Educational Technologies Blog (krnkendall1.blogspot.com)

            The educational technology blogs in this course have taught me many new tools to consider as beneficial to adult teaching and adult learning.  As I review the blogs that my colleagues have posted, there are three that I believe I will be able to use to enhance my adult teaching.  All three will be easily convert to the law enforcement arena in which I teach. 

The first technology that caught my attention was from J.L. Crawford (2014) at www.jlcford500.wordpress.com regarding SmartLabs.  Ms. Crawford states that SmartLabs challenge students to participate in real world scenarios and are asked to provide ideas and solutions.  This is an area that I could easily adapt to law enforcement training.  It would allow the students to interact with the real world scenarios and use critical thinking, collaboration, and problem solving to provide a solution.  I currently use handout scenarios but will be switching to a SmartLab format.

The second technology was from L. Clement (2014) at www.icblogs2014.blogspot.com regarding webinars.  I have attended webinars but have never create one myself.  The interactive ability of the webinar and the ability to record for future use is very appealing to me.  My employer is asking for more and more electronic training platforms and webinars are going to be one that I suggest to them.  Along with using technology it will also reduce the cost of training as it relates to travel cost, handout material, per diem, etc. 

            The third technology was from L. Ansley at www.lindansley.blogspot.com regarding incorporating computers, tables, virtual, and remote into the classroom.  One of the cost saving measure that I can suggest to my employer is to reduce printed handout material and provide electronic material to students.  We currently have an 80-hour supervisor’s course that has a 490 page student manual, an 80-hour management course that has a 722 page student manual, and an 80-hour instructor development course that has a 400 page student manual.  To require all students to bring mobile devices (laptops, tablets, etc.) to class, and provide the manuals electronically will save money which is imperative due to budget cuts.

            The use of all technology brings with it the responsibility of the students and the educator regarding digital citizenship, ethics, and netiquette.  Reviewing with my students Ribble’s (n.d.) nine themes of digital citizenship and having each student agree on a digital citizenship, ethics, and netiquette action plan would be a step in the right direction to ensure proper ethics while using digital technology and the virtual world of the Internet.  Richardson (2010) stated that: “the ability of teachers and students to use knowledge effectively is of the highest importance.”  I feel the three technologies that I have reported in this paper can assist myself as the educator and my students in using knowledge effectively.  Thinking has become a distributive/intellectual partnership between technology tools and people (Dede, 2011).  Educators can become the coaches and the transition person to move the student into the appropriate use and understanding of what technology has to offer.        

 References

Ansley, L. (2014).  Tablets and virtual and remote technologies.  Retrieved from:              www.lindaansley.blogspot.com

Clement, L. (2014). Webinars.  Retrieved from:  www.icblogs2014.blogspot.com

Crawford, J. L. (2014).  SmartLabs.  Retrieved from:  www.jlcford500.wordpress.com

Dede, C.  (2011). Adult learning in the information age.  Baltimore, MD: Author. Retrieved          from:  Walden Library Database

Ribble, M. (n.d.) Nine elements:  Nine themes of digital citizenship.  Retrieved from             http://www.digitalcitizenship.net/Nine_Elements.html (Walden Library Database).

Richardson, W. (2010).  Blogs, wikis, podcasts, and other powerful web tools for classrooms.        Thousand Oaks, CA:  Corwin