Saving these EDUCAUSE Review sources for later reflection and review.
Students:
9 Ways to Help Students Use Technology to Get the Most Out of College
Microlearning: The “OG” or Hot New Trend?
How to Start Your Flipped Classroom
Proven Classroom Discussion Strategies for Deeper Learning
Leadership:
Technology can certainly enhance learning, as we have discovered throughout our ADL learning journey. The fact that I can connect with learners from various industries and worldwide illustrates how much technology can be employed to strengthen learning and collaboration. The program pushes me to seek out information and re-engage a curiosity about learning and topics related to digital learning. As part of that inquisitive process, I perform online searches through search engines and video streaming to obtain a big-picture perspective on current trends and topics. I further refine source information through detailed reviews of literature and additional writings and research found with my professional organizations, related journals, and other article sources. Professional journals from NACADA are my primary resource for finding emerging trends within advising. EDUCAUSE Review is another excellent resource for identifying technology trends and issues within education.
The digital tools currently utilized within the advising relationships seek to manage student information, notes, and referrals. The institution employs a student information system to onboard and guide students from admission to enrollment. Then, the advising and support units use a different system to invite students to appointments, request progress report updates from faculty, record interaction notes on services utilized, answer questions, and make support recommendations. Another system tracks degree plan requirements and progress. Students take the information from the degree system and then use another system to register for classes. In addition to the disjointed nature of the different technologies and systems used within the advising profession, most of these tools are not currently student-facing. However, an innovation to advising would help change this by utilizing blended learning concepts to flip advising from short-burst information transfer sessions (overwhelming) to ongoing dialogues and collaborations that expand the relationship and further assist students in navigating and understanding their learning opportunities. Through the lens of a COVA approach to learning that incorporates how educational technology encourages student choice, ownership, and voice while presenting authentic learning opportunities, technology and digital learning tools must contribute to creating significant learning environments (CSLE) instead of technology for technology’s sake.
A personally curated advising resource (ePortfolio) is my favorite technology tool at this time, simply because of the unlimited accessibility of combining and translating information across the higher education landscape. This resource could help learners and their families navigate the frustratingly confusing process of learning policy, procedure, and an unlimited number of requirements faced by college students. I am intrigued by the tools enabling a blended learning model that incorporates micro-lectures, cloud computing, and online collaboration within learning collectives. Google Classroom provides an exciting opportunity for connecting learners while also providing opportunities for assessment.
In this discussion, consider the required readings and view the following videos then participate in a discussion with your colleagues where you will explore the variety of ways technology can enhance learning.
References
Denton, D. W. (2012). Enhancing instruction through Constructivism, Cooperative Learning, and Cloud Computing. TechTrends, 56(4), 34–41. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11528-012-0585-1
Liao, J., Wang, M., Ran, W., & Yang, S. J. H. (2013). Collaborative cloud: a new model for e-learning. Innovations in Education and Teaching International, 51(3), 338–351. https://doi.org/10.1080/14703297.2013.791554
Noah, T. (2023). Enhancing flipped learning with microlectures. Edutopia. https://www.edutopia.org/article/flipped-learning-with-microlectures
Nordic Business Forum. (2015, September 8). Sir Ken Robinson – How finding your passion changes everything: Part 2 | Nordic Business Forum 2014 [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6E8y-9TzpI
ProjectHappyWay. (2015, March 27). Best Ted Talks 2015 – Draw your future – Take control of your life [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vl6wCiUZYc
Publishing: Can I really do that? (n.d.). Learner’s Mindset. https://tilisathibodeaux.com/wordpress/?page_id=841
Stevenson, M., & Hedberg, J. (2011). Head in the clouds: A review of current and future potential for cloud-enabled pedagogies. Educational Media International, 48(4), 321–333. https://doi.org/10.1080/09523987.2011.632279
Stevenson, M., & Hedberg, J. (2013). Learning and design with online real-time collaboration. Educational Media International, 50(2), 120–134. https://doi.org/10.1080/09523987.2013.795352
TED. (2013, February 27). Sugata Mitra: Build a school in the cloud [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3jYVe1RGaU
The School of Life. (2013, April 11). Ken Robinson on passion [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-M8Hl5MUr8w
Wbur. (2013, June 19). Sir Ken Robinson On Discovering Your Passions | On Point. WBUR.org. https://www.wbur.org/onpoint/2013/06/19/sir-ken-robinson
In the On Point interview, Sir Ken Robinson (2013) shares that as a young person, he found himself in special education classes and recognized people around him. “Finding what lies within” became a personal passion (Wbur, 2013).
https://www.wbur.org/onpoint/2013/06/19/sir-ken-robinson
This makes me very interested in learning more about his books:
Let me tell you. It is not exactly easy to focus on much of anything when there is a 3,000-acre wildfire burning a dozen miles away. I’m really trying to hunker down and diligently write while processing the program content, yet all I can do is scroll and refresh, hoping for some update as to whether or not I need to grab what I can carry and the animals I can haul to boogie on out of here.
My three giant LaMancha goats are probably the most stressful part of that equation. Things are replaceable, and even irreplaceable things won’t impact going on with life if the worst were to face us, but letting loose or leaving my dream and reason for moving out here in the first place is the most stressful of all.
I will try to apply Dr. Harapnuik’s early advice about 90-minute work sessions. I am going to tell myself that I can step away from the wildfire for 1.5 hours to focus on school, then I can scroll for updates until the next 90-minute work session. Surely, my mind can use the break from the anxiety and worry that comes with watching and waiting.
I can’t help but make connections to this week’s module content and discussion. I absorbed Sir Ken Robinson’s message (2013 & 2015) to explore passions, following interests, and creativity to decide what I could say about my innovative digital idea that others would care enough to read about. As I sit here wondering if the worst was to come, what would I look back on smoldering ruin, wondering what I regret leaving behind. In much the same way, this publishing course answers the question, what is one thing I want other people to know about me about my passions. How can I help change the world, one learning at a time, so that others with the same heart can do the same?
Update. I made it about 40 minutes before I am stepping back outside to watch, smell, and scroll some more for updates and information. I am determined not to let this situation cost me my GPA, final semester, and second-to-last course. This first assignment is due Sunday, and I will find a way to power through between stress, anxiety, sleeplessness, prayers, and naps.
Moving through the module 1-2 content in this my second to last ADL Program’s publishing course, I am encouraged to share my success stories. To consider what digital technology I have found success using that others would find valuable. I immediately panic! My innovation idea hasn’t been implemented. My innovation idea is constantly growing and evolving and morphing into something more! How in the world am I supposed to narrow down on a topic I can provide any contribution to my profession?
Deep breath. Find your passion (Nordic Business Forum, 2015 & The School of Life, 2013).
At the heart of the matter, I want to show advisors how helpful a portfolio resource would be to themselves, their students, and their students’ family members. So much of an advisor’s job is helping students navigate the foreign world of higher ed. Having a personally curated resource to share source material (policies and procedures) while breaking information down into bite-sized pieces.
In my advising experience, an ePortfolio allows me to link students to informational resources. While the information is available online, the language and context are rarely fully understood by students and parents. Becoming this navigator and resource was my personal passion when I was the frontline advisor. Now equipping my team with resources that can relieve them of information transfer while still serving as a resource to students is a very fulfilling concept that I could share with the world.
References
Nordic Business Forum. (2015, September 8). Sir Ken Robinson – How finding your passion changes everything: Part 2 | Nordic Business Forum 2014 [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6E8y-9TzpI
The School of Life. (2013, April 11). Ken Robinson on passion [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-M8Hl5MUr8w
That is a bit misleading… because when I say “pub crawl,” I mean crawling through the publication process.
In my typical form, in the ADL Program, the first thing I do is Google “where can I publish about academic advising,” The first result is this lovely 2013 guide on Exploring Publication Opportunities, which adds to the two or three professional journals I always turn to when looking for information.
NACADA is the professional organization I always turn to when I’m researching advising, so it makes a lot of sense to explore potential options within NACADA.
TEXAAN is another professional organization that I turn to for professional development, and in recent years, they have started growing their member articles.
TCEA encourages the utilization of technology to support and encourage learning. This would be another great place to consider publication.
The EDUCAUSE Review hosts an outlet for higher education-specific technology topics of interest.
The Advisor That Cares 