Sometimes I Forget the Obvious - Online Teaching Tips (Embedding a Facebook or Twitter Widget on Blackboard)

Readers,


Usually, my blog entries focus on teaching and research. I attempt to think of items that would be of interest to the blog readers, but sometimes I forget the obvious (i.e. - reminders to students, my virtual office hours and Twitter widgets on Blackboard, embedding Google Docs on Blackboard, posting tinyurls in the titles of external links, etc.). These are teaching strategies that I use on a daily basis without thinking about the fact that this simple strategy might be a great blog post! :)


One of my new "academic blogger" friends, Professor Josh also uses embedded widgets on his blackboard course homepage. In one of his recent blog post, he talks about "Adding a Facebook Widget to a Blackboard" course. Although I do not use Facebook with my students, I use Twitter and I embed a Twitter widget on my course home page. 


Here's an example of the interaction that I have with students through Twitter:



I love Twitter because it does not reveal as much personal information as Facebook (i.e. - students viewing a spam message from one of my friends on Facebook or students viewing my pictures from college, etc.). If you use Twitter and desire to embed a widget on your department webpage, personal webpage, or course site - CLICK HERE - http://twitter.com/about/resources/widgets.


Do you use Facebook to communicate with your students? WHY or WHY NOT?  Do you think interaction through this particular social networking website increases social presence in your professional relationship with students ?


Sincerely,


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

Adopt This Technology - AnswerGarden!

Readers,

Answergarden.com is an amazing brainstorming tool that can be used in training and development sessions, face-to-face and hybrid classrooms, in learning management systems, and in department meetings! It informally gathers your participants' opinions and perceptions about your chosen subject.

Let's try it out! Here's my Answer Garden - http://answergarden.ch/view/13130:

Teaching college students is....... at AnswerGarden.ch.

You can make the AnswerGarden larger or smaller to fit your needs! :) Could you please contribute additional ways to use this technology?

Thanks!

Sincerely,

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

Freebie Friday - Carmex Lip Balm

Readers,


I know that this might not seem like a good deal, but it is a GREAT DEAL! When I am teaching (especially in the summertime and wintertime), my lips become slightly chapped while walking across campus. I always have a tube of Carmex in my briefcase to prepare myself for speaking in front of the classroom. Try some Carmex today!


Click the link to print a coupon for $.35 off of Carmex Lip Balm - LINK.

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

Become a fan of Millennial Professor on Facebook - http://goo.gl/gnN41

Nonverbal Communication in the NBA Finals! - A Neat Classroom Teaching Tool!

Readers,


Last week, I was very excited to receive the following article via e-mail from one of my former students - Dallas' Secret Weapon: High Fives. He was very excited to apply concepts from our interpersonal communication class to the sports environment! Since, I have been watching the NBA finals for the past two weeks, I was VERY excited to receive the article from him.





I think communication and sociology professors who are teaching nonverbal communication principles can use the following video in their face-to-face and online courses. Players in the NBA use positive communication to communicate with their peers, why is it so difficult for faculty? Maybe this will start a trend! :)


Sincerely,


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

Adopt This Technology - Corkboard.Me

Readers,

Recently, I started using corkboard.me for personal brainstorming purposes. I have also been searching for ways to use corkboard.me in face-to-face or online classroom environments.

Here's my current Corkboard - http://corkboard.me/fV3QTNo82u. Could you please contribute ways to use this technology in the higher education setting? Currently, I am thinking of in-class brainstorming sessions and organizing group workloads.

Thanks!

Sincerely,

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

Wandering Wednesday - EmergingEdTech: Engaging Student and Enhancing Learning Outcomes and Internet and Instructional Technologies

Readers,


Today's Wandering Wednesday website is the EmergingEdTech: Engaging Student and Enhancing Learning Outcomes and Internet and Instructional Technologies. I have subscribed to this website's RSS feed for the past year and I enjoy the updates, because they are always informative and educational!


Every weekend, the author researches a relevant topic, writes an article about that topic and then he creates a video focused on his selected topic. Here's an introductory video for his website:

The authors provides his readers with timely posts focused on relevant topics!

His "Posts Index" is very comprehensive and it focuses on the following:
- professional development
- educational technology inside and outside of the classroom
- the future of education technology
- specific technologies and products
- education technology organizations and sites
- special needs students


Check out his website!


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