Integrating Technology
into the Curriculum
EDUC 506, May 2011
Instructor: Mr. Daniel Cantrell
E-mail: [See Syllabus on Blackboard]
Office Hours: By appointment
Office Hours: By appointment
Skype: [See Syllabus on Blackboard]
Class Blog: http://educ506may2011.blogspot.com/
College of Graduate Studies, Concordia University, Nebraska
This course is designed to provide students with a practical understanding of educational technology, computer use and applications, integration of technology in classroom curriculum, and use of the World Wide Web as an information repository and learning tool.
This hands-on course will provide teachers with opportunities to use and explore existing hardware, software and Internet resources in order to incorporate them into the design process.
Each teacher will be expected to use course information to design an instructional unit that effectively integrates technology as a tool for enhancing the learning environment.
Course Rationale:
Technology encompasses the tools and strategies for critical thinking, problem solving, using information accurately, appropriately, increasing productivity, and enhancing personal growth.
While educators are aware of the high level of technology integration in the classroom, many teachers are unprepared to use technology in their classrooms and do not know where to begin learning how to do so.
"The challenge is not simply to incorporate learning technologies into current institutional approaches, but rather to change our fundamental views about effective teaching and learning and to use technology to do so." (Higher Education in an Era of Digital Competition: Choices and Challenges by Donald E. Hanna and Associates. Atwood Publishing, 2000, p.61.)
The goal is to help students live, learn and work successfully and responsibly in an increasingly complex, technology-driven society. To accomplish this, it is essential that integrating technology into the curriculum be an integral part of a student’s educational experience.
Course Goals and Objectives:
The goals of this course are:
- To create effective learning environments and experiences supported by technology
- To understand and use Web 2.0 technologies
- To develop computer literacy skills necessary to locate, evaluate, and use communication and information resources to support teaching and learning
- To develop skills in integrating computers in different curriculum areas
- To understand the concepts and skills outlined in the National Educational Technology Standards for Teachers
- To identify the responsible, ethical, and legal uses of technology, information, and software resources
- To evaluate software applications
To appreciate the range of technology applications available and what they can do to enhance educational practice and learning
Students who successfully complete this course will be able to:
a. Describe the fundamentals of computers and educational technology
b. Articulate why computers are essential components in society, the business world, and K-12 education
c. Use the World Wide Web as a repository of the latest information and as an educational resource and learning tool for K-12 education
d. Plan and design effective learning environments and experiences through the integration of technology resources and technology-based methods into everyday curriculum
e. Select software and instructional media for use in classrooms
f. Develop curricular activities that include computer applications and use hypermedia and multimedia programs
g. Apply educational strategies to use technology to serve students who have special needs
h. Model and teach legal and ethical practice related to technology use
i. Create a teacher web presence using current technologies
Commitment to Learning:
By entering this course and accepting this syllabus, students are asked to:
1. Read assigned material and be prepared to participate in discussions each week in both large and small groups. Students must be able to support positions with relevant research on topics covered – these will be accomplished through posts and comments on the course blog.
2. Complete Written assignments which may include a research paper.
3. Complete a research project (Technology Tutorial) to share with class ( Power Point presentation, video, podcast, wiki, blog or other project format approved by instructor) posted to course blog.
4. Maintain Del-icio-us account to store and share research information.
5. Maintain a weekly journal to reflect on professional growth and development.
6. Update portfolio with relevant artifacts in the appropriate teaching standards to demonstrate professional growth and development.
Required Text: Shelly, G.B., Cashman, T.J., Gunter, G.A. & Gunter, R.E. (2010). Teachers Discovering Computers: Integrating Technology and Digital Media in the Classroom (6th Edition). Boston: Cengage (ISBN: 978-1-439-07835-8 or Supplemental Companion (Online) http://oc.course.com/sc/tdc5/index.cfm
Academic Honor Code:
Concordia University recognizes honesty and integrity as necessary to the academic purpose and function of the institution. CUNE, therefore, expects a high standard of individual honor in all academic endeavors from each student. Academic dishonesty includes cheating and plagiarism. Students found guilty of academic dishonesty are subject to disciplinary action.
ADA:
Any student needing special accommodations due to a physical, mental or learning disability should contact the Coordinator for Student Disability Services at CUNE. It is the responsibility of each student to make an official request to the Coordinator for academic accommodations.
Course Requirements:
1. Weekly Papers/Reflections: Each week I will post on Blackboard a number of discussion questions – some will be required questions while others will be your choice. Each student should submit through Blackboard their response. The purpose of the weekly paper is for you, in 1-2 pages, to briefly summarize your impression of the week’s material. These will be private submissions.
2. Blog Posts: I have setup a free blog for our class on blogger.com: http://educ506may2011.blogspot.com/ I hope that by using a blog throughout this course you will all become more familiar with how blogs work and can be used as a technology resource for teachers. Each week you will be responsible for 1 blog post between 250-400 words. There will be additional information regarding the blog posts posted on the course blog. Please send me your gmail address ASAP so I can add you as an author on the blog. Delaying this will cause you to not be able to complete assignments.
3. Blog Comments: Part of the beauty of Web 2.0 is the interactive nature of the web. Each student will be asked to comment on at least 2 blog posts by other students each week. Each comment should be less than 100 words to promote brevity in comments. Comments will be graded as a credit/no credit assignment. You are encouraged to engage with the comments posted to your blog post.
4. Technology Tutorial: You may have an idea of a technology that you will make extensive use of in your class. For example, a classroom wiki may be something you want to use each year with your classes. Or you think Skype could be interesting to have face-to-face conversations online. Each student will be responsible for creating a tutorial for their chosen technology that will be shared with the rest of the class on the Blog. As part of this tutorial I would like you to consider two audiences: teachers and students. How would you instruct other teachers to use the technology and how would you instruct your students on using the technology.
5. Final Project: As a final culminating project you have a choice of either (1) writing a 10 page research paper or (2) creating a technology project. The project can be a website, wiki, blog, etc... that should directly related to your use of technology in the classroom. Before starting your final project we will discuss your topic to make sure it is appropriate for the class. I hope that this will be a project that will allow you to explore a concept or topic that is most relevant and interesting to you.
Grading:
Point Summary: Pts Due by noon (CST) on:
Blog Posts (6 @ 15 points each) 90 Thursday of each week
Blog Comments (14 @ 5 points each) 70 Saturday of each week
Weekly Papers (6 @ 15 points each) 90 Saturday of each week
Technology Tutorial (1 @ 30 points) 30 Thursday, 6/2
Final Project 100 Saturday, 7/2
Total Possible - 380 points
The following table indicates the number of points and the percent of total possible points associated with each grade.
Grade Percent Total Points
A 93-100 (353-380)
A- 90-92 (342-352)
B+ 87-89 (330-341)
B 83-86 (315-329)
B- 80-82 (304-314)
C+ 77-79 (292-303)
C 73-76 (277-291)
C- 70-72 (266-276)
D+ 67-69 (254-265)
D 63-66 (239-253)
D- 60-62 (228-238)
F 0-59 (0-227)
Note about grading:
Any late assignments will be subject to at least a full grade penalty and will be accepted at the discretion of the instructor. If you are likely to have trouble completing an assignments please contact me ahead of time to make arrangements. Please make sure to submit your blog post by the deadline so that other students may add their comments.
Weekly Schedule:
Each week’s material will become available on Sunday morning. Assignments are due by noon CST on the day listed in the schedule above. Please plan on submitting your blog posts as early in the week as possible to allow interaction with other students.
The final project will need to be submitted to the course blog no later than noon on Sat – July 2, 2011.
