TCTC – Technology-Critical Thinking Connection
Looking to utilize technology to help foster critical thinking in your students? Look no further than your friendly campus Instructional Technologist. Whether you would like to facilitate “deeper” online discussion or craft in-class activities aimed to better engage your students, your Instructional Technologist can offer assistance. Each campus has a Faculty Development Center (FDC) stocked with computers, software, and other equipment for instructional use. Most recently, each FDC received several reference books you may find useful:
- Creating Significant Learning Experiences by L. Dee Fink
- Multimedia Learning by Richard E. Mayer
- Graphics for Learning by Ruth Colvin Clark and Chopeta Lyons
- E-Learning and the Science of Instruction by Ruth Colvin Clark and Richard E. Mayer
- Understanding by Design by Grant Wiggins and Jay McTighe
- Engaging the Online Learning by Rita-Marie Conrad and J. Ana Donaldson
For example, in Multimedia Learning, Richard Mayer described the Coherence Principle, which addresses the theoretical rationale that “extraneous material competes for cognitive resources in working memory and can divert attention,” (p. 113). He presented research that supports the need to design multimedia to focus the learner’s attention appropriately. Interestingly, he outlined how material intended to “spice up” a multimedia lesson (i.e., interesting words, pictures, sound effects) actually detracted from student learning and understanding. Several examples and strategies for improving presentations were provided: 1) do not add extraneous words and pictures to a multimedia presentation, 2) do not add unneeded sounds and music, and 3) keep the presentation short and to the point, (pp. 132-133).
To get in touch with your campus Instructional Technologist, visit the WITS Web site for contact information: http://it.spcollege.edu:8500/edtech/contactInfo/index.cfm?itonly=true
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