In our recurring series “Academic Admissions” we ask interesting people to tell us about the transformative role education has played in their lives. In this instalment, mathematician Dr. Priya Subramanian describes her cross-discipline and international quest to be one of the “why people”: and why that one more speculative e-mail sent in the middle of […]
Personalized learning, formative assessment and improving student interaction all require technology to be teacher-led and focused on results
While YouTube is better known for Taylor Swift and video game commentary than higher education, the video hosting platform has gone from a potential classroom distraction to a multifaceted learning tool. To date, YouTube has more than one billion users in 91 countries—that’s almost one-third of the population with Internet access. Of all the videos […]
In 2019, education technology will be about social change, better use of resources and improved infrastructure—not the branded gadgets we’ve come to expect
The classroom has changed—and now there’s proof. A new survey by Inside Higher Ed, tracking professors’ attitudes towards educational technology and new teaching methods, has revealed that more and more instructors are becoming comfortable with being the first to try new teaching tools, a result that echoes Top Hat’s own yearly poll of higher education […]
Finding out about educational technology grants — especially ones that are relevant to higher education — isn’t as straightforward as one might imagine. This guide will give you some places to start your search
What is FERPA? FERPA, or the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, was signed into U.S. law in 1974 with two purposes: first, that college students could receive copies of their educational records and were authorized to correct them if need be, and second, to block the release of personally identifiable information from those student […]
How do clickers work? In this blog post, we cover the kinds of clicker devices available, and offer some use cases to aid student learning
The use of technology in the classroom is now widespread. Trying to eliminate student technology use is a losing battle. Here are three reasons why it’s critical to use technology in your classroom
Digital literacy is the product of our modern age of instant messages, after-hours emails (if there were still an “after-hours”), and on-demand programming. The digital age of connectivity and mass communication has led to the development of new and dynamic forms of literacy, constantly changing in the on-going search for increased computing power. In short, […]
Looking for a checklist of things you need to ask a vendor when shopping for a classroom response system? This extract from our latest guide aimed at university administrators will take you through six important criteria to consider
In this extract from our new e-book, How to Use Clickers in Your College Classroom, we look at the historic and modern-day reasons a professor might want to use classroom response systems such as clickers — and some of the pitfalls, too
These apps for teachers, as recommended by Bonni Stachowiak of the Teaching in Higher Education podcast, will help you take back control of your information consumption and solve the mystery of where your time is going
Jenel Cavazos, Top Hat Top Scholar, Associate Professor of Psychology and Introductory Psychology Coordinator at the University of Oklahoma, writes on her experience implementing a classroom response system and offers tips on the practical—and technical—tasks to achieve success
There are tons of resources for educators on everything from new technology to digital pedagogy, teaching strategies and thought leadership — and they’re often run by educators, too. If you need to keep up-to-date with the latest news, or if you’re seeking a source of inspiration, teaching podcasts are an easy way to keep learning. […]
Should cellphones be allowed in school? College students are going to bring their cellphones to class no matter what you do. As a teacher, you might think you have to try to ban them. Or, perhaps you could ignore the problem and hope it goes away. But cellphones are part of every modern student’s life. […]
What is gamification? Gamification is the use of game design and mechanics to enhance non-game contexts by increasing participation, engagement, loyalty and competition. These methods can include points, direct competitions and stickers or badges, and can be found in industries as varied as personal healthcare, retail—and, of course, education. We’ve seen gamification already in a […]
No business would try to ban laptops and pretend technology didn’t exist: and it’s the same in the business classroom. In fact, management and business educators are often the first to adapt technology in education and digital learning methods, from video content to digital business case studies, so that their students can be better equipped. […]
From cars to shoes to Goldfish crackers, everything is being customized nowadays. Companies are realizing that allowing consumers to customize their products helps to set them apart and lead to individuals choosing their products over others. It is only natural that custom textbooks are becoming more popular, because they are designed to provide learning material […]
Student-centered learning focuses on the meaningful needs and development of students in class, rather than the pedagogical course material as an endpoint. And it’s worth investing time in getting right, particularly if you’re currently using traditional, structured “chalk and talk” teaching methods within your course design and learning environment. But some innovative educators are evolving […]