses computer and projector in classroom to…

Ideas from Stacey Whitlow, English Instructor Here are just a few of the many ways Stacey incorporates technology into her teaching…

Ideas from Tracy Constantine, English Instructor In addition to many of the uses listed above, here are some ways Tracy applies computer technology in her classes: