TECHNOLOGY PAYOFFS FOR TEACHING AND RESEARCH
 A BAKER'S DOZEN OF TIPS

Robert E. Wood
Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Criminal Justice
Rutgers-Camden

With technology use an uncertain advantage for tenure and promotion at many colleges and universities, many faculty are understandably reluctant to make a major investment in it. These tips seek to identify ways that relatively low-cost investments in technological competence can produce potential payoffs in both teaching and research, thereby helping one be a better teacher and researcher and strengthening the case for tenure and promotion.

1. Put your filing system online

  • No more ransacking drawers and file cabinets
  • Available 24/7 from everywhere with an internet connection
  • Especially useful for teaching materials
  • Consider creating an individually-tailored menu

2. Reap the benefits of online syllabi and web-enhanced courses

3. Consider using college or university-supported course management systems (WebCT, Blackboard, etc.) selectively. A recent Rutgers study of WebCT users found that

  • a small majority (53%) put their entire course websites within WebCT, but a large minority favored combining WebCT with free-standing course websites (36%) or not using WebCT again at all (11%)
  • Apart from roster integration, controlling access for copyright with a password--protected place ranked highest in importance, followed by student tracking, online grade book, and bulletin board discussions. Graph

4. In larger classes, consider using PowerPoint (properly-done) in the classroom and putting it online.

  • It may free you from relying on your notes
  • It's there next time you need it
  • Search for images to enhance your presentations at Google-Images and Altavista Image Search
  • Putting PP slideshows online frees students to listen

5. Share ideas and resources with colleagues and let technology bring information to you

6. Use technology to document and evaluate what you do.

  • Use Google links search to see if others are linking to your work
  • Consider submitting your work for review at Merlot
  • Consider a counter or see if you have access to server logs or a server-based counter program, e.g. WebAnalyzer

7. Use the "Track Changes" in Word to provide student feedback (in smaller courses) and to collaborate with others on writing projects.

8. Using Adobe Acrobat to create PDF files is handy in a range of situations.

9. Knowing how to use screen shots is very useful.

10. Take advantage of free workshops, as well as free online tutorials.

11. Make use of bibliographic software for your research. You'll wonder how you ever lived without it.

12. Be playful with Technology

13. Always remember that the reach and value of technology is limited

 

This webpage was originally prepared to support a presentation at the Eastern Sociological Society meetings in Philadelphia on Feb. 28, 2003.

Special thanks to Ian Lapp, Caroline Persell, and Jon'a Meyer for some of these ideas and for technical guidance over the years. If you'd like to know how to make pop-up boxes like the ones used in this webpage, click here for instructions about how to do so within Dreamweaver.

Updated: March 26, 2003