SYLLABUS

Teachers Discovering Computers – Integrating Technology in the 21st Century Classroom

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Course Author's Biography

Randy Gunter has a Ph.D. in Educational Technology from Mississippi State University. Dr. Gunter is a nationally recognized author and course developer in the field of educational technology. Dr. Gunter has developed numerous education courses for teachers and administrators, both traditional and online, and has more than 35 years experience in education and training. Dr. Gunter has co–authored 12 college textbooks for Cengage Learning that currently are being used by colleges and universities, K–12 school districts, and private corporations, and is one of the primary authors of Teachers Discovering Computers: Integrating Technology and Digital Media in the Classroom, Sixth Edition and Teachers Discovering and Integrating Microsoft Office, Second Edition.

Prerequisites

Credit Hours

This course is the equivalent of a 3–credit graduate course and can be taken for 60 continuing educational credits. Graduate credit (3 semester hours) is available.

Course Materials

Teachers Discovering Computers: Integrating Technology and Digital Media in the Classroom, Sixth Edition by Shelly, G., Gunter, G., & Gunter, R. (2010)

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Course Description

Teachers Discovering Computers (TDC) - Integrating Technology in the 21st Century Classroom is an introductory/intermediate technology and digital media course for educators. This course is intended for novice and experienced technology users that aspire to learn how to do more with technology and digital media in their classroom or job function. The National Educational Technology Standards for Teachers (NETS–T) and the National Technology Standards for Students (NETS-S) developed by the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) are integrated throughout the TDC course curriculum. The curriculum also addresses the recently refreshed national Technology Standards for School Administrators (TSSA) as developed by ISTE.

Participants will experience a wide variety of learning activities that are designed to increase their technology and digital media literacy, information literacy, and most importantly, their integration literacy skills. Participants will learn the characteristics of today’s digital students and will learn how to modify their teaching strategies to teach and, more importantly, reach today’s digital students. As these new skills are integrated into participants’ classrooms, traditional methods of assessment will become outdated, therefore participants will also learn about alternative forms of assessment that work well in a technology– and digital media–enriched classroom. Participants will also spend time reviewing and analyzing relevant research concerning the use of educational technology and digital media in a school setting. Participants will develop higher order thinking skills such as analyzing and synthesizing information concerning the integration of technology into their specific curricular area.

Participants will learn how to create out-of-class supplemental kid-specific content or blended learning. Each participant’s final project is the creation of extensive out-of-class online supplemental content (including videos) to foster increased student achievement and communication among students, parents, and teachers about curricula, assignments, and assessments.

Participants also will learn how to integrate curriculum–specific video screencasts using both teacher–created and student–assisted/created screencasts. Finally, participants will learn how to increase parental involvement in a variety of ways, including multilingual and multicultural parental involvement.

Course Objectives

Students will:

Course Procedures

Weekly Activities:
Each week will present online content with a corresponding assignment. Assignments are generally due the same day each week and will be e–mailed to your instructor.

Participation:
In a distance learning environment, it is critical that students interact one–on–one with their instructors, each and every week. The objective is to ensure that students are always providing an indication of engagement and learning. Successful completion of the weekly reflection and application assignments will satisfy this objective.

Late Assignments:
Each week has required assignments. Assignments must be e–mailed to the instructor by midnight of the assignment due date. No late assignments will be accepted. Contact your instructor via e–mail prior to an assignment due date for exceptions.

Honesty Policy:
Students are expected to exhibit honesty and competence in their academic work. Intellectual honesty is a requirement for this course. If your instructor suspects any breach of academic integrity, your grade will be impacted and you may be removed from this course.

Evaluation and Grading:
Students will have the opportunity to demonstrate evidence of their knowledge of the course content. The evidence will include written and online activities that are both application– and reflection–oriented. Students' grades are based on the weight and grade of each assignment. All requirements are evaluated by the instructor.

Point Distribution

Points are awarded for successful completion of assignments & projects.

Activity

Introduction Assignment
Reflection / Application
  Assignments (8 in total)
Final Project

Total Points

Points

3

72
25

100

Grading

Grades are based on a 10% grading scale and plus/minus grading system.

Percentage

100–94%
93–90%
89–87%
86–83%
82–80%
79–77%
76–73%
72–70%
69–67%
66–63%
62–60%
59–0%

Letter Grade

A
A−
B+
B
B−
C+
C
C−
D+
D
D−
F

Keeping Your Coursework

You will have access to the course from the course start date until two weeks after the course ends. After this time you will no longer be able to access the course or related materials. We strongly recommend you retain copies of all your completed coursework and create a list of all the Web sites you visited that you wish to return to. You will always have access to the textbook Web site and may visit that as often as you wish.

Week–by–Week Schedule

The schedule below lists course topics, reading assignments, and activities for each week of the course. Use the Grade Sheet and Schedule provided online on the course home page to keep track of assignments due each week.


Week 1

Topics: Introduction • Curriculum–Specific, Authentic, Technology-Specific,
            and Kid–Specific Learning
             [ISTE NETS–T: 1 a–c; 2 a–c; 3 a–c; 4 a–b, d; 5 b, d]

In Week 1, you will complete the following:

Competency Objectives

Required Readings

Supplemental Readings

Video Programs

Assignments

Week 2

Topics: Communications • Networks • The Internet • The World Wide Web
             [ISTE NETS–T: 1 b–d; 2 a–d; 3 a–d; 4 a–b, d; 5 a–b, d]

In Week 2, you will complete the following:

Competency Objectives

Required Readings

Supplemental Readings

Video Programs

Assignments

Week 3

Topics: Application Software • Productivity Tools for Educators
             [ISTE NETS–T: 1 b; 2 a–d; 3 a, d; 4 b; 5 a–c]

In Week 3, you will complete the following:

Competency Objectives

Required Readings

Supplemental Readings

Video Programs

Assignments

Week 4

Topics: Hardware for Educators
             [ISTE NETS–T: 3 a–d]

In Week 4, you will complete the following:

Competency Objectives

Required Readings

Supplemental Readings

Video Programs

Assignments

Week 5

Topics: Integrating Digital Media and Educational Software Applications
             [ISTE NETS–T: 1 a–d; 2 a–c; 3 a–d; 4 b, c–d; 5 b]

In Week 5, you will complete the following:

Competency Objectives

Required Readings

Supplemental Readings

Video Programs

Assignments

Week 6

Topics: Technology, Digital Media, and Curriculum Integration • Learning Theories
            [ISTE NETS–T: 1 a–d; 2 a–d; 3 a–d; 4 b, c, d; 5 a–d]

In Week 6, you will complete the following:

Competency Objectives

Required Readings

Supplemental Readings

Video Programs

Assignments

Week 7

Topics: Evaluating Educational Technology and Integration Strategies
             [ISTE NETS–T: 1 a–d; 2 a–d; 3 a–d; 4 b, d; 5 a–d]

In Week 7, you will complete the following:

Competency Objectives

Required Readings

Supplemental Readings

Video Programs

Assignments

Week 8

Topics: Security Issues • Ethics • Emerging Technologies in Education • Final Project
             [ISTE NETS–T: 3 c; 4 a–d, 5 a–d]

In Week 8, you will complete the following:

Competency Objectives

Required Readings

Supplemental Readings

Video Programs

Assignments