North-West University’s Faculty of Humanities welcomes teaching with technology
The North-West University’s (NWU’s) Faculty of Humanities (FHUM) recently hosted a Teaching with Technology Showcase on the Potchefstroom Campus.
More than 40 academics representing the six schools in the faculty attended this face-to-face event, allowing lecturers the opportunity to demonstrate how they actively use technology in their modules and to learn from one another.
Prof Mpho Chaka’s office organised the event together with Mimi Nokuthula Masango, the faculty coordinator for teaching and learning, and Dr Kristien Andrianatos, the faculty coordinator for innovative teaching and learning with technology.
Nine lecturers showcased the technology tools they use for teaching and learning, including Mentimeter, Kahoot, Padlet, Genially, Canva, Cirrus and ChatGPT.
The Showcase was also Teach-In-Touch’s annual get-together – an inter-campus community of practice in the faculty that centres around innovative teaching and learning with technology.
Deputy dean for teaching and learning Prof Mpho Chaka says overall the showcase was a positive networking experience, allowing academics to network with colleagues in other schools on the benefits and challenges of implementing technology in teaching and learning.
“Our world is changing at a very fast pace. If we want to continue to deliver graduates who can thrive in this evolving landscape and who are equipped to be the leaders of tomorrow, we must be innovative and adapt our academic approaches. This can only be done by including technology in our teaching and learning,” says Prof Chaka.
“As a strategic priority, teaching with technology speaks to using tools integrated with learning management systems (LMSs) and involves different media types and functions.
“With these multiple possibilities, the most consistent tip in teaching with technology is that academics should choose a particular technology based on its compatibility with the teaching and learning objectives of a course,” he adds.
He says academics should not simply use technology as an “add-on” to the classroom, and that there must be a specific reason and purpose for including technological tools.
If you are a lecturer interested in technology, please contact Dr Andrianatos at [email protected] for more information on joining the Teach-in-Touch community of practice.