The Buzz | The Educational Technology Center

The Buzz

The Buzz is a collection of the latest trends in technology intended to show faculty the various ways technology is being used enhance teaching. Many of these resources link to tools that can be utilized for online communication and collaboration, and articles that discuss benefits of using these tools.

How to set up your iPad

Our video tutorials are developed to help you get the most out of using your mobile device in teaching and learning. Screencasts and PDF documents are posted to guide you through the process of setting up your iPad.

http://www.northeastern.edu/edtech/mobilelearning/video-tutorials/

Posted on 05/11/2012

ipad, mobile device, mobile learning

Flipping the Classroom

"You teach a course where you normally lecture to students during class time. They work on homework and group assignments during their own time. What if there were a way to do the lectures outside of class time so you could use class time to have students work on activities together? Welcome to Flipping the Classroom Simply Speaking."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26pxh_qMppE

Posted on 05/11/2012

teaching and learning

Infographic: The Digital Classroom

Throughout History, textbooks have been a burden to students: They're heavy, expensive and quickly out-of-date. However, technology is playing a major role in how textbooks and education are changing as a whole. An infographic by Sean Quinn, a sophomore at the University of Florida in Gainesville, FL majoring in political science and public relations.

http://www.hackcollege.com/blog/2012/03/28/infographic-the-digital-classroom.html/digitalclassroom-3

Posted on 04/02/2012

classroom technology, e-books

Introducing the Kindle Fire

The Kindle Fire is a small, affordable, e-reader with computing power comparable to the more expensive tablets. A highly customized version of Android allows the Fire to offer most all of the same features found in Apple’s iPad while remaining financially competitive with Barnes & Noble’s Nook. There are some downsides to the Kindle, it lacks a camera, microphone and analog button(s). This is the trade off required to keep the price as low as it is. The additional hardware would likely boost the Fire out of the eReader market and into the noticeably more expensive tablet market. I rarely use these features on tablet devices and I think most users will also find that the Fire is a suitable option.

http://www.northeastern.edu/edtech/mobilelearning/introducing-the-kindle-fire/

Posted on 03/28/2012

kindle fire, mobile learning

Northeastern faculty iPad projects: Creative Industries Program (Gaming)

Mark Sivak is using an iPad to assist in curriculum design and creation of apps and workshops in games. His goal: to allow groups of students to explore course topic pairs in context. Students are using applications such as Cut the Rope, Angry Birds, and Bejeweled 2 in class to explore the coordination of geometry and linear algebra with respect to game development. The course also uses apps to look at principles of calculus and physics to illustrate position, velocity, acceleration, and randomness.

Students in Mark's course, GAME3300 Game Interface Design, are using the iPad to learn about human-computer interaction and information display and processing. Several app games including “Strategery”, “Puerto Rico”, and “UNO” are being used. Students also created a paper prototype of a touch interface for a board game based on the touch interactions of the iPad. Read his blog posts about the project.

http://www.northeastern.edu/edtech/mobilelearning/use-scenarios/#mark_sivak

Posted on 01/23/2012

ipad, mobile learning, teaching tool

Northeastern faculty iPad projects: Physical Therapy

Alycia Markowski, Associate Clinical Professor in the Physical Therapy Department, is integrating an iPad2 into a capstone course for Senior Doctor of Physical Therapy students participating in the development and implementation of the Emerald Health and Wellness Research Program. Students are using the Explain Everything app to facilitate the production of podcast episodes that explore topics related to health and wellness and streamline ergonomic student assessment of worksite participants. Read her blogs about the project.

http://www.northeastern.edu/edtech/mobilelearning/use-scenarios/#alycia_markowski

Posted on 01/23/2012

ipad, mobile learning, teaching tool

Northeastern faculty iPad projects: Writing Center

Neal Lerner, Associate Professor in the Department of English and Director of the Writing Center, is incorporating the iPad2 into the writing tutoring services offered at Northeastern University's Writing Center. Writing Center staff are collaborating with students without physical barriers; sharing comments, investigating resources, and brainstorming ideas with various apps and functions made available on the iPad. Recorded session feedback is captured with pictures and screenshots and then shared with the student for later review. Read blog posts about his project.

http://www.northeastern.edu/edtech/mobilelearning/use-scenarios/#neal_lerner

Posted on 01/23/2012

ipad, mobile learning, teaching tool

Northeastern faculty iPad projects: Pharmacy Practice

Dr. Margarita Divall from Pharmacy Practice is using an iPad as a repository to illustrate calculations, diagrams, and solutions during lectures. She is also using specific mobile apps to make decisions about appropriate selection and dosing of medications and taking advantage of local hospital iPad support for making rounds with patients. Read blog posts about her project.

http://www.northeastern.edu/edtech/mobilelearning/use-scenarios/#margarita_divall

Posted on 01/23/2012

ipad, mobile learning, teaching 2.0

EdTech Hands On! Workshops

The EdTech Center offers a series of short workshops called Hands On! Hands On! is held once a month and taught by Seth Merriam, EdTech's Web Services Manager and Multimedia Designer. During Hands On! you will learn a technology skill and share ideas with colleagues about ways to use it for teaching and learning.

http://www.northeastern.edu/edtech/links/edtech_hands_workshops

Posted on 01/19/2012

event, Hands On

Northeastern faculty iPad projects: First year college writing

First year writing instructor Genie Giaimo is using an iPad to create digital scrapbooks (including sketching, recording, photography),  capture and encourage critical thinking, expression and writing. She is also using the iPad as a “non-invasive media capture tool” for real-time documentation and investigating the theory of the classroom as a “contact zone.” Read her blog posts about her project.

http://www.northeastern.edu/edtech/mobilelearning/use-scenarios/#genie_giaimo

Posted on 01/19/2012

Genie Giaimo, ipad