Course Syllabus

Description
Instructional (sometimes called educational) technology is becoming an increasingly important part of K-12 education. New and emerging technologies are what your students will be using to learn and complete homework, and it will be what they will use to succeed as professionals in the workforce. It can also be how you enhance learning, improve motivation and engagement, increase accessibility, individualize instruction, and improve communication with parents and stakeholders. In this course, we will learn ideas and skills for integrating technology effectively into your teaching. Specifically, I hope that by the end of the semester, you will be able to:

1. Understand how technologies can enhance their teaching, professional work and communication, and personal professional development.
2. Design technology-enhanced activities and resources.
3. Identify resources to assist you in learning how to integrate technologies in the future.
4. Be motivated and confident in your abilities to learn how to use new technologies in their teaching.

ISTE Technology Standards
My goals for this course and inspiration for the activities are based in part on the National Educational Technology Standards for Teachers from the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE). These are the technology standards most often cited for teachers. A short description of the standards can be downloaded from ISTE. There are also technology standards for your students.

Course Policies
Course policies and assignments are subject to change as we move through the course because, like technologies, technology-enhanced instruction is constantly evolving! I will always give adequate notice of any changes to the policies or calendar.

Required Equipment
You need access to high-speed Internet and a webcam so you can participate in the online portions of the class. If you do not have this at home, then you need to schedule time to use a computer lab—the one in the MCKB is excellent and they have headsets available for you to participate in online video discussions. Other equipment (i.e. cameras, tablets, etc.) are available in the TEC lab in the McKay lab as well.  

Important Websites
The assignments, rubrics, and information on acquiring technology badges is at http://iptedtec.org/

Prerequisites

The 276 course for your major (e.g. ScEd 276r for science education) is a PREREQUISITE for this course. In particular, the Technology Skills Assessment that you complete as part of 276 is a PREREQUISITE for our course. Here is the website for the TSA: http://education.byu.edu/technology/tsa.html

Because of the nature of the course (part online), you must be able to:

• have regular access to high-speed Internet and a webcam
• be able to teach yourself new technologies from tutorials
• be able to self-regulate your learning and stay on task by yourself.

Participation Policy

We expect you to participate in this class by reading the material, viewing the presentations, and making thoughtful and reflective contributions to the discussions with something more than a "drive-by posting" (e.g. "thanks!" or "good idea" or "me too"). You can work ahead of schedule if you wish—completing all of the assignments the first week if you want to!—but you still need to participate in the discussions during the time set aside for each discussion.

Grading Policies

You must complete ALL assignments to get a passing grade. You must honestly complete all the work yourself, but you may share ideas with each other.

Late & Makeup Work

Due dates for assignments are listed on the calendar. A minimum 10% late penalty will be assessed for work submitted after the assignment deadline unless I have previously approved a later deadline due to extenuating circumstances. Work that is submitted over a week late will receive an additional 10% penalty for each week late. No late work is accepted after the final day of the regular semester, before reading days and final exams begin.

Assignments can be resubmitted until you achieve the grade you desire up to 90% of the total points IF YOU HAVE TURNED IN THE ASSIGNMENT ON TIME. You also have TWO WEEKS from the time you receive feedback from me to turn in this revised work.

I allow revision of your work because this is the way we learn new technologies: We keep trying and retrying! Note that this benefit of revising your work is only possible if you turned the assignment in on time. 

Study Habits

In this class, it is very easy to fall behind, particularly if you are unfamiliar with new technologies. Because of this, I have structured all of the major assignments so there is usually part of the assignment due each week, so that it stays manageable. Your responsibility is to know what is due each week. It is best to be in the habit of checking in with the class each week, and expecting that something is due each week.

One of my goals for the class is that you learn how to learn new technologies—because there will always be new technologies to learn! Here are some strategies to help you when learning something new in class:

1. First, check the module in Canvas that I have created for each assignment. I try to explain the assignment thoroughly and answer questions that I have been asked in the past. We have also created rubrics and tutorials for you on most of the technologies being taught at http://iptedtec.org
2. If my tutorials and materials do not help, you can look for more tutorials on Google and Youtube. I can usually find tutorials for almost any technology I want to learn there.
3. Members of the online class are welcome to attend any of the face to face sections any week that you wish to receive hands-on help. For a listing of the course meeting times, see BYU's course catalogue. All sections of the course run on the same schedule so that students can receive help on assignments. 
4. If none of these things helps you, you are welcome to email me or visit me during office hours. I usually respond to email within 24 hours except on the weekends and when I am out of town.

Grading scale

learning outcomes

Technology Instruction: Students will design, develop, and evaluate authentic learning experiences and assessment incorporating contemporary tools and resources to maximize content learning in context and to develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes identified in the NETS•S.

Library Information

Librarian Information
Name: Rachel Wadham
Office: 1223 HBLL
Phone Number: 422-6780
Email: rachel_wadham@byu.edu

Reference Desk Information
Name: Social Sciences / Education
Phone Number: 422-6228
Email: No library information available
Hours: M-Th : 8am-9pm; F: 8am-6pm; Sat: 10am-6pm

Department Research Information
http://guides.lib.byu.edu/content.php?pid=38325