A TLT Group Online Workshop led by Steve Gilbert, TLT Group, and Todd Zakrajsek, Central Michigan University, will be held June 6 and June 13, 2007, from 3:00–4:00 p.m. EST. Click here to register. In this age of too much to do, too little time, 5-minute clips and 5-minute workshops provide an attractive solution for exploring current options for teaching and learning with technology.

A five-minute workshop may be intended for independent individual use or for group activities such as workshops. For example, a recording of an audio-narrated set of PowerPoint slides could be designed to introduce and demonstrate a single skill to a faculty member working alone in his/her office. Alternatively, an audio-narrated set of PowerPoint slides could be designed to explain a simple teaching strategy, describe one or two examples of its use, and suggest several questions for discussion among a group of faculty during a small portion of a departmental meeting. This workshop explores the rationale behind such five-minute wonders, shares some existing examples and other resources, and shows you how to build some on your own.

Providing five minutes to glimpse a new tool or technique gives two groups a chance to test the attractiveness of that tool or strategy firsthand. For example, five-minute clips or workshops may attract faculty with weak tech skills who often feel fearful or hopelessly behind. When you ask them, “What new tech tools or strategies interest you?” or “What should we explore in our next workshop?” they don’t respond because they don’t know what’s out there. On the other hand, a five-minute offering also appeals to a second faculty group: those who are comfortable with technology but don’t respond to opportunities to learn about new tools or methods because they feel they don’t have time to take on anything more.

Designed to support professional development, teaching, or learning, a prerecorded five-minute clip or workshop combines some of the following: media, modalities, resources, plans, and activities. It includes at least some components available via the internet. When run without interruption, the prerecorded elements require less than five minutes to finish. However the person playing the prerecording may be so intrigued by some reference that she/he may interrupt the session to examine those items more closely. Such activities, determined solely by the player’s interest and willingness to engage, may quite legitimately extend the required time well beyond five minutes.

All of the TLT Group’s online offerings include use of low-threshold tools, examination of controversial issues, options for participants with a range of experience, and suggestions for assessment as you integrate what you’ve learned into your repertoire. For information about how TLT events are different from most others you’ve attended, click here. For information about this and other TLT Group workshops, click here.

Participants for this May/June workshop should sign in 15 minutes early for tech instructions and to meet others in the group; they also have the option of remaining online for a half-hour follow-up discussion immediately after the workshop.

Registration: Click here to register for this three-part workshop.

Workshop Pricing:
TLT Subscribers (Click here for a list of current member institutions ) FREE
Single log-in $50
Group with one log-in $100

If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact Sally Gilbert at sallygilbert@tltgroup.org.