Teaching in the Computer Classroom: General Strategies

General Strategies for Teaching in the Computer Classroom

Adapted from the Instructor's manual for The Allyn & Bacon Guide to Writing.

When using technology to teach, always explore the territory yourself before assigning a task to students. Be sure to also provide handouts, tutorials and other information resources for major tasks. It be important for you to map out the logistics of assignments, and you will be able to get a sense of how well tasks will mesh with your teaching goals.

A second point is to use only technology that will support your pedagogical goals. If your students are working on traditional research projects, there may be no need for them to master the logistics of posting sound files on the Web. Each technology brings costs in terms of the time requirements and learning investments, so use only what you need.

Allow time for exploration and learning of computer competency. It is often a misconception that computers make tasks easier. They do speed up some operations, but they also create new demands and can mystify many of us. As you integrate computers into your curriculum, you'll need to make time in the syllabus to guide students through new technologies.

You'll also need to steel yourself for when things don't go as planned. Servers can go down, but just as likely your planned fifteen minute e-mail tutorial will balloon into a whole class period as questions and problems arise. Walk through tasks ahead of time, and when glitches arise, take it in stride and fall back on some other activities.