Name:  Toni Weiss

School: Tulane University

State: New Orleans, Louisiana

Job Title: Senior Professor of Practice, Department of Economics; Associate Director, Tulane’s Center for Engaged Learning and Teaching

How do you use Doceri? Do you use Doceri Desktop as well as the iPad app?

Let me start by saying that I have never used PowerPoint when I teach. I teach very large classes (190 students) in a theater type setting. As I lecture, I walk around the room, writing on my iPad, while everything is projected onto the large screen. So, I am essentially using the iPad and Doceri as if I was writing on a chalkboard in the front of the room. The ability to be mobile in the classroom has revolutionized my lectures!

Having content up on the screen makes it significantly easier for all students to see the material, including those who might have a sight impairment. Second, being able to walk among my students, makes the class significantly more engaging – I am no longer the “sage on the stage.” I can address smaller groups of students. Plus, projecting my voice from  different parts of the room keeps the students more focused. I feel like I am having a conversation with my students rather than talking at them.

As a check for understanding, I can hand my iPad to students and ask them contribute to solving a problem. Economics requires a lot
of graphs so I have the students draw different parts of the graphs and then “pass the iPad.” As the iPad makes its way down a row ofstudents the graphs form and everyone else can see mistakes as they happen.

I can further support my students by being able to save the notes an upload them to Canvas so students who have more difficulty taking notes don’t miss any information. Of course, I don’t write down everything I say, so the students still need to pay attention.

What have been the reactions of your students, other staff, and admin,  to your use of Doceri?

Only positive – the students routinely comment on course evaluations that they like that the notes are put up on the screen.

How has Doceri changed how you interact with your students during lectures/ presentations/ small group instruction?

As I said earlier, Doceri has allowed me to actually interact with the students where before it was more difficult.

Have you flipped your classroom?

No, I use a modified-flipped pedagogy. I incorporate lecture as well as active learning into every class period.

Do you have any advice for teachers new to using Doceri, creating screencasts, or integrating tech into their class routines?

I think the hardest part has been manipulating the screen on the iPad as I walk around and even more, getting used to writing on the iPad. I spent a lot of time before bringing it into the classroom practicing my writing. Realizing that I could turn the iPad so it is on landscape rather than portrait and then blowing up the screen helped amazingly.