Using Technology in Political Science Courses is forward thinking. Students already use technology outside of the classroom. Therefore, it makes sense to use it inside the classroom as well. It makes teaching purposeful, activity based, and transformative.
It is exciting to see how the education field has changed from an instructor based and often exclusive approach to a student based inclusive approach. It is extremely important to view students as individuals. Therefore it is important to design and implement courses in ways that make sense to them by offering a variety of methods and options including technology based ones.
One major reason for integrating technology in lecture classrooms is that it fosters the ability for instructors to implement Web 2.0 in their courses. This includes the use of Blogs, Microblogs, Wikis, Social bookmarking and tagging, RSS and syndication, Social networking, Peer-to-Peer file sharing, Multimedia sharing, Data mashups, Personal Learning environments, and online Academic exchange. (Davis, 2009)
Another reason for integrating technology into the classrooms is because it helps students implement 21st Century learning techniques by providing instructors student centered options for assignments using a host of web tools.(Lever-Duffy, 2002)
Finally,Political Science is not a one size fits all field. It is always fluid. Technology is fluid as well. Therefore we need to demonstrate to our students by adapting to technology if we expect them to adapt to the changing nature of politics.
It is exciting to see how the education field has changed from an instructor based and often exclusive approach to a student based inclusive approach. It is extremely important to view students as individuals. Therefore it is important to design and implement courses in ways that make sense to them by offering a variety of methods and options including technology based ones.
One major reason for integrating technology in lecture classrooms is that it fosters the ability for instructors to implement Web 2.0 in their courses. This includes the use of Blogs, Microblogs, Wikis, Social bookmarking and tagging, RSS and syndication, Social networking, Peer-to-Peer file sharing, Multimedia sharing, Data mashups, Personal Learning environments, and online Academic exchange. (Davis, 2009)
Another reason for integrating technology into the classrooms is because it helps students implement 21st Century learning techniques by providing instructors student centered options for assignments using a host of web tools.(Lever-Duffy, 2002)
Finally,Political Science is not a one size fits all field. It is always fluid. Technology is fluid as well. Therefore we need to demonstrate to our students by adapting to technology if we expect them to adapt to the changing nature of politics.
Davis, B. G. (2009, July 17). Tools for teaching. John Wiley & Sons.
Lever-Duffy, J., McDonald, J., & Mizell, A. (2002, November 1). The 21st-Century Classroom: Teaching and Learning with Technology. Addison-Wesley Longman Publishing Co., Inc.
Lever-Duffy, J., McDonald, J., & Mizell, A. (2002, November 1). The 21st-Century Classroom: Teaching and Learning with Technology. Addison-Wesley Longman Publishing Co., Inc.
The use of Web 2.0 tools, especially RSS feeds, seem like they would be very helpful in a Political Science class especially during an election year. Students would be able to follow election news, primary results, and candidate interviews and debates to get a much better understanding of the political process and the people involved.
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