Graduates should be able to use various forms of technology in their interactions with students and in their own professional development. Specifically, students should be able to:
- utilize communication tools such as electronic mail, video conferencing, and/or designing web pages;
- use research tools such as electronic data bases, world wide web searching, and other on-line sources;
- use multi-media in making presentations before professional audiences.
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High Sierra Co-Curriculum/Curriculum Map
One of my favorite courses in the M.Ed. of College Student Affairs program was Student Learning in the Co-Curriculum. During this course, I was introduced to the concept of co-curriculum mapping based on the ideas and theories set forth in Learning Reconsidered 2 (2006). This map of the High Sierra curriculum and co-curriculum was presented at the NASPA conference in Seattle, WA (March 2009). I designed the website that houses the map, which is is entirely interactive for viewers and includes the PowerPoint presentation used at NASPA.
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In an age of digital cameras, every semester produces literally thousands of pictures. By sharing some of these pictures via web albums on the High Sierra website, parents, family and friends can get a glimpse into the lives of our students. I updated these web albums numerous times throughout the semester focusing on the larger community events such as trek, San Francisco art field trip, and mud football. Student provide the photos used in these albums and parents have thanked us for sharing these photos.
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Today's college students are extremely talented with and connected to technology; in fact, they are the most technology dependent generation to date (Howe & Strauss, 2007). To stay in touch with friends and family, students commonly use the social networking phenomenon of Facebook. Taking a lesson from my students I began to seek creative ways to use Facebook. I designed the High Sierra Alumni group page to help faculty and staff remain in contact with students who have returned to main campus. This page has proved useful in communicating with alumni regarding reunions, gathering updated information, and passing along updates on the program, faculty, and staff. Beyond corresponding with alumni, Facebook has proved exceedingly beneficial as a communication tool with current and future students.
