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**EDUC 2040 - Introduction to Classroom Technologies** Summer Module II, 2008 Wyatt 130 – Macintosh Computer Lab Monday & Wednesday, 5:10 – 7:00 CST [GMT-5]

Instructor: Jake Wilson Email: jacob[dot]v[dot]wilson[at]gmail[dot]com Office Hours: By appointment

**I. Rationale:** The Tennessee Teacher Licensure Standards for Professional Education includes a technology standard requiring that “Candidates use technology and technology based resources to facilitate developmentally appropriate student learning… use technology to enhance their professional growth and productivity…[and] effectively use and manage all technology available to them and explore uses of emerging resources.” In order to reach these goals, teachers need to treat technology with the same vigor afforded to other areas of pre-service training. Technology and its various uses need to be explored as more than mere amenities, but as the tools they are.

**II. Course Aims and Objectives:** //**Aims**// The primary aim of this course is for pre-service teachers to gain an increased level of comfort with more modern forms of technology. Computers can be used effectively and ineffectively, just like any other object in the classroom, and it is only through experimentation and research that the difference can be explored. Rather than simply familiarizing pre-service teachers with various software packages, a large part of the course will be spent discovering ways in which the technology can be used as a teaching tool.

//**Specific Learning Objectives:**// By the end of this course, students will: Understand the differences between the Macintosh and PC (Windows-based) platforms Become familiar with the concept of Open Source software, its uses, and where it can be found <span style="font-family: Times,serif">Understand the web, and its varied classroom applications <span style="font-family: Times,serif">Understand effective methods of utilizing the Microsoft Office Suite in education <span style="font-family: Times,serif">Understand the place of digital images and video in the modern classroom <span style="font-family: Times,serif">Develop an Electronic Portfolio, complete with four different pieces <span style="font-family: Times,serif">Be more comfortable with the application of technology in the modern classroom <span style="font-family: Times,serif"> <span style="font-family: Times,serif">**III. Method of Instruction** <span style="font-family: Times,serif">Class time will largely be spent in discussion and experimentation. Almost half of each class will be time spent with the technology itself in order to reach a higher level of comfort and understanding with it.

<span style="font-family: Times,serif">**IV. My Assumptions** <span style="font-family: Times,serif">The world of technology moves at a frightening pace, but the mysteries of today are often the commonplace of tomorrow. There was a time when books were new and different tools of instruction, and the same can be said of chalkboards, erasable pens, and the overhead projector. A time will come when computers and all that goes along with them will be equally taken for granted, and even later on something more impressive will appear and take their place. As teachers, we must learn to accept these changes and try to integrate them into our classrooms where possible as effective means of instruction. The goal is not simply to integrate for the sake of integration – it is to be the best teachers possible.

<span style="font-family: Times,serif">**V. Course Requirements:**
 * 1) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif"> <span style="font-family: Times,serif">Attendance is mandatory, as is participation. In order to make the most of our short time together, you have to both be there and be willing to share your experiences and opinions.
 * 2) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif"> <span style="font-family: Times,serif">You will create and maintain a “blog” page at the class wiki __http://educ2040-summer08.wikispaces.com/__. One topic will be given each class, and a response is expected by 6 PM CST the night before the following class.
 * 3) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif"> <span style="font-family: Times,serif">By the time you leave this class, you will have both an Electronic Portfolio hosted by Vanderbilt and four individual pieces within. This portfolio serves to demonstrate your abilities as a teacher, as well as to demonstrate your mastery of the skills covered in class. Each piece, however, should also be something that you will be able to use in your own classroom.

<span style="font-family: Times,serif">**VI. Grading Procedures** <span style="font-family: Times,serif">Attendance/Participation 20% <span style="font-family: Times,serif">Blog 30% <span style="font-family: Times,serif">Portfolio <span style="font-family: Times,serif"> Organization 10%
 * <span style="font-family: Times,serif"> Piece – Web 10%
 * <span style="font-family: Times,serif"> Piece – Microsoft Office 10%
 * <span style="font-family: Times,serif"> Piece – Imagery 10%
 * <span style="font-family: Times,serif"> Piece – Video 10%

<span style="font-family: Times,serif">A 93-100 <span style="font-family: Times,serif">A- 90-92 <span style="font-family: Times,serif">B+ 87-89 <span style="font-family: Times,serif">B 83-86 <span style="font-family: Times,serif">B- 80-82 <span style="font-family: Times,serif">C+ 77-79 <span style="font-family: Times,serif">C 73-76 <span style="font-family: Times,serif">C- 70-72

<span style="font-family: Times,serif">**VII. Honor Code** <span style="font-family: Times,serif">All students are required to read and understand the provisions of the Honor System found in Vanderbilt University’s Student Handbook: Policies and Regulations in Co-Curricular Matters. Vanderbilt’s Honor Code governs all work in this course.

<span style="font-family: Times,serif">**VIII. Accommodations for students with disabilities** <span style="font-family: Times,serif">In compliance with the Vanderbilt University policy and equal access laws, <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">If you have a disability or special learning need, let the professor know so that appropriate accommodations can be made through the Opportunity Development Center.

<span style="font-family: Times,serif">**IX. Tentative Course Schedule:**

Monday, July 7 - an Introduction the Class and the Internet Wednesday, July 9 - Structured Workshop Time - Monday, July 14 - An Introduction to Microsoft Office Wednesday, July 16 - Structured Workshop Time - Monday, July 21 - An Introduction to Digital Imagery and Video Wednesday, July 23 - Structured Workshop Time - Monday, July 28 - Structured Workshop Time Wednesday, July 30 - Video Sharing, Class Reflections, and Wrap-Up
 * In-Class Assignment - Make sure that you can reach your Personal Page, your Blog, and your Portfolio from every one of your pages. Also make sure that all of your pages are linked to.

<span style="font-family: Times,serif">**X. Reflection Journal Assignments and Due Dates**
 * //#// || //Reflection Question// || //Due Date/Time// ||
 * 1 || What are some effective methods of using the Internet in your classroom? || Tuesday, July 8, 6 PM ||
 * 2 || Reflect upon the process of learning and using the web as a classroom tool. || Sunday, July 13, 6 PM ||
 * 3 || What are some effective methods of using the Microsoft Office Suite in your classroom? || Tuesday, July 15, 6 PM ||
 * 4 || Reflect upon the process of learning and using Microsoft Office as an effective tool. || Sunday, July 20, 6 PM ||
 * 5 || What are some effective methods of using digital imagery and video in your classroom? || Tuesday, July 22, 6 PM ||
 * 6 || Reflect upon the process of learning digital imagery and video. || Sunday, July 27, 6 PM ||
 * 7 || Brainstorm other effective uses of technology not discussed thus far in class. || Tuesday, July 29, 6 PM ||
 * 8 || Reflect upon this class, its effectiveness, its content, and your place in it. || Thursday, July 31, Noon ||

<span style="font-family: Times,serif">**XI. Portfolio Piece Topics and Due Dates**
 * 1) Internet - Due Sunday, July 13, 6 PM
 * 2) Microsoft Office - Due Sunday, July 20, 6 PM
 * 3) Digital Imagery - Due Sunday, July 27, 6 PM
 * 4) Digital Video - Due Tuesday, July 29, 6 PM

<span style="font-family: Times,serif">**XII. Extra Credit Opportunity:** For a maximum of five points, provide detailed feedback about the course, making sure that you answer the following five questions: The idea is for you to provide honest feedback in a detailed manner - the more detailed the better. You will get one point for each answer you give, regardless of the content of the answer - positive and negative get the same amount of points. If your answer is that you wouldn't change anything, then you have to explain why it worked for you. There is always room for improvement, so the more constructive criticism you give, the better.
 * 1) How would you change the pacing of the course?
 * 2) How would you change the basic schedule of the course (one software idea a week, with one day for instruction and one for work)?
 * 3) What material should have been included, but wasn't?
 * 4) What material do you think was unnecessary?
 * 5) How would you have taught the material itself differently?

If you are uncomfortable leaving feedback in your own name, then you can log in as "safefeedback" with the password "student." Create a page, link to it from the personal pages table of contents, and email me to let me know how many points you get. Be honest!