UC Professor Finds Balance Between Tech & Teaching through eLearning Backpack Initiative

As he believes the key with any technology is finding the right balance, assistant chemistry professor and eLearning Backpacker Daniel Waddell strives to find the right balance in his teaching.

For example, when Waddell identifies a problem, he assesses how technology can help to solve it. On the other hand, he knows using technology simply because it is there may turn students away from learning.

The Backpack Project, an initiative of the Center for Excellence in eLearning, provides UC professors with innovative tools to help them create and deliver course information and engage with students.

Ten professors from six colleges within UC were selected for the first cohort and given a backpack full of tools to enhance their teaching methods. The tools included an Apple TV, iPad Air 32GB, stylus, a wireless USB mic, Swivl, Plantronics noise cancelling headset and Camtasia Studio Software. Optional technology included a Wacom Cintiq interactive tablet.

“Not only has the eLearning Backpack Project given me access to exciting technological tools to develop pedagogy, but also has allowed me to become part of a community of innovation,” Waddell said. 

Waddell loves the community aspect of the project, as it has allowed him to meet a variety of people from different disciplines and backgrounds all trying to reach the same goal.

Waddell uses the iPad and Apple TV from the backpack to project class demonstrations. He also uses the Wacom interactive tablet to create video tutorials, and Camtasia software to edit the videos.

He said the use of all the tools is pretty straightforward, and that there is no expectation of expertise in the program. 

“Going in with passion and excitement is the key,” Waddell said. 

Waddell said he is interested in seeing how students learn. If technology is the key to doing that, he is going to do his best to implement it in his teaching. If the key is standing on his head and juggling, he laughs, he is going to try to learn that too.

Waddell is also developing interactive practice tests and problem solving. He hopes this will help his students to see his thought process when solving problems, and use this to generate their own process. He has also piloted different online homework tools and polled students about different learning strategies and techniques.

Waddell said technology is just one tool in the entire teaching toolbox. It is a success if a segment of the student population really likes the technology and is gaining better learning outcomes as a result. Even if that is not all the students, technology is still reaching a segment of the student population that may have not been reached before.  

“That’s my goal in everything I do — I want to reach as many students as possible, and help them learn how to learn, and become better lifelong learners and be better equipped for whatever is in their future,” Waddell said.