Teaching with technology is an iterative process. The first time you integrate a new technology into a course, there’s a fundamental uncertainty–simply because of the shift from a theoretical to a practical environment.

Public perception of the use of technology in the classroom is a simple equation:

But in reality, introducing a new technology in the classroom adds one more factor to what is already a complex experience with no sure outcome:

Which is why it’s fun to see how Colin Ives’ experimentation with drones over in A&AA has produced such intriguing results. The iterative nature of film-making (shoot, cut, edit, repeat) is reflected in the class’s use of the technology made available to them. Case in point: compare Yu Han & Kun Xia’s first and second uses of the drone over water. Not only is greater mastery of the technology achieved through this practice, but the aesthetic goals of the students were better represented. Because the technology deployed here is clearly already in alignment with the instructor’s pedagogy, the experience was relatively “user-friendly”–and the results are quite compelling.

If you’re considering adding some experimental technologies to your teaching, or just want to think through the possibilities here at UO, please consider the InTRO office a resource. We hold regular hours in Knight Library 147A, and we can get you connected to the resources for your own innovative classroom tech experiment! Our congratulations to Colin Ives and his zero week class–The Art of Drones is a great example of the kind of innovative practice we hope to see a lot of across the university!