EDU 383- Information Technology for K-12 Education
Spring 2015 Session 2: 3/18 to 4/29-2016
Instructor and Department Contact Information
Name: / Manuel Barrera, PhDEmail: /
Office: / Midway 100A, 1450 Energy Park Drive
Phone: / 651-999-5923
Office Hours: / Mondays 10 am to 3 pm at Midway and 4 to 5:30pm in Minneapolis, Fridays from 2 pm to 4 pm before class in Minneapolis (MEC 2500), by Appointment.
Face-to-Face Meetings / Minneapolis MEC, M2500
Fridays-March 18,April 1, and April 29 (4PM-7PM)
Online / March 18 to April 29- All Final Assignment due on Monday, May 2nd 2016.
Course Description
This course is an introduction to the use of information technology (IT) devices and applications to promote teaching and learning in K-12 educational settings for students with and without disabilities. Teacher candidates will learn primary tools and software applications to promote teacher productivity and integration of IT, the use of culturally responsive curriculum, relevant instruction, authentic assessment, and family/educator partnerships for communication. In addition to instruction and productivity for K-12 general education settings, the course will include an introduction to accessibility issues and the "digital divide" that impact urban learners and educators. Students in this course will demonstrate their competence using technology by developing an electronic, standards-based portfolio. This is a two-credit, hybrid course. Face-to-face meetings are reduced due to technology-assisted course work.
Prerequisites
Prior to taking this course, you must have successfully completed the following:
1) Basic Technology Skills (word processing, email, sending attachments, internet navigation, PPT)
2) EDU 200 Intro to Urban Education and Reflective Teaching and EDU 203 Multicultural Ed
3) Admission to the Urban Teacher Program or department approval.
Learning Objectives
By the end of the course the students will be able to:
1. Identify and practice technology-based techniques for assessment and instruction of learners.
2. Understand and demonstrate basic instructional design principles using technology.
3. Develop technological skills for use in teaching, assessment, and maintaining records.
4. Identify empirically validated technology uses for educating learners in PreK-12 settings.
5. Conduct and present observations and research related to information technology for education.
6. Develop a standards-based, electronic portfolio to be uploaded in Taskstream.
Textbook and Resources
1) There is no text specified. All readings will be student-researched and reviewed during the course.
2) Activated University NetDirect email account
3) Activated Taskstream site
Not Required But Suggested Items
Since we will be working in the computer lab and you may wish to occasionally transfer files or projects between the lab and your home computer I suggest you purchase a "flash drive" or "jump drive". This is known as a USB storage device – a small device on which you can easily transport computer data. These devices are roughly the size of a keychain and come with varying sizes of memory.
Alternatively, you can use either your available student storage from Metropolitan State or individual storage you may have as “cloud drive” such as Google Docs, MS One Drive, or DropBox. You can usually access these options via their respective websites through a self-created user account and access credentials (username and password).
Facilitator Responsibilities
As facilitator of this course, I will:
- Respond to all emails within 48hours (expect a delay in response time during holidays and weekends).
- Provide feedback to online discussions (not all postings will receive feedback).
- Have grades updated the Sunday following the due date. Please note a communication will be sent out if there is delay in grades.
Student Responsibilities
Your responsibilities in this course are as follows:
- Attendance at all face-to-face class meetings. Class meetings cannot be made up, skipped, rescheduled or missed.
- Active participation online is essential in order to achieve competence from the course.
- Students are expected to log into the course website at least three days per week in order to view updated announcements, participate in ongoing discussions, and to work cooperatively with group members.
- Students are expected to cooperate fully when working in a study group or learning team. It is expected that the students will regularly communicate with the members of their group/team and responsibly demonstrate collaborative accountability when completing group/team project/presentations.
Therefore absence and lack of participation will negatively affect your achievement and grade in this course. The expectation of the instructor is that students attend allface-to-face class meetings, assignments are to be well written, and submitted electronically on time as assigned.
Note: Federal Financial Aid regulations require that the University track the ongoing attendance of students, and this can be done through the online D2L course site. Therefore, students receiving financial aid are expected to maintain ongoing progress in activities within the course.
Communication
The best way to contact me is via email at . I will respond to emails within 48hrs during the week (Mon-Friday).
Technology Requirements
Computer Hardware
For this course, your computer should meet the optimum requirements as specified on the Technology Requirements webpage.
Internet Connection
You are expected to have Internet access in order to log into the D2L system in order to check for updates and complete required work. Your computer must also fully pass the System Check found on the Desire2Learn login page. Browser plug-ins for your course may be obtained by accessing the D2L Home Page and viewing the Tips and Tricks section for Browser Plug-Ins.
Document File Names
If your filename contains spaces or other special characters, the instructor may not be able to download or access your file from D2L.
Name your file using only letters, numbers, and underscore characters. For readability, it is preferred that you use MixedCapitals for your filenames. Please make sure that your filename contains the title or topic of the document you are submitting.
Problem / Do / Don'tSpace characters are not allowed in filenames / JSmith_ResearchPaper.doc / JSmith's paper.doc
Special characters are not allowed in filenames (except for _ underscore) / JSmith_CaseStudy.doc
PaperProject_draft.doc / JSmith+CaseStudy.doc
PaperProject_50%.doc
Only .doc, rtf, .xls, .ppt, .zip, .pdf, .jpg, gif, .wav, .mpg files are allowed as uploads / Convert file to an appropriate format / Upload files that are not in this file format list
Assignments: 100 Points Total = 100%
You are responsible for reading and understanding all the documents in the Assignments section of the Content menu. Check the course schedule for assignment details, instructions and due dates.
Assignments Continued:
Instructions specific to the design and development of your Task Stream page.
Students are expected to align the course learning outcomes and the course assessments with the specific MN Board of Teaching Standards ofEffective Practice for Teachers (SEPT) for urban teacher candidates.
Students will connect the specific standard of effective practice and the learning outcome to their completed class assignments, reflections, exercises, activity, and readings; and present all on their E-folio website. There are seven SEPT standards to be addressed (2H, 3R, 4J, 4K, 4L, 7H, 8E, 8N, 9M, and 10M) and there are six course learning outcomes to be addressed for this course.
Alignment of the course schedule and assessments with specific MN Board of Teaching Standards may be found Online D2L > Course Content> SEPT Standards
Submission
The course runs for 8-weeks and is divided into four parts. Students should expect to work within the course both online D2L and face-to-face class meetings. Assignments should be submitted electronically through Dropbox and/or posted within your Task Stream site, via online D2L Discussions, and through communications via your NetDirect E-mail accounts.
Discussion
All responses to the D2L discussion should be submitted on the Tuesday of the following week. Respond to at least 1 other classmate (per discussion) by Thursday of the same week.
Written Assignments
All written assignments must be submitted as either Microsoft Word file format (.doc or .docx) or in rich-text-format (.rtf), unless otherwise stated.
Submission
All final assignments should be submitted to Taskstream. Further instruction will come from the instructor.
Return of Assignments / Feedback
Feedback will be provided on assignments submitted within3 daysof submission withsuggestions forpotential revisions.
Copies of Assignments
You are responsible for keeping copies of all assignments turned in to the course as well as returned assignments.
Professional Conduct and Academic Dishonesty
Your conduct in this class will be observed and evaluated (please see grading criteria)
Professional Conduct:
Professional conduct is here defined as skills required for successful future teaching and appropriate interpersonal interactions in urban educational settings. In addition to fulfilling class assignments, the student is expected to participate fully in class activities and to demonstrate a positive, cooperative attitude toward all course participants and course activities. Up to one full letter grade can be added or deducted to your final score at the instructor’s discretion based on documented evidence. Extreme acts demonstrating lack of appropriate professional conduct, such as sustained class disruption or academic dishonesty will warrant a grade of “F” for the course.
ACADEMIC DISHONESTY:
Dishonesty in any forms such as (but not limited to) plagiarism or cheating on tests and assignments will not be tolerated. Students who misrepresent their work or commit another act of dishonesty will receive a failing grade for the course and will be recommended for removal from or non-admittance to teacher education. Such acts of dishonesty will also be brought to the attention of University academic standards governing bodies with a recommendation for expulsion.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism means submitting or publishing work as your own that is someone else’s. For example, copying material from a book or other source without acknowledging that the words or ideas are someone else’s ideas, even if you paraphrase the wording, appropriate credit should be given. You have committed plagiarism if you purchase a term paper or submit a paper as your own that you did not write (Barbara Gross Davis in Tools for Teaching 1994, page 300). See the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, Sixth Edition (2010) for methods of attributing published work from other authors. This manual is available in multiple copies at the Metropolitan State University Library in St. Paul.
Grades
Semester grades will be based on overall performance including course assignments, class participation, attendance, and professional conduct. Grades are based on the following levels of competence:
A = work considered “distinguished”, that is, work exemplifying honors level effort in writing, presentation, and overall class expectations. In addition to full credit on assignments, the student must attend regularly and make exemplary contributions to the class.
B = superior work in meeting criteria of assignments and class expectations. Demonstration of high quality writing and presentation will be among the criteria. Acceptable for meeting teacher candidacy standards.
C = work considered acceptable in meeting specified criteria. Satisfactory for college credit but not acceptable for meeting teacher candidacy standards.
D = work that is minimally acceptable for college credit.
F = unsatisfactory work considered unacceptable.
Face-to-face class meetings are mandatory and may not be made up. Late work is not permitted unless approved by instructor.
Students must earn a "C" or better in all EDU courses and any content methods course (LAED, MAED, SCED, or SSED) required for their major/licensure program. Students cannot earn a grade of C- in Urban Teacher Program courses. According to University Policy #2080, there are only three options for unsatisfactory grades (i.e., D, F, or NC) and students may retake any course in which they earned a D, F, or NC. Note: Actual Grading Scales Vary by instructor.
An overview of the University Grading Policy can be found at the Student Handbook website.
Note: All work not meeting expectations of at least superior (B) work may be revised because of the high expectations for teacher candidates who will be teaching in urban schools. Revised work should be submitted with the final portfolio in TaskStreamand sent to the instructor via email attachment (as a .zip file or by multiple attachments if needed). Incompletes will not be given in this course except for extreme circumstances.
Disability Services
Metropolitan State University offers reasonable accommodations to qualified students with documented disabilities. If you have a disability that may require accommodations it is essential that you be registered with the Disability Services Office. You may contact the Disability Services Office, at Founders Hall, Room 221, St. Paul Campus or(651) 793-1549, TTY (651) 772-7581 or email or additional information visit the Disability Services website.
Class Schedule
Date / Topic / Assignment Completed3/18/2016 /
- Course Overview/Preparations for Class
- Identify Computer competencies
- Orientation to R&A JournalsReciprocal Teaching of Text
- Major Assignment explained: Technology availability in teaching content to urban learners K-12 (according to student program licensure)
- Foundation work:
- Developing a TaskStream Account
- Portfolio Basics
- Interactive Documents and Multimedia Word Processing
3/25/2016 / Out of class activity: Readings and Reflections on
- Appropriate uses of technology in education
- Issues surrounding online information (accessibility, copyright, intellectual property, data privacy)
4/1/2016 /
- Reciprocal Teaching Assignments—Students discuss and present material on appropriate uses of technology, accessibility, copyright, intellectual property, and data privacy
- Technology-based Assessment for Instruction: Management Basics—designingand using spreadsheets for records and monitoring academic progress
- Submit Journals for 1st Review due Thursday, Midnight, 3/31/2016
- Include in journals:
- Readings and summary reviews of reading
4/8/2016 /
- Out of class activity—Readings and Reflections on
- Use of presentation software for instruction
- Practices in using technology to monitor student progress
4/15/2016 /
- Out of class activity—Readings and Reflections on
- Use of digital media:
- Scanning and basic digital imaging
- Effective use of audio and digital video (YouTube and other media)
4/22/2016 /
- Out of class activity: Conduct Standards Review of Course (post-assessment of pre-assessment)
4/29/2016 /
- Student Presentations on Technology Availabiltiy
- All assignments due May 2nd—4:30 PM DST