Sections Model – Digital Images

A response to the Using the SECTIONS Model to Evaluate a Tool Activity
created by Maria Romios (@MariaR)

Number of views: 218


The SECTIONS model was extremely useful and helped me consider many of the areas (Security/Privacy, Organizational Issues) at a deeper level. Areas like Cost and Ease of Use were more at the forefront of my mind as I know this directly effects accessibility and ability to complete the task. I think things like ‘Universal Design’ are also important to consider because it is possible that some of these digital technologies cannot be completed without vision, or access to a personal aid to help you.

Overall, I liked this activity, but it was a little lengthy to complete for every classroom activity I would like to try. I think it’s important to consider these areas, but perhaps not EVERY question for every activity. Ideally yes, but realistically, probably not. Maybe there is a way to have a more quantitative checklist vs qualitative explanations. I think this would be more time effective for the instructor.

 

 

https://h5p.org/node/100161

Enter your “Students” response:

Yes we have access to digital images through unsplash.com.
The institution supports our use of this technology by the instructor modelling how to use it through examples.
We can access these images from any location (school, home, work) with different devices (computer, cell phone, iPad).
Students need to be able to view images in order to match a definition to an appropriate image.
Student do not need to purchase this technology, it’s free!

Enter your “Ease of Use” response

Unsplash.com is very easy to use! All you do is download an image from their database!
You don’t need to maintain anything once the image is downloaded it is on your computer ready to be used.
When you download an image it is royalty free and freely usable and it doesn’t matter if the provider ceases to exist.
There is no official technical support, but you can google it and it is quite straight forward. Only click and download.

Enter your “Cost” response

This activity doesn’t take much time to develop. Unsplash.com is already online and ready to use. Something like Padlet could be used to store all the images and definitions. It would only take a few minutes to set up on the facilitators side.
My institution does have some funding for innovative use of technologies in teaching, but it would not be necessary in this circumstance because everything is free.
I could inquire about instructional design and digital media professional support from the Teaching Commons at York University.
OER like unsplash.com or Padlet would be appropriate to supporting my teaching and use of technology.

Your Teaching and Pedagogical Considerations response:

Yes, this use of technology (digital images) sports the desired learning outcomes of improving familiarity and comfortability with new vocabulary and terms for music analysis.
This technology represents the ability to connect a picture to a word instead of just relying on written/verbal communication. I think this is a unique pedagogical characteristic which is not utilized often enough in music. As many music majors already connect images (sheet music / notes) to sounds.

Your “Interaction” response:

The technology facilitates interactions between the term and visual image. This is a skill musicians are usually already accustomed to when reading music. It should help stimulate their memory when trying to study.
Yes, the technology supports a good balance of instructor interaction time and student comprehension/skills development. It should take less than an hour for a student to compete this activity. The class would benefit from sharing the images collected by other students for their terms. This can then be shared through something like Padlet and referred to at any time.

Your “Organisational Issues” response:

York University has a department called ‘Teaching Commons’. I find they are very helpful when searching for options to use for teaching with technology. It is accessible as you can email them anytime. They are continuously making new courses and updating the old ones.
I am not sure if ‘release time’ would be relevant to the type of activity I am using with digital images. No permission is necessary.
I will not have to follow (or use) a ‘learning management system’ or ‘lecture capture system’ for this assignment. Some professors support and encourage TA’s to try something new, while others completely reject and prohibit this endeavour.

Your “Networking” response:

It is important for learners to network with others beyond the course in order to further absorb new terminology. The more it is repeated, the more natural it becomes. This technology supports this as students need to post their image with all their peers responses to share it. As a study tool, they will learn from everyone’s responses as a whole to the activity.
Digital images can be posted anywhere! If you wanted to use Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter – these are all possibilities for sharing vs Padlet.

Your Security and Privacy response:

Students’ names and information should be kept private so something let Padlet would be ideal as it can be contributed to anonymously.
Technologes like Facebook or Intragram may be more risky – but you can keep your profile private if this is a concern for individuals in your course. York University has had privacy breaches through email in the past, so something sent through email can be compromised though it is uncommon. York has an ‘Information and Privacy Coordinator’ who can be contacted for questions.
I don’t believe the activity needs to be made available ONLY to students registered in my course, though there are options to make it private so that other individuals cannot access it. I think Padlet would be ideal because you need the link to access the collaborative Padlet. The downside is if someone shares the link – others can view it as well, but not contribute to it.

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