Course Information:

Course Name:

Technology for Educators – Online Course

Course Number:

EME2040

CRN:

18912

Credit(s):

3

Course Description:

A course for undergraduate education majors designed to establish awareness and proficiency related to productivity tools (word processing, database, spreadsheet, graphics) multimedia presentation, hardware and software, and contemporary communication systems such as e-mail and the World Wide Web.  This course includes learning activities designed to ensure competence in the basic use of computers.  Generally required as a prerequisite for state university teacher education programs in Florida. Check with prospective transfer programs on current requirements.

Meetings Times:

This class is offered completely online.  This means we will not have any official class meetings.  

You will be expected to spend the time online that you would have normally spent in the classroom.  Below you will find a detailed schedule of assignments with due dates.

Professor Information:

Professor:

Angelique Smith, M.Ed.

E-mail:

AngSmith@valenciacc.edu , When class begins we will use WebCT e-mail only for all course communications.

Department:

Social Sciences (7-107)

Department Phone:

407-582-1203

Office Phone:

407-582-5403 (M-F 8a-5p)

Office Hours:

By appointment only – Virtual Office hours will be held through WebCT throughout the semester.  Watch the course homepage for identified dates and times.

Contact Instructions:

I prefer that you contact me through e-mail.  I spend most of my time near a computer and check frequently for new messages between the hours of 8a-5p.  I have a 48 hour rule that I follow.  This means if you e-mail me, I will get back to you within 48 hours, usually sooner. 

If you choose to contact me via phone, please use my office phone number (407) 582-5403.  If prompted to leave a message, please indicate that you are one of my students, and leave me information on how best to contact you. 

I am also available for office hours if you e-mail me, or call me in advance to set up a time.  Online office hours may also become available.

Materials:

Required Text(s):

§         Teachers Discovering Computers and Integrating Technology into the Classroom Fourth Edition by Shelly, Cashman and Gunter

Other Materials:

§         Atlas Account

§         Positive Attitude, willingness to learn, and share experiences.

Computer Requirements:

Home Computer Requirements:

The following are recommended hardware and software requirements necessary for a quality interactive learning experience.

§         A Pentium-II 333 Mhz speed PC with at least 64MB of RAM running Windows 98m Me, NT, 2000, or XP

§         Available hard drive space of at least 1 GB

§         56 Kbps modem

Internet Service Provider:

A fast, reliable Internet Connection and an Atlas E-mail account are basic course requirements.  We encourage all learners to obtain their Internet access through an ISP that offers a reliable, direct connection to the Internet.  We recommend a minimum of a 56 Kbps Internet connection for best results,  Your connection speed is determine by your computer’s physical location, the speed of your modem, and the access plan from an Internet Service Provider (ISP).

Web browsers:

The interface between you computer and the Internet takes place within your Web browser.  Web browsers, like other types of software are continuously upgrade to give you new features and/or to fix known problems.  We recommend Internet Explorer 5.0 or higher.

Class Site and

Due Dates:

All assignments, quizzes and discussion boards will be located in the WebCT site for the course.  This is the heart of the course and ALL course business will be conducted through WebCT (including e-mail).    All WebCT questions can be directed to the instructor. 

You will be trained on WebCT via an online orientation located within our course.  Proceed to http://webct6.valenciacc.edu and enter your Atlas user name and password to login.  Contact your instructor with any questions. 

All online assignments, quizzes, and discussion boards will open May 3, 2006  You can work ahead but there are STRICT due dates for all chapters.  Please see the schedule for the online due dates. 

Any work that is handed in after the due date will result in a 5 point deduction each day it is late.  NO EXCEPTIONS!

Course Protocol:

Computer Requirements:  If the Web server is down I will be notified about this by the college’s instructional designer.  I will notify you in a timely manner and adjust deadlines accordingly. 

Remember that when utilizing Valencia Community College computer labs, food and drink are not permitted. 

Notes for face-to-face meetings:  Use of cell phones or pagers during the class sessions is not acceptable.  Please turn them on silent ring/buzz or turn them off.  You may return calls during the next break.  Use of computers during the class period for any purposes other than what the class is working on is unacceptable. 

Academic Honesty:

Academic Honesty (Policy Number 6Hx28: 10-16) (see the college website for additional information about this policy) 

Ø      All forms of academic dishonesty are prohibited at Valencia Community College.  Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, plagiarism, cheating, furnishing false information, forgery or misuse of documents, misconduct during a test situation, and misuse of identification with intent to defraud or deceive.

Ø      All work submitted by students is expected to be the result of the individual student’s individual thoughts, research and self expression.  Whenever a student uses ideas, wording or organization from another source, the source shall be appropriately acknowledged. 

Ø      Students shall take special notice that the assignment of course grades is the responsibility of the student’s individual professor.  When the professor has reason to believe that an act of academic dishonesty has occurred, and before sanctions are imposed, the student shall be given informal notice and an opportunity to be heard by the individual professor.  Any student determined by the professor to have been guilty of engaging in an act of academic dishonesty shall be liable to a range of academic penalties as determined by the professor which may include, but not be limited to, one or more of the following: loss of credit for an assignment, examination or project, a reduction in the course grade; or a grade of “F” in the course.  At the option of the professor, the campus provost may be furnished with written notification of the occurrence and the action taken. 

Ø      If such written notice is given, a copy shall be provided to the student. 

Ø      Students guilty of engaging in a gross or flagrant act of academic dishonesty or repeated instances of academic dishonesty shall also be subject to administrative and/or disciplinary penalties which may include warning, probation, suspension and/or expulsion from the college.  The student may appeal action taken by the professor under the provisions of either policy 6Hx28:10-13 or 6Hx28:10-15 as determined by the nature of the action taken. 

Student Code of Conduct:

Student code of Classroom Conduct (policy #: 6Hx28:10-18) (see the college website for additional information about this policy) 

Activities which disrupt the classroom setting and are in violation of this Student Code of Classroom Conduct are those that, with or without intent to do so, are disruptive of the essence of the educational process.  Faculty members are authorized to define, communicate and enforce appropriate standards of decorum in classrooms, offices, and other instructional areas under their supervision.  In the case of the violation of the Student Code for Classroom Conduct, the faculty member may initiate personal conferences, verbal and written warnings, referral of the Director of Student Services for counseling and removal from the classroom pending disciplinary action under policy #6Hx28:10-04.  Examples of such disruptive or distracting activities include, but are not limited to the following: 

1. Activities that are inconsistent with commonly acceptable behavior and which are not conducive to the learning experience, such as inappropriate online postings or breaches of acceptable “netiquette.”

2. Activities which violate previously prescribed classroom guidelines or constitute an unreasonable interruption of the learning process.
3. Side discussions in areas reserved for discussion of course content which are irrelevant to the subject matter of the class, that distract from the learning process, or impede, hinder or inhibit the ability of other students to obtain the full benefit of the educational presentation, and
4. Utterances (posting) of “fighting words” or epithets directed specifically toward other persons with the intent of creating a hostile educational environment or which may reasonably be expected to incite imminent or immediate violence.

Violation of the Student Code of Conduct shall constitute grounds for student disciplinary action as provided in Policy 6Hx28:10-04 (see college website for additional information).
 

General College Policies:

Students Requiring Academic Accommodation:

Students with disabilities who qualify for academic accommodations must provide a letter from the Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) and discuss specific needs with the professor, preferably during the orientation.  The Office for Students with Disabilities determines accommodations based on appropriate documentation of disabilities (Winter Park Campus Room 203.  Phone: 407-582-6887. 

Class Attendance Policy:

Class Attendance Policy:  Since this class meets completely online, it is important that students routinely login to WebCT to check the course homepage for updates.  On occasion, your instructor will email you with updates or clarifications to assignments.  All notifications will be posted on or through WebCT. 

No Show Status:  Class attendance is required beginning the first week of the term. Since this class meets online, attendance will be taken by you responding to an invitation email from your instructor.  If you do not reply to this email or otherwise contact your instructor, you may be withdrawn from the class as a “no show”. In this event you will be billed for the class and a “W” will appear on your transcript for the course. 

Withdrawal Date: Students who feel they cannot meet the requirements of this course must withdrawal by May 15, 2006

Withdrawal Policy:  During a first attempt or a second attempt in the same course, if you withdraw or are withdrawn by your instructor before the specified withdrawal deadline (June 30, 2006), you will receive a W (withdrawn).  After the specified deadline, if you withdraw or are withdrawn by your instructor, your instructor will assign you either a WP (Withdrawn-Passing based on your status as of the last date of attendance) or a WF (Withdrawn-Failing, based on your status as of the last date of attendance).  If you do not withdraw and fail to take the required examination, the instructor will assign you a WF (Withdrawn Failing).  Please refer to the college catalog for more details. 

Since this class will be focusing on areas where electronic communication play a key, if as yet undefined role in technical and professional communication, it is our responsibility to be aware of our textual presence as it reflects upon our professional responsibilities, to ourselves and to our parents and students.

In order to maintain a positive online environment for our class, we all need to follow the netiquette guidelines summarized below.

All students are expected to:

• show respect for the instructor and for other students in the class
• respect the privacy of other students
• express differences of opinion in a polite and rational way
• maintain an environment of constructive criticism when commenting on the work of other students
• avoid bringing up irrelevant topics when involved in group discussions or other collaborative activities

The following list summarizes the kind of behavior that is not acceptable. Each item listed below is grounds for removal from the class.

Students should not:

1. Show disrespect for the instructor or for other students in the class
2. Send messages or comments that are threatening, harassing, or offensive
3. Use inappropriate or offensive language
4. Convey a hostile or confrontational tone when communicating or working collaboratively with other students
5. USE ALL UPPERCASE IN THEIR MESSAGES -- THIS IS THE EQUIVALENT OF SHOUTING!!!

If I feel that a student is violating any of the above guidelines, I will contact that student to discuss the situation in person. If you feel that a student is behaving inappropriately, please send me a private e-mail message explaining the situation as soon as possible.

Most netiquette is simple common sense. Simply put, the rules of netiquette outlined by the NCTE (and below in the famous "Ten Commandments for Computer Ethics") are those you should know and understand as an individual "netizen" ... a citizen of cyberspace. In this class, however, you also represent  Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in those public spaces, and you should keep in mind that those spaces are, practically speaking, an extension of the classroom itself.

If you are engaging electronic environments as a member of this class  then you are subject to the same expectations and rules of conduct any teacher or administrator might expect of you in a face-to-face (f2f) environment. Additionally, whether or not you are entering an electronic environment as a member of the class, if you are doing so via a WebCT or Atlas account, you are legally responsible to the Valencia's policies and expectations.

1. Thou shalt not use a computer to harm other people.
2. Thou shalt not interfere with other people's computer work.
3. Thou shalt not snoop around in other people's files.
4. Thou shalt not use a computer to steal.
5. Thou shalt not use a computer to bear false witness.
6. Thou shalt not use or copy software for which you have not paid.
7. Thou shalt not use other people's computer resources without authorization.
8. Thou shalt not appropriate other people's intellectual output.
9. Thou shalt think about the social consequences of the program you write.
10. Thou shalt use a computer in ways that show consideration and respect.

Class Schedule:

 ***All online work will be submitted through WebCT and is due by 11:55PM on Sunday night

Learning Assessments & Grading Policy:

Objectives:

Upon completion of the course, the learner will be able to: 

1.      Identify all of the major components of computer systems and accurately describe their applications.

2.      Effectively use a word processing software program to prepare course materials.

3.      Use presentation software to enhance delivery of instruction and information.

4.      Use a spreadsheet program to store, analyze and display numerical data.

5.      Create a simple web page for instructional purposes.

6.      Identify useful educational technologies and evaluate their educational applications.

7.      Describe major theoretical foundations of education and describe the ways in which various educational technologies can be used to facilitate each foundation.

8.      Use an instructional design model to plan technology-enhanced learning experiences.

9.       Identify the various audio and visual technologies that are commonly used to enhance learning and describe their applications to instruction.

10.  Demonstrate proficiency in using the World Wide Web to access information.

11.  Demonstrate information literacy skills that are essential to the effective use of information in the learning process.

12.  Describe the major forms of distance learning and describe the application of these systems to the educational process.

13.  Describe legal and ethical issues surrounding technology application in schools.

14.  Identify barriers to educational change and describe strategies for implementing planned change in schools that will lead to enhanced applications of educational technology.

Evaluation:

Several aspects of your performance in this course will be evaluated. These include preparation of an electronic portfolio that is a summary of your work for the entire semester, a classroom presentation using presentation software, application of an instructional design model to plan a learning activity, a website appropriate for a classroom web presence, and participation in online and in-class discussions. The evaluated components of the course will be weighted as follows:

Grading:

POINTS

ASSIGNMENT

220

Discussion Boards (11 posts, 20 points each)

250

Quizzes (8 Chapter quizzes + 2 Other quizzes)

555

Assignments & Projects

100

Final Exam

1000

Total Points

Final Examination:

The final exam will be given online between Sunday, December 10, 12:01am through Wednesday, December 13, 2006 at 11:55pm.  Completion of this exam is MANDATORY or you will receive a WF for the course.  

Final Grade:

A

Exceptional achievement, demonstrated in work. Keen understanding and optimal mastery of course objectives.? Earned for exemplary work, clearly beyond the requirements.
 

B

High achievements, demonstrated in work of consistent effort, intelligence and mastery of course competencies
 

C

Satisfactory completion of course requirements and mastery of essential course competencies.
 

D

Less than satisfactory performance that meets minimum standard for passing.
 

F