Tuesday, August 31, 2010

IES Report - Teachers’ Use of Educational Technology in U.S. Public Schools: 2009

Readers,


This is a great survey focused on how K-12 teachers implement educational technology in their classrooms.  and the K-12


http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2010040


The research questions for this survey were:


Question 1: Computers in Classroom or Brought into Classroom


Question 2: Frequency of Teachers or Students Using Computers During Instructional Time


Question 3: Technology Devices Used by Teachers


Question 4: Use of School or District Network for Activities


Question 5: Remote Access to Computer Application


Question 6: Types of Software and Internet Sites Used for Instructional and Administrative Purposes


Question 7: Students’ Use of Educational Technology to Perform Activities


Question 8: Communication with Parents and Students Using Technology


Question 9: Preparation and Training for Using Educational Technology for Instruction


Question 10: Time Spent in Professional Development for Educational Technology


Question 11: Agreement or Disagreement with Statements on Professional Development


Question 14: Number of Students in Classroom


Question 15: Number of Years Spent Teaching


Millennial Professor
Jennifer T. Edwards, Ed.D.

Monday, August 30, 2010

Social Media in the Educational Environment (A Great Video!)

Readers,

I hope you are having a great summer! I am preparing for the fall semester and I plan to incorporate a wealth of social media in my upcoming courses. For the past few semesters, I incorporated Twitter and a small amount of Facebook. However, this semester, I plan to use del.icio.us, linked in, and Flickr in my new courses!
Here's a great video focused on social media in education!




Enjoy the video! Have a great week!


Millennial Professor
Jennifer T. Edwards, Ed.D.

Friday, August 27, 2010

Fall 2010 - Fourth Year Tenure Track (Let's Get Er Done!)


Readers,

The semester will begin on Monday. I am thrilled! For some odd reason, I REALLY enjoy meeting my students on the first day of classes. However, this year will be slightly different. I am teaching two upper-level communication studies courses and two lower-level communication courses that meet the university core requirement. The lower-level courses will be 100% online and this is the first time that I will teach half of my courses virtually and the other half face-to-face (during a long semester).

This semester I will have a great time teaching my classes and serving on a university committees. The committees that I really enjoy are: college curriculum, faculty development fund, faculty development (training), and I hope that I will enjoy the library committee. <- I heart our university library! As for research, I was able to accomplish A LOT this summer! Submitting conference proposals, writing award submissions, administering a grant, writing articles, writing letters of recommendations for students, and teaching classes. <- All while learning to use the iPad. :) Now, I am down to crunch time... Here's my to do list before Monday's classes: 1. Finish my syllabi 2. Outline two textbook chapters for two courses (both are new textbooks) 3. Update my gradekeeper files (with the new students' names) 4. Update blackboard for four courses. That's it! Let's see how much I can accomplish! J. Edwards Millennial Professor - Jennifer T. Edwards, Ed.D.

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Preparing to Teach Online Courses - A Preliminary Checklist

Readers,

If you teach high school or college courses online, it is wonderful to prepare for your course ahead of time. However, if you have a personality like mine, you have to plan WAY ahead of time to make sure your course runs smoothly. This week, I am finishing a to do list for my syllabus creation boot camp next week! (I will post this soon!)

Here is a great article featuring ideas for online faculty. http://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/online-education/online-teaching-tips-it-pays-to-sweat-the-small-stuff/

And a few of their suggestions:

Always be positive in your feedback and postings. 


Be sure that page numbers in assignments match the text(s).


Be sure that page numbers in assignments match the text(s).


Keep track of the errors and oversights you discover for future courses. 


Which one is your favorite?


Millennial Professor
Jennifer T. Edwards, Ed.D.

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Helping At-Risk Students Succeed in the College Classroom



Readers,

As a professor, I strive to help every student in the classroom. I have a strong believe that everyone has the ability to succeed. However, there are a few variables which inhibit some students from being successful. These variables include: not attending class, not keeping an updated schedule, not paying attention in class, and other more subject/academic-based variables.

As a result, I loved reading this article, "Helping At-Risk Students Succeed in the College Classroom". Now, I am eager to implement some of the suggestions from the article in my Fall classes! I plan to integrate an undergraduate research opportunity/conference, in-class presentations, virtual office hours, weekly reminders, and Twitter reminders. I cannot wait to help my students!

J. Edwards


Millennial Professor - Jennifer T. Edwards, Ed.D.

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Does GENDER Make a Difference in the Preparation and Promotion Higher Education Administrators?

In the article entitled, “Gender Differences in the Preparation and Promotion of Community College Administrators”, Kim E. VanDerLinden exposes many of the differences between males and females in executive positions that exist in higher education. The main point that the article highlighted was career advancement among males and females at community colleges. Some of the secondary points that were highlighted under career advancement were the relationships between gender, human capital, and promotion. The findings of the article indicated that there was not a difference between women and men in terms of career advancement at a community college.

Women are given more educational and employment opportunities at community colleges. This number is significantly higher than four-year colleges and universities (AACC, 2000; Townsend, 1995). As a result of this growing number, the women are not being trained properly in terms of career advancement, career patterns, and professional development. According to the Chronicle of Higher Education, “In the next few years, almost 45% of community colleges will have openings in their presidential positions”. The key question behind this matter is, “Where is the new leadership going to come from?” In general, women and men that are currently employed by community colleges are not being prepared for such leadership positions.


The evidence that the author uses to make her main points are from such sources as the National Profile of Community Colleges, the New Directions for Community Colleges Journal, and the Chronicle of Higher Education. These are very credible sources, because they are all research intensive documents. The statistics that is gathered from these sources are astounding, because community colleges are in an inherent crisis. These colleges need leaders to help guide their institutions on the right path and to accomplish their particular mission statement.


It is interesting, because I completely agree with every contention that the author makes. 
These contentions are stated after the study is conducted and the results are analyzed. Some of the contentions that were stated are: (1) women who aspire to advance into leadership positions should actively plan and develop multidimensional goal-oriented career paths, (2) women who are currently in upper-level administration have the opportunity to shape the organizational culture, and (3) the current leadership crisis may provide opportunities for women to advance.


This article significantly contributed to my understanding of leadership, because I am able to see a qualitative and quantitative study about women in administrative positions at a community college. In the past, I have always read documents about women in leadership positions at institutions of higher education and the problems that they may encounter. 


This article put everything into perspective, because there are inherent differences and likenesses between in genders in regard to higher education. The common belief is that women are not participating in as many professional development opportunities and do not have as much campus involvement that men do. The actual statistics show that women have much more involvement than men do and that they participate in professional development opportunities more readily than men do.


In conclusion, community colleges are not that different from universities, but it will be interesting to see what types of professionals are going to take these leadership positions in the next few years.

Monday, August 23, 2010

The Class of 2014 - Benoit College College Freshman Mindset List (My Response)

Every year, I look forward to receiving the Benoit College Mindset list for college students!


However, as a millennial, I have to question some items. I experienced a similar skepticism as the author of the following article:

Do College Students Really Think Beethoven Is A Dog? : Monkey See : NPR

Here is the mindset list for my college graduating class (see if you can figure out the year). :)


"Spam" and "cookies" are not necessarily foods.
Uh - Both of these were foods in my life as a teenager! :)

The Osmonds are talk show hosts.
True - I had no idea who the Osmonds were until a few years ago.

They neither know who Billy Joe was, nor wondered what he was doing on the Talahatchee Bridge.
True - I still do not know who this is...

"Coming out" parties celebrate more than debutantes.
True :)

They have never heard a phone "ring."
False - Hey, I grew up in the country! My grandmother had a rotary phone!

Woodstock is a bird or a reunion, not a cultural touchstone.
False - I LOVE Woodstock and the 60s!

There has always been a national holiday honoring Martin Luther King, Jr.
True - Yup!

We have always been able to receive television signals by direct broadcast satellite.
True - Yes, really HUGE ones!
False - I moved to the country and everyone had rabbit ears!

They have always bought telephones, rather than rent them from AT&T.
True - However, people had the option to rent. :) I knew some people who did rent telephones!

A "45" is a gun, not a record with a large hole in the center.
True - I agree. :)

Millennial Professor - Jennifer T. Edwards, Ed.D.

Friday, August 20, 2010

Freebie Friday! - Save $1.00 on Frixion Pens!


Readers,

When you grade papers or conduct scholarly research, do you wish you could erase your written text? Well, the Pilot company has the product for you! My husband and I use Frixion pens and highlighters when conducting scholarly research.

Using this product, I am also able to highlight and write comments in some of my personal books and class textbooks. It is a great way to write temporary notes!

Print Your Coupon


Enjoy!

Millennial Professor
Jennifer T. Edwards, Ed.D.

Thursday, August 19, 2010

College Students Hide Hunger, Homelessness : NPR



College Students Hide Hunger, Homelessness : NPR


After listening to the Educause presentation a few days ago, I discovered that many campuses have homeless students. I never knew about the true extent of this problem. Here's a report on the phenomenon:





Millennial Professor - Jennifer T. Edwards, Ed.D.

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

21st-Century Campus Report: Campus 2.0



21st-Century Campus Report: Campus 2.0


CDW-G always publishes wonderful research on students and their perceptions/usage of educational technology. This report states that future college students' expectations EXCEED current students' expectations of campus educational technology usage.


Millennial Professor - Jennifer T. Edwards, Ed.D.

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Instructify - Blog Archive - Scribus is a free desktop publishing program similar to Adobe InDesign

Readers,


I use Abobe InDesign to design almost every brochure, newsletter, or advertisement that I make for our department conferences and my small business. However, there is a new options for designers, Scribus.


I have not had the chance to try to program yet, but I wanted to share the link with each of you!

Monday, August 16, 2010

Tips for Letting Your Personality Shine When Teaching Online



If you are like me, I am a perfectionist who strives for great student evaluations of my online teaching. To accomplish this, I constantly read online teaching/distance learning literature to expand my knowledge of teaching in the online environment. 



In addition to my research, I collect data on online teaching and I use this data to conduct research on online teaching effectiveness. Here are Tips for Letting Your Personality Shine When Teaching Online!

Three of these Tips Are...
1. Create an Introductory Assignment
2. Online Discussions
3. Create a Blog Assignment


Enjoy!


Millennial Professor - Jennifer T. Edwards, Ed.D.

Friday, August 13, 2010

FREEBIE FRIDAY! - Professors and Super Sticky Post-It Notes! - Organized Grading Made Easy! (Free Sample!)

Readers,
I know that I am a college professor, but I love to organize my "traveling classroom"! In my department, we teach in a building across campus from our departmental office building. As a result, I have to pack everything in a large bag or a rolling bin.
I am huge fan of Super Sticky Post-its because they help me organize my students' papers! I hate to drop a pile of papers on the sidewalk without knowing which papers belong to which class. So, Super Sticky Post-it notes help me tremendously!
Try them out! Here's a free sample - 
http://www3.3m.com/qfrm/ShowSurvey?surveyid=JOJNPRG4
Also, here are some coupons -
I hope this helps!
Millennial Professor - Jennifer T. Edwards, Ed.D.

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Jane's Pick of the Day: Limesurvey

Readers,

Are you looking for another online survey tool for research or informal/formal assessments?

Well, try Limesurvey! I am a Google Docs Survey (forms) fan, but I am more than willing to give this free, and open source tool a try!



Thanks "Jane's Pick of the Day"! - Jane's Pick of the Day: Limesurvey


Millennial Professor - Jennifer T. Edwards, Ed.D.

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Rent Textbooks, College Textbook Rentals | Rent-A-Text


I wish they had this textbook rental service when I was in college!

Are any of your students taking advantage of this?

Rent Textbooks, College Textbook Rentals | Rent-A-Text

Millennial Professor - Jennifer T. Edwards, Ed.D.

Monday, August 9, 2010

Young couples having babies, not graduating college | USA TODAY College - A student focused web portal

Young couples having babies, not graduating college | USA TODAY College - A student focused web portal

At my current institution, some of the students do juggle work, home, husband/wife, and family. I applaud these students because it is hard for ME to juggle everything and I do not even have children yet!

As a millennial, I am focused on my family (husband, house, etc.) My family is my first priority in life. After family comes my dreams of tenure with require teaching, publications, presentations, and grading papers).

However, I could not imagine having children during college. These students are some of the most dedicated students I have ever seen! I aspire to be like some of them when I become a parent!


Millennial Professor - Jennifer T. Edwards, Ed.D.

Friday, August 6, 2010

National Education Technology Plan 2010 | U.S. Department of Education

Readers,

This summer, I have been paying attention to my classes and I missed out on the public comment portion of the "National Education Technology Plan 2010". So, now we have a chance to actually read the report. Here's a video announcing the plan:



I think this is VERY important for ALL students from every educational level. In fact, I have developed a recent interest in students who are from low-socio economic status backgrounds. It is amazing, but this group encompasses students from every ethnic background and nationality!

My husband is teaching high school science courses at a local public school and he is  in an educational leadership doctoral program at my university. His current research is focused on how we can reach K-12 students from these groups. To expand his research, I think that I should focus on how higher education faculty and staff can reach these students and help them succeed. An increased level of access to technology and computer literacy training may provide all populations with information to help them become more successful.


National Education Technology Plan 2010 | U.S. Department of Education


Millennial Professor - Jennifer T. Edwards, Ed.D.

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Educause Seminar (Recorded) - "Overview of Next Gen Learning Challenges"



A few days ago, I attended a unique webinar titled, "Overview of Next Gen Learning Challenges". Here's the interesting aspect, I downloaded the Adobe Connect app and I experienced the same webinar on my iPad. It was great! I could hear everything and I saw all of the chats in real-time. 


I cannot wait to attend next year's EDUCAUSE conference and implement some of the ideas in my courses.


If you are interested in this EDUCAUSE presentation, please click the following link - https://admin.adobeconnect.com/_a729300474/p96644371/?launcher=false&fcsContent=true&pbMode=normal.

Millennial Professor - Jennifer T. Edwards, Ed.D.

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

A Quick Traveling Guide for Millennial Professors! - Fly Smart - A Smart Way to Fly





I travel to at least four academic conferences per year (on a TIGHT) budget and I have to pack and fly smart! Hey, on the tenure track, you have to do what you have to do!


To avoid paying a lot of money for meals, I pack "smart snacks" (i.e. - tuna in a pouch, a bottle FOR water, crackers, wheat bread, diet bars, etc.). This is a great article about flying on a budget.

Fly Smart - A Smart Way to Fly.

What is your best tip from the list?


Millennial Professor - Jennifer T. Edwards, Ed.D.

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

How to Cheat on Blackboard Phase II...


Sorry readers, I had to bring this back ONE MORE TIME! This is a post from Oct. 2008 (546 views from 7,497 visitors) and and it has been my second highest most read most ever!

This section is called, "How to Cheat on Blackboard", but it should be titled "How to Minimize Cheating on Blackboard".

This summer, I started giving face-to-face tests on Blackboard.com (our university's content management system) using the assessment tool. This new tool has proven itself to be very effective in my classroom. This is the first time that many of my students have taken a blackboard test in one of their classes.

1- Walk around the classroom while students are taking the test.

2 - Show the students' answers and the correct answers at the end of the test. This helps the students learn which test questions they answered correctly and which questions they answered incorrectly. My students enjoy this feature.

3 - Provide the students with a test time frame. This prevents the students from accessing the questions and answers later.

4 - Provide a test question database for each course test (i.e. - 50 questions). Then make blackboard randomly select questions (i.e. - 25 questions) from your test question database (i.e. - 50 questions). This feature serves as another anti-cheating mechanism.
I hope this helps!

-Millennial Professor


Here were the comments from 2008 until now. What additional comments do YOU have? :)

8 comments:


Amanda (the librarian) said...
I wish all the instructors using Blackboard for assessments would follow your advice. I have witnessed students working together on assessments, side-by-side on computers in the library. I just hope they are assignments where it is OK to work together, but I'm guessing they're not.
Dr. Jennifer T. Edwards said...
Thank you Amanda. It seems that every time I administer a blackboard test, I think of new ways that students can cheat. Please contribute some more "anti-cheating" mechanisms if you think of some more! -JTEdwards
Amanda (the librarian) said...
I think - randomizing the questions out of a larger test question database, - randomizing the order of the answers (if it's multiple choice) for each question, - setting a reasonable (but not too long) time limit to complete the assessment, and, - as you suggested in an earlier post, informing the students that you could see when two students or more took the examination at the same time, will help minimize cheating.
Amanda (the librarian) said...
Jennifer, some more follow-up on this. I was asked to take over teaching a course this first summer term and thanks to this post, I will be giving the final exam on Blackboard. They will come to the library's classroom for the test so I can monitor, and CITDE showed me how to set it up to randomize the order of the questions (I'll just have one question database set, since it's the final), and randomize the order of the appearance of the multiple choices. I was going to limit the time to one hour (even though there is a two hour window for the exam - they either know the material, or they don't, and it's all multiple choice, matching, and true/false). I was also going to have them leave all their cell phones/Blackberrys/etc. on a table in front and pick them up as they leave. Any other advice or suggestions would be appreciated!
Dr. Jennifer T. Edwards said...
Amanda - This sounds like a great idea! Which course are you finishing? Now, I actually sit in the back of the classroom between two students and I monitor their progress and their "scholarly abilities". This actually works very well. Beware, the last computer on the back row (by the door) does not work properly sometimes. I do not allow the students to see the questions they missed or answers they submitted on their computer. If I did enable them to see their answers, they would be able to print the answers in the main computer lab in the library or somewhere else on campus. If the students wish to see their answers, they can view them from my computer (in the back of the classroom). If I think of anything else, I will definitely let you know. Good luck! -Jennifer
Amanda (the librarian) said...
Jennifer, I am finishing the Introduction to Children's Literature class because the professor became ill. I had thought I would let them see the questions they missed or the answers they submitted, but I hadn't thought about them being able to print that information out later. That would make it a little too easy to provide a copy of the test questions and answers to future students in this course. That makes me wonder too if there might already be a copy of the Spring 09 exam floating around - it came out of a bank of questions the professor provided me. Hmmm, might have to come up with a few questions of my own to spice up the mix. I will e-mail you privately with some other questions.
Anonymous said...
the problem is, even if you make us come into the exam room, show ID, leave our cell phones, randomize the questions, have a tight time frame, We can discreetly log out, have someone else log in as us during that time frame from another location, answer whatever quesitons we need, then we can log back in from the test room, save and submit our test, and voila the useless grammar exam is passed. ;)
Dr. Jennifer T. Edwards said...
True, however I administer the test in a small computer lab and I keep the "currently logged in" screen on blackboard open at all times and I can see when someone logs off and logs back on to blackboard and how long they spend on each test question. When someones does log off, I walk over to them to figure out what is going on. Usually it is a computer problem. Thanks for the feedback! This helps!

Millennial Professor - Jennifer T. Edwards, Ed.D.

Monday, August 2, 2010

Wii for Fitness? - Measure a Millennial's Progress (Getting Fit for the Fall Semester)!

Today, starts the first day of my fitness journey. In October, I have my 10th year class reunion and I need to lose 5 to 10 pounds. Over the summer, I gained five pounds from sitting in front of the computer grading papers and drinking coffee. Now, I am starting my own personal boot camp. I am going to use the Wii as a training tool and the local YMCA for group fitness.


Wii Games:
Dance Dance Revolution III
Just Dance - Original Version
Just Dance - Broadway Version
Wii Fit Plus





If I am going to survive the fall semester, I will have to develop good fitness habits now! Keep me accountable.






So, I will post the type of fitness exercises and the amount of time that I spend on each activity on a Google Spreadsheet (in millennial fashion). As a millennial, I have been raised in front of the television, so I might as well experience some benefit from my television fetish!


Millennial Professor - Jennifer T. Edwards, Ed.D.