Jillian Budd

“Simply the best”: Professors nominated by students for their exemplary technology practices in teaching

Our goal was to explore the technology related pedagogical practices of college professors deemed by their students to be excellent in using technology in their teaching. We explored the views of 114 community/junior college professors who were nominated by their students as excellent in using technology in their teaching using both questionnaires and interview methods. Results were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results show no gender or years teaching in college differences in professors’ self rated proficiency or comfort with technologies. Results also show that most professors taught themselves how to use technologies with the help of online resources, through trial and error, and with help from colleagues and support staff. Challenges using technology were related primarily to technical problems, such as technologies not working and the institution’s computers and networks being slow. However, professors in our sample usually had a back-up plan and found ways to carry on even if the technology failed. Our findings report on the most and least frequently used technologies in face-to-face teaching, on how professors typically used the course management system, on how professors communicate with students, including the very small number who used social media to do this, and the likelihood of allowing students to use their personal mobile technology in class. Our findings also show that the professors showed their students how to use technologies required for the course. We discuss the practical significance of our findings and their implications for faculty, students, and the institution itself. In particular, we make recommendations about the need for ongoing collaboration between the institution, the professors, and the students and about technology related professional development professors would like to see their college provide.

An exploratory study of college and university students with visual impairment in Canada: Grades and graduation

The purpose of this investigation was to explore predictors and correlates of grades and intention to graduate among junior/community college and university students with visual impairments in Canada, and to compare students with low vision to students who are blind on variables related to academic success. In all, 66 junior/community college and university students with visual impairments (17 blind, 49 with low vision) in Canada completed an online questionnaire inquiring about grades, intention to graduate, and demographic, school-related, and personal aspects. Stepwise regression, discriminant, and correlational analyses of the data revealed that the following variables were associated with better grades and stronger intention to graduate: higher course self-efficacy expectations, greater perceived behavioral control over graduation, reporting a single rather than multiple disabilities, and more favorable attitude toward graduation. Students who are blind and those with low vision did not differ on most variables studied although a much larger proportion of students with low vision reported having additional disabilities. Recommendations are made to enhance course self-efficacy beliefs which include, providing a campus atmosphere that is welcoming, and ensuring that students with visual impairments have adequate opportunities to dialogue with faculty and fellow students. Postsecondary student services professionals need to ensure that workshops which teach study, research, and time management skills are inclusive and accessible to students with visual impairments.