Nicole Vadino,
a Ph.D. candidate in sociology and criminal justice, uses a variety of
technologies to teach the 125 students in her section of “Introduction
to Sociology.” “Using computers doesn’t change the teaching
goals,” she said, “the technology just helps a teacher have
more tools to match the different learning styles of her students.”
Vadino uses e-mail, the web, PowerPoint and other technologies to help
her implement what she’s learned at ITUE workshops.
She displays PowerPoint
slides of her main teaching points, makes up in-class games like “Sociological
Jeopardy” and directs students to web links. “I am always
trying to do something to spark their interest,” she said.
Vadino said that, although her PowerPoint slides and quiz answers
are posted
on the web, she has over 95 percent attendance at every class meeting.
“It’s not the technology itself that is valuable; its value
is as a vehicle for me to help my students learn,” she said.
Nicole Vadino