COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course focuses on the conceptual framework of technology, theories, and practices in educational environments. Students are provided the opportunity to investigate educational technology, analyze theories related to instructional design, and apply 21st century skills to teaching with technology.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

After completing this course, you will be able to:

CO1 Identify the underlying principles of educational technology.
CO2 Appraise the effective integration of technology into learning and instruction.
CO3 Assess the theories of human development and their relationship to learning theories.
CO4 Describe the relationship between instructional theories and instructional design theories.
CO5 Illustrate the ways in which introducing new technologies can be balanced with managing change.
CO6 Integrate the practical applications of teaching with technology into twenty-first century skills.
CO7 Interpret design principles and relate them to technology-facilitated learning.
CO8 Explain how technology can be included in the educational setting.
CO9 Summarize what can be expected as teaching with technology moves into the future.
CO10 Evaluate how technology principles adapt to various contexts.

COURSE MATERIALS

You will need the following materials to complete your coursework. Some course materials may be free, open source, or available from other providers. You can access free or open-source materials by clicking the links provided below or in the module details documents. To purchase course materials, please visit the University's textbook supplier.

Required Textbook

Spector, J. Michael. (2012). Foundations of Educational Technology: Integrative Approaches and Interdisciplinary Perspectives. New York: Routledge.

ISBN-13: 978-0415874717

COURSE STRUCTURE

Foundations of Educational Technology, Theories and Practices is a three-credit online course, consisting of six modules. Modules include an overview, topics, learning objectives, study materials, discussion forums, and assignments. Module titles are listed below.

Module 1: Understanding Educational Technology
Module 2: The Effective Integration of Technology in Educational Activities

Module 3: Human Development and its Relationship to Learning
Module 4: How Design Theory is Applied to Educational Technology

Module 5: Linking Technology With 21st Century Skills
Module 6: Technology Integration Now and in the Future

ASSESSMENT METHODS

For your formal work in the course, you are required to participate in ten graded discussion forums, complete ten written assignments. You are also required to complete a final project.

Consult the Course Calendar for assignment due dates.

Promoting Originality

One or more of your course activities may utilize a tool designed to promote original work and evaluate your submissions for plagiarism. More information about this tool is available in this document.

Discussion Forums

This course requires you to participate in ten graded discussion forums. There are also one ungraded but required introduction forum in Module 1.

Online Discussion Grading Rubric.

Written Assignments

You are required to complete ten written assignments. Each written assignment focuses on different topics covered in each module and requires you write a one to three page paper.

Final Project

You are required to complete a final project for the course. To demonstrates knowledge of the instructional skills you have gained from this course, you are required to identify a topic or challenge (real or imagined) that various people are impacted by and then consider a possible solution. You will share your solution lesson with a PowerPoint presentation and lecture notes.

See the Final Project area of the course web site for further details.

GRADING AND EVALUATION

Your grade in the course will be determined as follows:

Discussion forums (10)—40%
Written assignments (10)—40%
Final project—20%

All activities will receive a numerical grade of 0–100. You will receive a score of 0 for any work not submitted. Your final grade in the course will be a letter grade. Letter grade equivalents for numerical grades are as follows:

A	=	93–100	B	=	83–87
A–	=	90–92	C	=	73–82
B+	=	88–89	F	=	Below 73

To receive credit for the course, you must earn a letter grade of C or higher on the weighted average of all assigned course work (e.g., assignments, discussion postings, projects, etc.). Graduate students must maintain a B average overall to remain in good academic standing.

STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESS

First Steps to Success

To succeed in this course, take the following first steps:

Read carefully the entire Syllabus, making sure that all aspects of the course are clear to you and that you have all the materials required for the course.
Take time to read the entire Online Student Handbook. The Handbook answers many questions about how to proceed through the course, and how to get the most from your educational experience at Thomas Edison State University.
Familiarize yourself with the learning management systems environment—how to navigate it and what the various course areas contain. If you know what to expect as you navigate the course, you can better pace yourself and complete the work on time.
If you are not familiar with Web-based learning be sure to review the processes for posting responses online and submitting assignments before class begins.

Study Tips

Consider the following study tips for success:

To stay on track throughout the course, begin each week by consulting the Course Calendar. The Calendar provides an overview of the course and indicates due dates for submitting assignments, posting discussions, and scheduling and taking examinations.
Check Announcements regularly for new course information.

ACADEMIC POLICIES

To ensure success in all your academic endeavors and coursework at Thomas Edison State University, familiarize yourself with all administrative and academic policies including those related to academic integrity, course late submissions, course extensions, and grading policies.

For more, see: