Blog #8 - Va Va Voom Versal!!!!
Traditional Lullaby Learning
The room darkens and the Power Point lecture presentation begins. Or should I say death by Power Point hoovers then quickly overcomes all individuals in the room as demonstrated in this video:
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| Photo Credit: http://youtu.be/_JU48-FVqvQ |
Seriously, how can we listen, look, and take notes? And some of the slides have so many words no one can keep up, let alone.....stay awake! Oh, and online Power Point presentations are even worse. Your first thought is always, "hey, I can read these slides by myself!" Then, as the instructors voice over drones on and on you quickly slip into REM sleep.
Excite, Engage the Learner
Capture the audience with simplicity, creativity, and most of all as the presenter show your passion for the subject. Really think about your audience and how you will connect with them. Use the KISS rule! Keep It Stimulating and Simple. As an assistant professor of Dental Hygiene I now enjoy lecturing.
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| Dental Hygiene Ethics Lecture. "It's a Jungle Out There" C. Seaman Photo |
In the beginning I was only focused on delivering the content. And as you may relate, completion of this task in itself was overwhelming enough without having to consider how the lecture was received.
Recently, I discovered an exciting and engaging course development tool called VERSAL.
Developing classroom and online courses that stimulate both learning and thinking can be achieved with this tool. VERSAL's extensive array of gadgets allows course developers to insert photos, maps, videos, sounds and links to mention a few. The learner is captured with 3-D rotating graphics to learn various subjects. Formative and summative learning is developed and measured with the insertion of diagram labeling exercises and interactive quizzes. The gadgets assist the educators to develop courses that draw the learners in so that they may BECOME the problem. Wow! That is exponential student engagement.
Forget What You Know
VERSAL is a technology tool that will offer educators may options to stimulate thinking and engage the students without rocking them to sleep in the classroom or the online environment. This technology is uncomplicated, user-friendly, and simple to develop and deploy. I would also recommend VERSAL in the business setting to clearly convey complex issues and to train employees.
Recently, I discovered an exciting and engaging course development tool called VERSAL.
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| http://www.versal.com |
Developing classroom and online courses that stimulate both learning and thinking can be achieved with this tool. VERSAL's extensive array of gadgets allows course developers to insert photos, maps, videos, sounds and links to mention a few. The learner is captured with 3-D rotating graphics to learn various subjects. Formative and summative learning is developed and measured with the insertion of diagram labeling exercises and interactive quizzes. The gadgets assist the educators to develop courses that draw the learners in so that they may BECOME the problem. Wow! That is exponential student engagement.
Forget What You Know
Jacob Barnett at TEDxTeen reminds all of us to forget what we know. Seek out methods that will immerse the student deeply into thinking.Forget What You Know
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| http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uq-FOOQ1TpE |
I can relate to the 'zoned out' state that an over complicated Power Point slide show induces! I have sat through enough of those to realize a PP presentation should be an outline for the lecture, not the entire lecture! Versal looks like it would be a welcome change to the obligatory PP slide presentation. I believe most people learn better by being involved in the learning process instead of just learning by absorption! If Versal is able to engage the learner, it would be a valuable tool indeed.
ReplyDeleteVersal sounds like a great way to keep kids and students engaged! I know that PowerPoints have been overused and everyone is getting sick of them. Yes they worked for a while but if you do not have something new or interesting to talk about everyone will be asleep. I am excited to learn more about this tool. It does seem like a great way to teach. Do you think you will use this in the future?
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