What is “technology in the classroom” that so many job applications ask for?

manpreet Best Answer 2 years ago

manpreet 2 years ago

It's hard to guess exactly what the authors of the advertisement meant. However, there are lots of technologies that the advertisement could be referring to, including

• Graphing calculators.
• Numerical and symbolic computation software (MATLAB, Maple, Mathematica, etc.)
• "Clicker" audience response systems.
• Lecture capture recordings.
• Prepared video clips for students to view outside of class.
• Learning Management Systems like Blackboard, Canvas, etc.
• Systems for online discussion of the course such as Piazza.
• Computer based homework systems like WebWork, Maple TA, etc.

In evaluating candidates, I want to know what experience they've had with these technologies and how they've decided to incorporate them into their teaching.

Most experienced instructors will have used at least some of these and have opinions about how best to use them. A candidate who can't talk intelligently about these technologies is probably lacking teaching experience. Someone who claims experience with these technologies and has the "wrong" opinions about how to use them will likely be seen as a poor fit for the position.

Before you go for an on-campus interview (or even for a telephone or skype screening interview), it would be a good idea to see what technologies have been adopted at the campus you're visiting so you can be prepared to discuss this during your interview.