Abstract:

Teachers and university lecturers, who have been working for over 30 years, are not always very fast in turning to smart devices when it comes to teaching. People often opt for methods and equipment that they are used to and feel confident with. However, in the 21st century, when all young people spend most of their time using smart devices, it would be a mistake not to take an advantage of yet another tool to make learning more attractive. The educational technology centre of Tallinn University of Technology has been promoting the use of smart devices in lectures and e-courses through introducing different possibilities for student involvement during all phases of a learning process. The workshop will aim at sharing our best practices: short video streams targeted at introducing or explaining certain programmes; video-lectures as well as face-to-face in-service seminars involving lecturers in the approaches that are being introduced; short and fast self-tests and questionnaires that can be used in classes (using smart phones / tablets); free social software for fast feedback; the use of e-learning and blended courses, especially e-materials in the time slot between face-to-face classes; etc.

At Tallinn University of Technology we have furnished lecture halls where lecturers are encouraged to use modern approaches to teaching and have a possibility to video their classes. This, in turn, makes it possible to not only access the material later (or upload it for students) but also to analyse their teaching afterwards, either on their own or with a mentor. The possibility is especially beneficial to our doctoral students who have just begun their teaching practice and are able to see which aspects of their teaching could/should be changed. Even if we cannot always change the methods that have been used for decades (and quite often we do not have to), it is important to be aware of the new trends as well as the interests of the learner.

Keywords:

Activating students, flipped classroom, smart devices, social software.