Are you ready to network with colleagues and LEARN strategies that support project-based learning, flipped learning, universal design for learning, and more? Mark your calendar for August 1 & 2, 2018, and then register for the 2018 COLTT conference. 
I used the “free” version of VoiceThread (VT) in my online course this fall, EDU 261 – Teaching, Learning & Technology, and based on that experience, I will definitely use it again. VoiceThread is a 
popular Web 2.0 tool used to foster learner engagement and increase instructor and student presence in online and hybrid courses. It is basically an online discussion on steroids, but it can also be used to create presentations and tutorials. Learners can add audio comments, video comments, or text comments to VoiceThread slides.
This is the second time I’ve used VoiceThread in this course. The first time VoiceThread was optional, and I only used it a few times during the course. This time I required students to use it as part of their course participation and discussion grade. I created a Voicethread almost every week to share mini lectures/announcements. Then bi-weekly, I required students’ to comment/respond to questions using VoiceThread in lieu of a traditional text-based discussion.
In addition to supporting several of the principles of good practice on the slide included in this post, VoiceThread also supports the following UDL principles:
I was able to teach the entire course using the FREE version of VoiceThread. The free account is available for anyone who is at least 13 years old and has a valid email address. It allows you to create up to 5 VoiceThreads, comment by microphone and text, and share or embed VoiceThreads via a shared link or embed code.
Visit the link below to compare the differences between the Free account and the Single License here.
https://voicethread.com/howto/whats-included-6/
Give it a try!
I attended an excellent webinar on January 8, 2015 sponsored by WCET. Four experts shared their predictions of edtech trends for 2015. I’ve posted a link to the recording and some of the resources shared during the panel presentation including my notes. Thanks WCET for putting together a great group of panelists!
Trends & Issues
The Internet of Things – Mega Trend that higher education should be paying attention to but are not…
Learners require on-demand access to a digital content system and faculty require increasing support.
Jeff Borden reminds us that film projectors, tv, moocs, etc. were all were going to revolutionize education.
Adaptive Learning (personalizes experience)
Social Media (SM) – higher levels of self-disclosure and push to be authentic. There will be more focus on openness and sharing
http://www.amazon.com/Show-Your-Work-Jane-Bozarth/dp/1118863623
http://www.ubiquitypress.com/site/books/detail/11/battle-for-open/
Use technology to improve something – Simply adding technology without changing the process will not improve learning outcomes
Share student success models with faculty about how ed tech can better serve students.
Teaching and Learning is about relationships – use SM to build relationships and enhance relationships between learners and content deliverers
Connecting – Learning is about connecting people to ideas, connecting old to new, people to people, things & places
Connections can build relationships. Connect students to experiences, institutions, other students, professions. Build connections between students & content.
Learn from what have we done wrong and how do we do it better. Ssing technology for teaching – use in a strategic way for educational principles and ideas
What steps can institutions take to ensure technology is used effectively for teaching?
Need Faculty buy-in
Incentivize faculty – justification, faculty development, community building – waste of resources if there is no faculty buy-in
Resources posted on the event hashtag (#wcettrends)
@kkeairns eLearning Blog 