Because learning changes everything.

Power Learning 2e

Chapter 8

Technology and Information

Competency

© 2020 McGraw Hill. All rights reserved. Authorized only for instructor use in the classroom.
No reproduction or further distribution permitted without the prior written consent of McGraw Hill.
 Technology and Academics
Technology has revolutionized academic life
• Course websites.
• Textbook platforms.
• Companion websites.
• Instructor podcasts and blogs.
• Classroom presentation programs such as
PowerPoint, Prezi, videos.
• Individual response technology.

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 Using the Internet and the Web
The World Wide Web.
• A graphical means of locating and accessing
information on the internet.

The Internet:
• The electronic network that connects millions of
computers together.
• Common uses include:
• E-mail, text, and instant messaging.
• Newsgroups and Listservs.
• RSS feeds.
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 Using E-mail Effectively
Certain e-mail providers enable users to
access their e-mail from anywhere in the
world.
Some schools require students to have a
school e-mail account.
• Check this account regularly.
• Have your mail from this account forwarded to
your regular account or vice-versa.

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 Writing Effective E-mails 1

• Use an informative subject heading.

• Make sure the recipient knows who you are.
• Keep messages short and focused.
• Include only one major topic per e-mail.

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 Writing Effective E-mails 2

• Put requests near the beginning of the e-

mail.
• Keep attachments to a minimum.
• Avoid abbreviations and emoticons in formal
e-mails.
• Be respectful and courteous.

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 Netiquette: Civility on the Web 1

• Don’t write anything in an e-mail or text that

you wouldn’t want everyone to see.
• Be careful of the tone you convey.
• Never write anything in an e-mail or text that
you wouldn’t say in person.

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 Netiquette: Civility on the Web 2

• Don’t use ALL CAPITAL LETTERS.

• Never send an e-mail or text when you are
angry.
• Be especially polite and professional when
e-mailing instructors or work supervisors.

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 In-Person Netiquette
• Turn off your cell phone in formal settings,
such as class or work.
• Don’t send texts or make calls while
someone else is speaking.
• Stay on task (not on Facebook) when taking
notes on a laptop during class.
• It’s still cheating, and therefore wrong, to
text or receive answers to problems during
class.
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 Spam Management and Safety 1

Tips for dealing with e-mail spam:

• Consider using two e-mail addresses (one for
personal e-mail and another one for newsgroups
and chat rooms).
• Don’t use anything close to your name for a user
name or screen name.
• Never give out your password.
• Change your password frequently.

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 Spam Management and Safety 2

• Never respond to e-mails that ask for

personal information.
• Do not click on any links in an e-mail until
you are sure the e-mail is from a legitimate
source.
• Never open an e-mail attachment from
someone you don’t know.
• Be cautious with social networking sites.

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 Spam Management and Safety 3

Keeping safe
• Don’t give out personal information.
• Never send photos of yourself or family members
to someone you don’t know.
• Don’t reply to e-mails that are offensive or weird.
• Don’t arrange to meet someone you’ve only met
on the web.
• If problems do arise, contact your campus or local
police.

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 Online/Distance Learning: Pros 1

• Distance learning courses offer tremendous

convenience.
• May be more flexible than brick-and-mortar
classes.
• Online classes may be self-paced.

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 Online/Distance Learning: Pros 2

• Contact with instructor may be greater.

• Shy students may find writing their
responses easier than speaking them in
front of a class.
• You can become a better writer.

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 Online/Distance Learning: Cons
• You are a prisoner of technology.
• You won’t have face-to-face contact with
your instructor or classmates.
• You won’t get immediate feedback.
• You need to have discipline, personal
responsibility, and time-management skills.

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 Online/Distance Learning – Prepare
Identifying and preparing for distance-learning
course possibilities
• Check your college.
• Do an internet search.
• Make sure your college will give you credit for the
course.
• Consider whether or not the course requirements
will fit in your schedule.
• Get feedback from others who have taken the
course, if possible.
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 Online/Distance Learning – Organize

Obtaining access to technology

• You will need basic skills and an e-mail account.
• Brush up on your computer skills before taking an
online course.
• You will need dependable and regular access to a
computer with internet access.

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 Online/Distance Learning – Work
The skill set for online courses is very
different from that of traditional courses
• Manage your time carefully.
• Check in frequently.
• Find an online partner.
• Make copies of everything.
• Have a technology backup plan.

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 Online/Distance Learning – Evaluate
Evaluate – Considering your “classroom”
performance
• Feedback comes from your instructor and
classmates.
• Ensure that your feedback to your classmates is
polite.

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 Online/Distance Learning – Rethink

Rethink – Reflect on what and how you have

learned
• Is distance learning for you?
• Have you learned the objectives of the course?
• Have you learned as much as you think you would
have in a traditional course?

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 Information Competency
Information competency is crucial.
• The ability to determine what information is needed, where
to get it, and effectively use it.

Libraries:
• Periodicals.
• Indexes and online databases.
• Encyclopedias.
• Government documents.
• Musical scores.
• Reserve collections.
• Use an interlibrary loan, if necessary.
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 Finding Information on the Web 1

There is a great deal of information available

on the web, but also plenty of disinformation
• Browser: A way of looking at information on the
web (Google Chrome, Microsoft Explorer, Mozilla
Firefox, etc.).
• URL: Identifies a unique location on the web.

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 Finding Information on the Web 2

• Web page: A document that presents you with

information.
• Links: Embedded in web pages that take you to
other locations on the web.
• Search engine: A computerized index of
information available on the internet (Yahoo,
Google, etc.).

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 Finding Information on the Web 3

Search tips
• Type your search in the form of a question.
• Identify the important words in the question, as
well as synonyms.
• Go to your search engine and type in two or three
words from your list.

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 Finding Information on the Web 4

• Open a new window and type in a new search

using different terms.
• Compare results and find similarities.
• Determine whether or not you’ve found the answer
you’re looking for.
• Resist the temptation to cut and paste the
information you found directly into your work.

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 Evaluating Information
How authoritative is the information?
• Remember, anyone can publish anything on the
web, whether or not it is correct.

How current is the information?

How well are claims documented?

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 End of Main Content

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© 2020 McGraw Hill. All rights reserved. Authorized only for instructor use in the classroom.
No reproduction or further distribution permitted without the prior written consent of McGraw Hill.