Syllabus EME 5403

Technology in Education

T. Cavanaugh  
e-mail: tcavanau@unf.edu 
web: www.unf.edu/~tcavanau 

Course Description: This introductory course provides information and skills for future and current teachers in the effective use instructional technology, focusing on the use of the microcomputer and application software in the classroom. In addition to the technology, concepts include introduction in educational learning theory, methods, and applications. Students learn through weekly assigned readings, lectures, and hands-on lab experiences.

Course Topics: Computer basics, e-mail, World Wide Web, telecommunications, word processors, spreadsheets, databases, computer managed instructions, integrated software packages, ergonomics, multimedia, authoring & presentation tools, operating systems, software evaluation, hardware, technology integration, educational theory.

Evaluation: Course grades are based on activities, projects and lab assignments.

Target Learners: Current Future educators (It's a required course for admission into the college of education.) It also may be applied to recertification at all grades and subject areas.

Text:

Required:
Integrating Educational Technology into Teaching, 3^rd ed. 2003. Roblyer, ISBN 0-13-042319-X 

Learning to Read in the Computer Age, by Anne Meyer & David Rose
ISBN 1571290702. This text is available from Amazon or can be read totally online for free at http://www.cast.org/products/ from the CAST organization.

Optional:
Microsoft Office for Teachers, 1^st ed. 2003. Fewell & Gibbs, 2003, ISBN 0-13-032401-9

Distance Learning
Distance learning, if you are new to it, is an exciting and very different learning situation from the classroom. It is important for you to realize that is takes a good amount of self-discipline to keep up. If you keep up I’m sure that you will do well

Some Points on using BlackBoard

Your BlackBoard username is the same as your osprey user ID (aka "login ID", "username").
If you already use the osprey system (e.g. e-mail), then you know your BlackBoard username.
If you’ve never used osprey before and therefore don’t know your BlackBoard username, you can look it up on the Osprey Account Information web page.

Your initial password is a combination of the first five digits of your SSN (social security number) and the month and day of your birth in the following format: SSS-SS-MMDD (with the dashes). You can change this after you log in by going to the Personal Setting section.

The course internal e-mail is for communication between class members and will use the e-mail address that you supply in your personal setting. If wish to contact the instructor or send in assignments you should e-mail them to my main mail address: tcavanau@unf.edu . Be sure to include EME5403 in the subject of your message. You do not have to use the e-mail that is initially listed, you may change the listing to one of your choice and then continue to use your own e-mail.

The discussion board/forum is an important component of the class. It is required that you participate with the discussion/forum topics and provide not only your own information but also comment/reply to others.

All of your assignments and your main section to work out of is the Course Contents section. Make sure that you check weekly to see if any new material has been added.

STUDENT ASSESSMENT

Expectations

Project assignments (details in assignments section) are to be submitted via email or on diskette. All assignments should be submitted as attachments in Rich Text Format (RTF) or if possible MS Office. You should also include the course number and assignment statement in the subject. Assignments must be delivered by the given due date. Assignments up to one week late will only be worth half credit, and more than a week late will not be accepted.

PRODUCTS:

Paper: (1) - Paper should be three to four pages, in APA style. You will be publishing many more times and this is an opportunity to practice and get feedback. You should take advantage of it and pay attention to format, spelling, and grammar. References are the spice of life, use them often and correctly!  Information Paper Topic - We are told from every corner that we live in an "information society" driven by an "information economy". What does this mean? What does this mean to education? How does it change the role of teachers, students and schools? How is the nature of information changing? How does change itself change what we do as teachers?
This paper should examine issues and societal trends and their effect on education.

Portfolio (1) - The portfolio project is actually a series of six one page portfolio reflections. Portfolio development has become an important component of the education process. In this activity you will create portfolio reflections based upon the labs or activities that you have completed in this course. In your portfolio associate the item with the Florida Teacher Technology Standards and cross reference them with an international technology standard for teachers (see the ISTE list).

Your each reflection of your portfolio should address these points:

• State the standard that the item addresses and the organization that the standard comes from.
• Briefly describe what you are including as a sample of your ability.
• How does the item indicate completion of the Technology Standard?
• What does this item say about your skills and abilities as a technology using educator?

Action Research (1) - The action research project will be having you experience and use a new "learning/teaching" technology and you writing up your experiences and findings.

Projects: (9)

1. Software Evaluation - Using the guidelines, rubrics and forms from the website, review commercially available software in your discipline. Recommend buying or not buying.

2. Hardware Evaluation -- Using the guidelines, rubrics from the website, review commercially hardware and construct a rubric for your evaluation then write up the results

3-4. Generic Tools - (Office based preferred, contact professor if other program is desired)

1.       Design and produce a one-page document to advertise an event or provide information to students or parents. Include at least one graphic, a headline in a different font and size, and format at least part of the text in two or more columns.

2.      Use database or spreadsheet tools to include some calculated information, such as dollar amounts or GPA, and student information such as name, address, or organization/activity information.

5. Presentation - Create an electronic presentation of an educational concept. The presentation should include text, at least two images, and at least two links or buttons. It should be at least 6 slides or frames. The presentation may be created using PowerPoint. Turn in your presentation by email or digital drop box.

6. Web Lesson Plan - Research web-based resources in your discipline. Write a brief lesson plan that includes the use of these resources.

7. Web Page - Create an instructional web page in your discipline as outlined in your Web Lesson Plan. The page should contain information, graphics and links.

8. Web Site Evaluation - Compare a given set of sources using evaluation tools and determine which would be the most appropriate for the given situation.

9. Assistive Device Activity - Given a specific situation investigate and determine an appropriate device to use as an assistive technology device for a child.

In addition to the above project/products there may be quizzes and there are a series of on-line discussion forums.

Grading

Grades will be determined by the sum percentage of points earned in each component of the listed assignments.
90-100 A, 80-89 B, 70-79 C, 60-69 D, less than 60 percent F

Disabled Students

Please notify the instructor within the first week if a reasonable accommodation for a disability is needed for this course. Additional resource information is available through the Graduate Student Handbook. A letter from the Office of Student Disability Services must accompany the request.

Last updated 03/26/04