Teaching Theory Through Technology
Antonio L Rappa
Abstract
In this paper, I focus on a web-based platform known as the Integrated Virtual
Learning Environment (IVLE) to teach political theory. The past three years have
demonstrated the use-value of the IVLE in teaching students of political science
and political theory. There are three main benefits to the use of IVLE: (1) tracking
(2) innovation (3) evaluation. Firstly, student performance is tracked
automatically such as performance level and depth of participation. Innovation
allows students to focus on diverse concepts as Plato's Analogy of the Cave, D.
H. Thoreau's The Beanfield, or 19th century American puritanical thought within
the same class. Innovation also allows students with different learning curves to
discover these thought experiments at a pace that is appropriate to them.
Evaluation and feedback is constantly provided to the student so that she or he is
aware of their position in terms of class rank and completed assignments. The
IVLE is not meant to replace the instructor and has the added benefit of providing
a professional and objective distance between students and teacher. Instructors
benefit from immediate student evaluation and feedback while the technology
allows all users to limit environmental waste.