learning and teaching with tech 9 week syllabus

Course Number: Course Title:

Building a Technology Tool BeltMaximizing the potential of technology in the classroom

9 Week Course 3 Semester Hours Graduate CreditChristopher Polizzi [email protected]

1. Catalog DescriptionThis 9 week course is based on best practice designed to help teachers to create a cogent program that integrates a variety of technological resources. Participants will learn how to use technology to promote the development of concepts, to build knowledge and skills, to engage learners in critical thinking and to foster collaboration. Students will learn a variety of Web 2.0 tools that will be used to research and influence a unit of curriculum. The tools will be utilized within the unit and help with the assessment of the unit.

2. Catalog OverviewStudents will walk through a sequential process of learning how to learn and teach with technology that will expand upon their own personal learning strategies, their use of technology within their classroom, and how technology can improve education as a whole. The course will be broken into five phases. Phase one is archiving, sharing, and organization. Students will learn how to save, share, and organize information on the web for professional and class use. Phase two is Media Literacy or how to find new media resources to incorporate in class. Phase three is Information Literacy including advance research and evaluation techniques. Phase four is reflection and collaboration in the digital age using blogs, wikis, multimedia podcasts, and screencasts (Read/Write Web). Phase five is participation for learning. Students will learn about the value of building a personal learning network using social media networks like Ning, Facebook, and Twitter. Upon completion of this course, students will have built a foundation of learning that will provide them with a new context with which to utilize technology in the learning process. The final product of the learning experience will be a technology infused unit of curriculum that incorporates the use of a variety of technology tools including: tagging, Delicious, Diigo, Creative Commons copyright, RSS readers, custom search engines, website evaluation resources, advance search, blogs, wikis, podcasts, video sites, screencasts, multimedia presentation tools, and social networks.

3. Student Learning Objectives:As a result of this course, participants will be able to:

Select appropriate uses of technology in the classroom. Identify a gap between student performance and NETS; then create a unit of study to

address that gap. Use the latest technology tools to present material, create activities and assess student

achievement. Create and implement learning activities that enhance the identified NETS for students. Enhance current teaching practices via the NETS for teachers.

1. Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity

2. Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments

3. Model Digital-Age Work and Learning

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4. Promote and Model Digital Citizenship and Responsibility5. Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership

4. Teaching Method/Class FormatThe majority of class time will be working with technology in a hands-on lab setting. Some direct instruction will be followed immediately by application of the new skill. Instruction will be differentiated as needed, to meet the needs of the group. Small flexible groups will be created as needed to explore the emerging technologies and learning processes.

Class meetings will involve a combination of presentation, discussion, hands-on laboratory, and personal reflection. In addition, students are encouraged to participate in class discussion. Each student will have access to a computer connected to the Internet as well as an opportunity to use various other pieces of multimedia technology including an LCD projector connected to a computer.

5. Provided Texts and Required Readings

The Horizon Report (2010). Emerging technologies likely to have considerable impact on teaching, learning, and creative expression within higher education. Retrieved April 21, 2010 from http://wp.nmc.org/horizon2010/.

ISTE. (2008). National Educational Technology Standards. Retrieved February 9, 2010 from http://www.iste.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=NETS.

US Department of Education National Educational Technology Plan. American Education: Learning Powered by Technology. Retrieved April 21, 2010 from http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/os/technology/techreports.html.

Hogan, K. (Ed.). (2010). Tech and Learning Magazine (Several current articles)

Bushweller, K. (Ed.). (2010) Digital Directions. Education Week, (Several current articles)

Other Suggested Texts:

Brooks-Young, S. (2007). Digital-Age Literacy for Teachers Applying Technology Standards to Everyday Practice. Washington D.C.: Intl Society for Technology in.

Brooks-Young, Susan. Making Technology Standards Work for You: a Guide to the NETS-A for School Administrators with Self-assessment Activities. Eugene, Or.: International Society for Technology in Education, 2009. Print.

Coyle, D. (2009). The Talent Code: Greatness Isn't Born. It's Grown. Here's How. New York, NY: Bantam Dell.

November, A. (2009). Web Literacy for Educators. Thousand Oaks, California: Corwin Press.Richardson, W. (2009). Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts, and Other Powerful Web Tools for Classrooms.

Thousand Oaks, California: Corwin Press.Tapscott, D. (2009). Grown up digital how the net generation is changing your world. New

York: McGraw-Hill.Warlick, D. (2004). Redifing Literacy for the 21st Century. New York: Linworth Publishing.

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http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/os/technology/techreports.html

http://www.iste.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=NETS

http://wp.nmc.org/horizon2010/

6. Units of Work

Phase 1: Foundational work on the overall scope and sequence of the course. Implementation of the foundational skill of Archiving as phase one. The invention of the web has created a new Dewey Decimal System. This first phase will go over how to archive, share, and organize the abundance of information on the web to find current and relevant information for personal development and classroom use. The web organization “tagging” will be discussed as well as tools to perform this organization.

Activities:

Week One

1. Introduction to the course.

2. Set up a website to create a technology integrated curriculum unit.

3. Presentation on the impact of Archiving and what that means for online learning today.

4. Take control of the abundance of information online.

5. Signup, overview, and implementation of Delicious.com.

6. Assignment #1 Overview - Archiving tool and participation in classroom unit archive.

Week Two

7. Signup, overview, and implementation of Diigo.com.

8. Demonstration of the capabilities of Evernote.com.

9. Assessment of Assignment #1 - Archiving tool and participation in classroom unit archive.

10. Introduction into Media Literacy, phase.

11. Assignment #2 – Set up a collaborative wiki classroom assignment using Wikispaces.com (10 Points).

NETS Standards Addressed:



3. Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership

Phase 2: Implementation of Media Literacy, phase two while emphasizing the overlap with Archiving or phase one. Media Literacy is the ability to find accurate, relevant, current, informative resources from old and new media to foster learning on a topic. Examples of new media are websites, blogs, podcasts, social networks, and video sites. New media resources will be organized using an RSS feed online “reader”.

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Activities:

Week Three

1. Sharing and follow-up from phase one.

2. Presentation on the overlap and conjunction of Archiving and Media Literacy.

3. Assignment #3 - Development of online RSS feed “reader”; feed will contain unit information/research for students.

4. Installation, signup, and implementation of Google Reader.

5. Compare Google Reader with Bloglines.com or Netvibes.com.

Week Four

6. Sharing of Archiving techniques in conjunction with Media Literacy.

7. Demonstration of the power of video and podcasts in the learning process.

8. Practice collecting, sharing, and utilizing online video and podcasts.

9. Assessment of Assignment #3 - Informal demonstration of their online “reading tool of choice” - Development of Online “Reader”.

10. Assignment #4 – Persuasive Blog Post (10 Points)




3. Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership

Phase 3: Implementation of the Research phase three or Information Literacy portion of the course. Information Literacy includes advance web search techniques and website evaluation. Research has taken on a completely new meaning because of phase one, Archiving, and phase two, Media Literacy. Students will learn how to set up Custom Search Engines for their classrooms and search more effectively with advance techniques. Can “new media” resources like blogs and podcasts serve as a research source? How does Wikipedia and copyright fall into the research process?

Activities:

Week Five

1. Sharing and follow-up from the Media Literacy phase.

2. Presentation on Wikipedia and Creative Commons Copyright.

3. Find Creative Commons materials for classroom use.

4. Presentations on the Google Empire and taking advantage of all they have to offer for educators.

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Week Six

5. Demonstration of moderate and advanced research techniques within Google.

6. Practice research techniques while utilizing Archiving and Media Literacy skills.

7. Introduction of final assessment.

8. Demonstration of Voicethread – Voicethread Assignment #5 (10 Points).




Phase 4: Phase four is Reflection and Collaboration the Digital Age. This phase is focused on evaluating the learning process and choosing the best path moving forward. The foundational skills provided in the first three phases are essential to establishing quality reflections. How can a teacher grow and classroom learning flourish using blogs, wikis, screencasts, and multimedia reflection tools. What implications does the Read/Write Web have on the classroom?

Activities:

Week Seven

1. Sharing and follow-up from the core foundational skills of Archiving, Media Literacy, and Information Literacy and Search in Research.

2. Demonstration of Blogger.com, Edublogs.com, Kidsblog.com, Wikispaces.com and a few other possibilities. Review of Voicethread.com as a collaboration, planning, reflection, learning, assessment tool.

3. Installation, signup, and implementation of student’s chosen tool; Blogger.com, Edublogs.com, Kidsblog.com, Wikispaces.com, and others.

4. Development of reflection tool of choice.

5. Assign Part 1 of Assignment #7 Blog Reflection.

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Week Eight

6. Demonstration of Screencasts and other Multimedia Reflection Tools.

7. Students create a Multimedia/Screencast Reflection “How To” – Assignment #6 – Demonstration of a Multimedia Reflection.

8. Signup and introduction to Ning.com.

9. Signup and introduction to Twitter.com/Plurk.comEdmodo.com.

10. Student work time and group tuning on Final Presentations.

11. Assign Part 2 of Assignment #7 Blog Reflection.





Phase 5: The final phase is Participation and building a Personal/Professional Learning Network. This phase is critical for expanding upon one’s understanding of technology’s creative possibilities within education. Those that have a foundation in the core skills should be more effective participants within the online learning community. Can social networks keep teachers up to date consistently receiving professional development?

Activities:

Week Nine

1. Sharing and follow-up of the Reflection phase.

2. Presentation on Personal Learning Networks.

3. Practice utilizing Ning.com, Twitter.com or Plurk.com as a learning and teaching tool.

4. Assess Participation in online, class group discussions, and social networking component for Assignment #8 and #9. How can social networks create a better teacher? Why is it important for students to learn about social networks?

5. Students will present their final curriculum unit presentation.




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7. Class Assignments

1. Creation of archiving tool and participation in group archive. (10 Points)2. Group written collaborative essay. (10 Points)3. Development of online “reader”. (10 Points)4. Persuasive blog post. (10 Points)5. Voicethread (10 Points)6. Demonstration of a multimedia reflection tool. (5 Points)7. Blog reflection. (10 Points)8. Participation in social networking component. (10 Points)9. Participation in online and class group discussions. (10 Points)10. Creation and final presentation of a technology influenced curriculum unit. (15 Points)

8. Evaluation and Grading Procedures

Grade PointsA 92 - 100B 83 – 91C 74 - 82

F 73 points and below

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Assignment Directions and Rubrics:

Assignment #1 - Creation of Archiving Tool (10 Points) (10 % of Overall Grade)

Directions:

1. Each student will create a Delicious and Diigo account per directions supplied by the instructor.

2. Find sites that are of interest to your personal learning or for classroom use. As you find sites of interest, use the list of features and collaborative techniques for Delicious and Diigo that were supplied by the instructor.

3. Be prepared to demonstrate the list of features and collaborative tasks.

Criteria 4 2 0Signup Student successfully

signed up for the toolStudent was unsuccessful in signing up for the tool.

Demonstration of Features

Student demonstrated advanced techniques of the assigned tool.

Student demonstrated basic techniques of the assigned tool.

Student cannot demonstrate even basic use of the assigned tool.

Demonstration of Collaboration

Student demonstrated advanced collaboration techniques.

Student demonstrated basic collaboration techniques.

Student did not demonstrate basic collaboration techniques.

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Assignment #2 - Set up a collaborative wiki classroom assignment using Wikispaces.com (10 Points)

(10% of Overall Grade)

Directions:

1. Each student will set up a wiki for their classroom. After assigning usernames and passwords for students assign an assignment where work is posted on the class wiki.

2. The wiki assignment should be collaborative in nature and utilize features of wikispaces..

Criteria 4 3 2 0Set up of wiki A wikispace wiki is

set up and utilized with a classroom of students. All students have usernames and passwords. The wiki is customized to serve the class.

A class wiki is set up and most students are assigned passwords and usernames. The wiki is customized a little to fit the teacher’s class.

A class wiki is set up but most students are not given usernames and passwords. The class wiki theme is generic and not formatted for the class.

A class is wiki is not set up.

Student work in wiki

Students are engage and participate in the wiki assignment. The assignment is collaborative and makes use of wiki features.

Students participate in wiki assignment. The assignment fosters some collaboration.

Most students do not participate in the wiki. The wiki assignment is not collaborative. The assignment is not improved with the use of a wiki.

A wiki assignment is not created.

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Assignment #3 – Development of Online Reader (10 Points) (10% of Overall Grade)

Directions:

1. Each student will sign up for a Google Reader and Bloglines.com/Netvibes.com account after the demonstration of both of these tools.

2. The students will all subscribe to the provided list of educational blogs/podcasts/videos.3. Students will proceed through the provided checklist of techniques for using these

applications.4. Be prepared to demonstrate the list of features, and sites found for their students’

curriculum unit.Criteria 4 3 2 0Signup

N/A N/A

Student successfully signed up for the tool

Student was unsuccessful in signing up for the tool.

Demonstration of Features

Student demonstrated advanced techniques of the assigned tool.

Student demonstrated basic techniques of the assigned tool.

Student has an account but did not meet the minimum requirements of using the tool.

Student cannot demonstrate even basic use of the assigned tool.

Websites for curriculum unit.

Students find and subscribe through a reader to websites, videos, and podcasts pertaining to their curriculum unit.

Students find and subscribe to websites, podcasts, or videos but not all three..

Students find and subscribe to some websites, podcasts, or videos pertaining to their unit of curriculum.

Student do not subscribe to any podcasts, websites, or videos.

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Assignment #4 – Persuasive Essay Blog Post (10 Points) (10% of Overall Grade)

Directions:

1. Each student will write an extensive persuasive blog post with the purpose of explaining the importance of the Media Literacy and the use of sites like Wikipedia and blogs.

2. The students should include examples of these resources that can benefit their personal learning and classrooms as well.

3. Finally, students need to clearly explain how media literacy and archiving overlap.

Criteria 4 3 2 0Comparison of Concepts

The essay demonstrates a sound understanding of media literacy and how these skills might be utilized in the learning process for themselves and or their students in their classrooms.

The essay demonstrates a sound understanding of media literacy.

The essay demonstrates a sound understanding of a single media literacy.

The student did not demonstrate an understanding of any of the forms of media shared in class.

Examples Provided

N/A N/A

Examples of different forms of media are provided that represents areas of learning within their personal learning or their classroom instruction.

Examples were not provided.

Knowledge Check

N/A N/A

Evidence of understanding of the overlapping of the archiving phase and media literacy phase was provided.

There is no evidence provided of understanding the overlapping of the archiving phase with the media literacy phase.

Conventions

N/A N/A

The essay has less than 2 grammar or spelling errors.

There are more than 2 spelling and or grammar errors.

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Assignment #5 –Voicethread (10 Points) (10% of Overall Grade)

Directions:

1. Each student will create a Voicethread to use with their unit in the classroom.2. Students will leave at least 1 comment on 3 or more slides of the Voicethread.

Criteria 4 2 0Evidence of Successfully using the Technology

N/A

Student successfully creates a Voicethread for their classroom reflecting on their unit of study.

The teacher was unsuccessful in their attempt to create a Voicethread presentation.

Quantity of Comments Provided

Most students actively participate in the Voicethread assignment.

Some students actively participate in the Voicethread assignment.

No students actively participate in the Voicethread assignment.

Quality of the Comments Provided

The majority of the student’s comments contributed to the overall discussion by sparking more interest, questioning, and thought.

The majority of the comments left contributed to creating a positive atmosphere of the online activity. The comments could have been more engaging to push the discussion further.

Comments provided made a minimal impact on the overall discussion of the class.

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Assignment #6 – Demonstration of a Multimedia/Screencast Reflection Tool (5 Points) (5% of Overall Grade)

Directions:

1. Each student will create a short multimedia reflection using one tool from a list provided by the instructor.

2. The reflection tool will be used to reflect on the learning process. 3. The student should address why they chose the tool that they did for this reflection

and whether or not this was an effective tool to use. Would they use this tool in the future and is this a tool that can be used within their classrooms in some fashion?

Criteria 3 2 0Quality of Ideas and Content

The student’s demonstration adds to the overall understanding of their classes understanding of a topic in the curriculum unit. The quality of the reflection was very clear and easily understood.

The student’s demonstration adds to the overall understanding of their classes understanding of a topic in the curriculum unit.

The student’s demonstration did not add to the overall understanding of their classes understanding of a topic in the curriculum unit.

Choice of Tool and Execution

The tool chosen reflects the purpose of the demonstration. The student was able to complete a multi-media reflection.

The tool chosen was confusing and or a demonstration was not created.

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Assignment #7 – Blog Reflection (10 Points) (10% of Overall Grade)

Directions:

1. Each student will create a blog from a list of provided resources from the instructor or they will use their existing blog.

2. The students are to write a blog entry that reflects on the learning in class. 3. The reflection needs to address the overlapping nature of Archiving, Media Literacy, and

Information Literacy.4. Examples need to be provided from their own learning through the course while also

addressing ways to further their personal learning moving forward or aspects of this knowledge that can improve their classrooms.


The blog entry contains substantial information for the reader. The entry addresses an overall reflection. The blog entry also clearly addresses the overlapping nature of the core skills Archiving, Media Literacy, and Information Literacy.

The blog entry contains substantial information for the reader. The blog entry focuses on a singular idea.

The blog entry does not reflect original ideas.

Examples Provided

The blog entry went beyond the basic understanding of blogs by talking in depth about the difference in blogging vs. traditional writing. Extensive examples were provided that include teacher, classroom and company blogs. Example uses of these resources within their personal learning and or how this will impact their classrooms was also included.

Extensive examples were provided that include teacher, classroom and company blogs.


Knowledge Check

N/A

Evidence of understanding why the Reflection phase is valuable.

There is no evidence provided understanding why the Reflection phase is valuable.

Conventions N/A

The blog entry has no spelling or grammar errors.

There is a spelling or grammar error.

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Assignment #8 – Social Networking (10 Points) (10% of Overall Grade)

Directions:

1. Each student will create a NING.com account and join the short list of NINGS provided by the instructor.

2. Each student will create a Twitter.com or Plurk.com account.3. A blog entry should focus on positive and negative aspects of social networking within

the context of a personal / professional learning network. How can social networks help teachers? Why should students learn about social networks?

4. Examples of what the students have learned about social / professional networks and information learned from within these tools should be included within the blog entry.

5. Finally, students should make an argument for or against having teachers learn about social / professional learning networks.


The blog entry contains substantial information for the reader. The entry addresses an overall understanding about the positive and negative aspects of social networking in the learning process and within the context of a personal / professional learning network.

The blog entry contains substantial information for the reader. The entry addresses the positive and negative aspects of social networking.

The blog entry has a narrow focus on social networking that does not provide for expanding upon the basics of social networking.

Examples Provided

Examples of the different forms of media are provided that represents areas of learning within their personal learning or their classroom instruction.

A single example was provided on how the student can enhance their personal learning or their students in their classrooms.


Knowledge Check

N/A

Evidence of understanding of why the Reflection phase is important in the learning process.

There is no evidence provided of the understanding why the Reflection phase is important in the learning process.

Conventions

N/A

The blog entry has no spelling or grammar errors.

There is a spelling or grammar error.

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Assignment #9 - Participation in Online and Class Group Discussions. (5 Points) (10% of Overall Grade)

Directions:

1. Participation will be assessed through the course of the class.2. The student will submit links to at least 5 examples of their participation within their

new social / professional learning network via an online form provided by the instructor.

Criteria ScoringClass Work Awarded by teacher.

(5 points maximum)

Sharing Student identifies 5 online participation experiences to share out as examples of their overall online work. (2 Points)

Quality of the Participation

The student’s work added to the discussion while encouraging further reflection by other’s in the community. (1 Point for each Example Provided) One point will be awarded for each example that contributes positively to the community, advances the discussion further, and adds follow up questions for the community to address.(3 Points Total)

The student added to the discussions but the discussion was not pushed further. (0 Points)

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Assignment #10 – Final Presentation of Technology Influenced Curriculum Unit (15 Points) (15% of Overall Grade)

Directions:

1. Each student will create a final presentation of a curriculum unit posted on a website.2. The curriculum unit must be influenced by the technology tools learned, utilize the

technology tools learned and be assessed with the technology tools learned.3. The presentation will demonstrate an understanding of the tools introduced in class and

an understanding of the NETS Standards.4. Students asked to identify how each of the phases overlap and are used in their unit.5. Provide examples for all of the different phases for your personal learning and for ways

in which this might impact your classrooms.6. Presentation units will be presented and posted online. 7. Students must offer a reflection of what was learned when the curriculum unit was

integrated into their classroom.

Criteria 3 2 1 0Knowledge The final assignment reflects an

excellent understanding of Archiving, Media and Information Literacy and how each of the areas overlaps and fits within the context of lifelong learning and curriculum creation.

The final assignment reflects an excellent understanding of Archiving, Media and Information Literacy.

The final assignment reflects basic understanding of some Archiving, Media and Information Literacy.

The final assignment does not reflect an understanding of Archiving, Media and Information Literacy.

Examples Many examples were provided on all phases and provide evidence of learning for him or herself or how they perceive future learning within the context of their classrooms.

Many examples were provided on all phases.

Examples were provided on some aspect of the phases.

Examples were not included.

Visual(s) / Student used visuals to reinforce screen text and presentation.

Visuals related to text and presentation.

Student occasionally used visuals that rarely support text and presentation.

Student used no visuals.

Organization Student presents information in logical, interesting sequence that the audience can follow.

Student presents information in logical sequence that the audience can follow.

Audience has difficulty following presentation because student jumps around.

Audience cannot understand presentation because there is no sequence of information.

Conventions Presentation has no misspellings or grammatical errors.

Presentation has no more than two misspellings and/or grammatical errors.

Presentation had three misspellings and/or grammatical errors.

Student's presentation had four or more spelling errors and/or grammatical errors.

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9. Bibliography

Brooks-Young, S. (2007). Digital-Age Literacy for Teachers Applying Technology Standards to Everyday Practice. Washington D.C.: Intl Society for Technology in.

Coyle, D. (2009). The Talent Code: Greatness Isn't Born. It's Grown. Here's How. New York, NY: Bantam Dell.

The Horizon Report (2010). Emerging technologies likely to have considerable impact on teaching, learning, and creative expression within higher education. Retrieved April 21, 2010 from http://wp.nmc.org/horizon2010/.

US Department of Education National Educational Technology Plan. American Education: Learning Powered by Technology. Retrieved April 21, 2010 from http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/os/technology/techreports.html.

ISTE. (2008). National Educational Technology Standards. Retrieved February 9, 2010 from http://www.iste.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=NETS.

Solomon, G., & Schrum, L. (2007). Web 2.0 New Tools, New Schools. Washington D.C.: Intl Society for Technology in.

Tapscott, D. (2009). Grown up digital how the net generation is changing your world. New York: McGraw-Hill.

Transforming classroom practice professional development strategies in educational technology. (2008). Eugene, OR: International Society for Technology in Education.

Williamson, J. (2009). ISTE's technology facilitation and leadership standards what every K-12 technologist should know and be able to do. Eugene, Or: International Society for Technology in Education.

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http://www.iste.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=NETS

http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/os/technology/techreports.html

http://wp.nmc.org/horizon2010/

10. Attendance PolicyAttendance at all sessions is required. Missing any part of the class could result in not receiving credit. Make-up and acceptance of late work will be solely at the discretion of the instructor and/or Intermediate Delivery System consultant.

11. Academic Honesty and Integrity StatementStudents are expected to maintain academic honesty and integrity as students of ____ by doing their own work to the best of their ability. Academic dishonesty (cheating, fabrication, plagiarism, etc.) will result in the student’s receiving a zero for that test, assignment, or paper.

12. Final Examination PolicyThere is no final examination; students’ reflective writing, final presentation, will be the culminating activities for credit.

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learning and teaching with tech 9 week syllabus

Education

creative commons copyright

custom search engines

nets standards addressed

social networking component

model digital citizenship

age learning experiences

multimedia reflection tools

students actively participate