Lessons+Learned

Lessons Learned

Throughout the EDUC 538, I've learned a lot about various tools that are available on the internet that can be used to enhance the learning environment in the classroom. Though a good majority of the tools are probably not the best suited for higher education (my field of study), most tools apply well to enhance learning in the K-12 system.

Out of the tools presented in the course that can be useful in higher education, I see screencasting and podcasting being effective tools in my professional practice. In teaching distance learning, screencasting allows me to better instruct students in situations where I need to show them how to do something. With podcasting, it can allow me to provide lecture information to people who might have missed class or would like to review the material again to get better understanding of content delivered in class.

My only issue with the tools presented in class is that they are all free tools, "free" never being truly free. Knowing the nature of advertising and spam, I'd prefer not to have my students and myself suffer from the apparent cost of free. In addition, the nature of higher education is more mature and more professional. With the case of most of the tools and their limited functionality as free (lack of ability or very generic in nature and appearance), they don't carry my professional appearance often when using these tools.

I would have liked to see some professional software tools that implemented the discussed Web 2.0 tools. Even to use them as a comparison between free and pay software, it would have been nice to see professional tools that can be suitable for higher education use and more functionality. Most of the 2.0 tools I've looked at are either too casual or barely functional to be of much use in my professional practice.