IT is time to put all my theories to the test.
Well, perhaps not all. I don't quite know how to test my theory that sharks will not eat politicians out of professional courtesy.
However, many of my theories are about to be put to the test.
One theory is about how we can use new tools in education. The test subject: me.
I have returned to school at the age of 53.
Over the next few years, I am taking a master's in communications and we have begun the first classes. "Classes" may be a bit misleading, as the majority of the work is being done online, so "sessions" may be a better term.
I am in the happy position of being able to use myself as guinea pig and test out first-hand many of the ways technology can be a benefit in education. The online nature of my course is perfect, and I am very excited as I begin.
Actually, I am most excited about the fact that I can go to a school where the teacher can't hit me (child of the '60s - you draw the picture).
My new school, Royal Roads, has a rich history of
delivering distance education and has a well-tested curriculum. An online tool (Moodle) is the framework where the school community meets and exchanges everything from idle chitchat to course materials and assignments.
I am determined to use the tools I speak so frequently about.
So with our first reading assignments I have committed to avoiding printing any pages at all. I am going to be the greenest of green students.
The first assignment included reading four or five, 10-to 20-page PDF papers.
I downloaded the papers to my computer, then uploaded them to DropBox where I can access the papers on my iPad.
Now I had to make my first decision. I needed to choose an app to read my papers.
Normally, if you printed the papers you could make notes on the printed pages, then refer to those notes as you write your assignments. But as I intend not to print, I need an app that will allow me to make notes on the PDF documents, and save them back to DropBox so I can open my note-enriched papers on my computer when it is time to write my assignments. Following me so far?
There are hundreds of apps that will allow you to annotate PDF documents, but the one I chose is Notability (99 cents).
I am able to open the PDF documents, make notes using handwriting and highlighting (using a stylus) and save the documents as I go.
So far, after only a few days I am getting into the swing of the process. I do think it is easier to accomplish this the oldfashioned way, with paper and pen, but I am hoping that I will gain a comfort level with the process.
As time goes on, Mother Nature - if not the B.C. logging and pulp and paper industries - will thank me.
The downside is the actual note-taking. I am still not 100 per cent onboard with the iPad and stylus combination, but I am convinced it is only a matter of time before it becomes second nature.
Technology is going to be tested as I go through this process, every bit as much as I will be, and it will be fascinating to see how both perform.
Now, if you will excuse me, I have some reading to do.
Steve Dotto is host of Dotto Tech, 6 p.m. Wednesdays on AM650. Email your questions and comments to questions@ dottotech.com. Visit him online at www.dottotech.com or at www.facebook.com/dottotech.
