Developing a hybrid DPT Program is more than just thinking, it's doing. For the last few months, and especially in the last few weeks, those of us at NSU's HE-DPT program have been learning as much as we can about hybrid education and the technology that goes behind it. No, we're not learning programming skills, rather we're learning about BEST PRACTICES in hybrid education (researching), learning about new technologies (like blogs), and applying what we've learned to the classes we're developing. Sound like fun? Well, it is, yet it's also humbling.
Here's a few things I've learned just in the past few weeks:
- Making an audio recording SOUNDS easy but it is NOT. Why? Because although I have taught in a classroom for almost 17 years, hearing my voice on a 3 minute introduction is EYE opening..even embarrassing. It took me about 5 takes and probably 30 minutes to record my 3 minute message as an introduction to the class. I even had my message pre-written! I did all the things we learned from our hybrid mentor Dr. Mike Simonson...I used a microphone, had a script, yet it still took 30 minutes. Perhaps my friends, colleagues, and loved ones would say I am too picky? seeking perfection? I say: "Who me?"
- There really is such a thing as a community of learning! I am so proud of the faculty and staff here at NSU Tampa-we are all learning new skills and sharing what we've learned with one another. BIG thanks to Dr. Riba for bringing us back LOTS of ideas from the Merlot conference in California. She has happily accepted the role of "TECH GAL" and we are eternally grateful! Tomorrow we'll be sharing our plans for the fall courses with one another, and I can't wait to get some good ideas.
- Less is MORE. I used to do about a 60 minute lecture teaching students about "The Guide to Physical Therapist Practice." Now I am creating a "5 minutes to the Guide" session accompanied by a VoiceThread to allow students to comment on the guide. Why less? Because watching me for 60 minutes on the computer would be HORRIBLE! I found that out just by listening to myself for 3 minutes (see #1 above). Also, there has been some research done that says we can boil down our lecture to a few minutes of important points. Why more? You got it, it has taken me HOURS to figure out how to cut down my session to the key points.
- Mastering this form of teaching will require good "systems management" on my part. What do I mean by that? You need to set up accounts (google, youtube, voicethread, wordle, etc) and then REMEMBER the accounts and passwords, and also remember how to use the technology. For those of you who know me, you know this is not my strong point! Thank you to Mike Buck and James Pfrehm from Ithica College who presented at 2011 CSM pre-conference course entitled "PT 2.0"! You were incredible!
Well, isn't this just swell! Liked your thoughts as you begin this great adventure. Learning to make best use of the technology (and there is so much of it) is challenging. Just think, in all the years I've been teaching, the big jump was from overheads to power point and that took many, many years. Remember the circular tray slide shows? Please say yes, or I'm really older than I want to admit. The big tech challenge was slides stuck in the projector.
ReplyDeleteWorse part is - by the time we get this under control for this year's courses, it will be just in time for newer stuff to use when we teach the same courses next year!