The purpose of KSU 4401 is to prepare students for life after graduation. This class is a hybrid course, in which the students attend class once a week on campus, and throughout the week online. There are a number of Web 2.0 tools that are ideal for these students. Focusing on the ISTE's second standard for students, communication and collaboration, I have selected the two tools listed below.
"Communication and Collaboration. Students use digital media and environments to communicate and work collaboratively, including at a distance, to support individual learning and contribute to the learning of others."
- ISTE Standards for Students
"Communication and Collaboration. Students use digital media and environments to communicate and work collaboratively, including at a distance, to support individual learning and contribute to the learning of others."
- ISTE Standards for Students
One of the first, and most difficult questions in a job or graduate school interview is, "so, tell me about yourself." It's not as if we don't know anything about ourselves, it is just hard to craft an answer. One of the first projects assigned in KSU 4401 is to create an "elevator speech" which is the answer to this question. Animoto is an excellent tool for the students to create an elevator speech using photos, videos, text, and voice-over speech. In order to incorporate technology with the course, the students will create their own two minute video using Animoto introducing themselves, and post it to the class website. They must decide who their audience is, whether that is a job interview or graduate school admissions committee, and tailor their introduction to their audience. This aligns with ISTE's second standard in that it requires them to "communicate information and ideas effectively to multiple audiences using a variety of media and formats" (ISTE Standards for Students, 2b). Additionally, each student must provide feedback to their peers regarding their elevator speeches. Students can post this video on their electronic portfolio, which can be provided to employers and graduate schools as an additional resource.
I will also create a video, and post it to the website prior to the first on campus class. This will allow the students to get to know the professors before class begins.
I will also create a video, and post it to the website prior to the first on campus class. This will allow the students to get to know the professors before class begins.
The best way to prepare for an interview is to mentally switch roles with the interviewer. If I were interviewing for a position, what would I look for in a candidate? Working in groups based on their major, students must create a rubric for interviewees in their field. They must determine not only what they are looking for, but how heavily each requirement weighs in comparison to other requirements. For example, candidate A has two years of work experience in this field and a bachelor's degree in a similar area. Candidate B has three years of work experience in a similar field, but not experience doing anything related to this position. Candidate B also has a master's degree. How do you choose between one or the other? Do you take into account their attire at the interview? Or how well they got along with the team? Will you require them to complete a task as part of the interview, such as give a presentation? Because the students in this class are from various majors with various schedules, Wiggio is the perfect tool for this project. It allows students to create a shared folder, link communication tools, and work collaboratively in an asynchronous way that will not disrupt the schedule of each student. This aligns with ISTE's second standard in that the students "interact, collaborate, and publish with peers, experts or others employing a variety of digital environments and media," as well as "contribute to project teams to produce original works or solve problems" (ISTE Standards for Students, 2a; 2d). Lastly, the teams interview the professor, along with a number of other professor volunteers, and make a hiring decision.
This can also be used among Senior Seminar professors across departments and institutions. It is a great way to communicate with professional peers, as well as student groups.
This can also be used among Senior Seminar professors across departments and institutions. It is a great way to communicate with professional peers, as well as student groups.