Engaging Learners Through Emerging Technologies

This book constitutes the refereed proceedings of the International Conference on ICT in Teaching and Learning, ICT 2012, held in Hong Kong, China, in July 2012. The 19 revised full papers presented were carefully reviewed and selected from numerous submissions. They explore the use of information technology to improve learning and teaching and showcase innovative pedagogical practices. The papers are organized in topical sections on the construct of student engagement and the applications of ICT; emerging pedagogies through ICT; applications of ICT in teaching and learning; research/case studies on ICT in engaged learning; and finally three papers on open textbooks, which address the current problems with conventional textbooks in Hong Kong.

This book discusses the development of the next generation learning spaces with emerging technologies. These spaces result from the combined needs of classroom stakeholders, such as instructors and learners, with classroom elements, such as tools and technologies, pedagogy and content. The book presents discussions and studies on issues, possibilities and implications of these changes for next generation education. Novel ideas, and studies on these all-encompassing, blended roles of technologies in next generation learning spaces are clearly presented. Suggestions on how the benefits they offer can be maximized are also discussed. Engaging learning technologies have remained central in education for assisting instructors to teach and learners to learn, more effectively. However, recent technological growth is creating a system in which previous divides between key classroom concepts and stakeholders are getting progressively blurred. This is giving rise to next generation learning spaces where elements and stakeholders are blended into one. The book addresses the future of learning environments based on these perspectives.

The major purpose of this book is to present and discuss current thinking, theories, conceptual frameworks, models and promising examples of engaged learning with emerging technologies. Contributions come from distinguished academics in the USA, Canada, the Netherlands, United Kingdom, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, China, Korea and Singapore. Following from a constructivist orientation, coupled with social cultural dimensions of learning, this volume documents how emerging learning technologies are appropriated into meaningful and engaged learning and instructional situations. The field of learning technologies is grounded on the theoretical constructs of the learning sciences and thus the chapters in this book balance between theory and practice and prepositions and solutions.

Highlighted are the pedagogical, organizational, cultural, social, and economic factors that influence the adoption and integration of emerging technologies in distance education. Advice is offered on how educators can launch effective and engaging distance education initiatives, in response to technological advancements, changing mindsets, and economic and organizational pressures.

"The authors examine how social studies teachers can use web 2.0 tools to augment instruction in their classrooms, using a pedagogical framework SOURCES to enable students to engage in historical inquiry with primary sources in an informed and scaffolded fashion. SOURCES is an acronym to identify the steps ofhistorical inquiry: Scrutinizing the fundamental sources; organizing thoughts; understanding the context; reading between the lines; corroborating and refuting; establishing a plausible narrative; summarizing final thoughts. The use of Web 2.0 tools, such as social networks and blogs, are omnipresent among students, and their integration into the learning experience is intended to increase motivation, collaboration, and visualization of student work, as well as "providing opportunities and venues for sharing work and solutions globally." Per the authors, "this book will provide a detailed collection and rationale for the implementation of a wide array of emerging technological applications into the teaching and learning process, their role in supporting each phase of the SOURCES pedagogical framework, and varied examples of the merging of technological and pedagogical applications in the social studies classroom""--

Leverage technology to engage students with learning disabilities! Harness the power of today’s technology to improve learning and engagement for students with learning disabilities. By engaging students with learning disabilities using the technology already at your fingertips, you’ll see your students begin to thrive and grow in exciting new ways. In this volume in the Connected Educators Series, you’ll discover: New ideas for using assistive technology to teach core subjects and study skills How to build positive opportunities for students to show what they know Tools to provide better content accessibility How to help students connect and share through technology tools

As social media and Web 2.0 technologies continue to transform the learning trends and preferences of students, educators need to understand the applicability of these new tools in all types of learning environments. The second edition of Best Practices for Teaching with Emerging Technologies provides new and experienced instructors with practical examples of how low-cost and free technologies can be used to support student learning as well as best practices for integrating web-based tools into a course management system and managing student privacy in a Web 2.0 environment. "Showcase" spotlights throughout exemplify how the tools described in the book are already being used effectively in educational settings. This thoroughly revised second edition includes: a new chapter that explores how and why faculty are using the public web and open educational resources in place of a learning management system (LMS) and an expensive textbook additional tips and showcases in every chapter that illustrate faculty use of particular technologies the inclusion of new tools to replace technologies that no longer exist a revamped website featuring expanded online resources. This practical, easy-to-use guide will serve the needs of educators seeking to refresh or transform their instruction. Readers will be rewarded with an ample yet manageable collection of proven emerging technologies that can be leveraged for generating content, enhancing communications with and between students, and cultivating participatory, student-centered learning activities.