COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course is designed to provide both a theoretical and a practical foundation for current and future school leaders in the adoption and adaption of technology in administrative, curriculum, and instructional areas. The course will trace the development of educational technology today and provide the basis for leaders at all levels to make sound judgments about using technology to improve student learning and professional effectiveness. Included will be an examination of data-driven decision making and the overall collection and use of data.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

After completing this course, you will be able to:

Discuss the importance of technology in administrative planning and the leadership of schools and other educational organizations.
Identify the leading issues related to using technology in schools in such areas as general education, special needs students, equity of opportunity, and closing the digital divide among students, parents, and professionals.
Relate the emergence and continual evolution of technology to leadership, management, human capital, and student development.
Examine the components and overall value of data-driven decision-making and its impact on student achievement and professional development.
Explain how technology impacts curriculum and instruction.
Analyze the potential role of multimedia and its impact on school in order to determine
how leadership may assist students, parents, and teachers in dealing with new
technology functions.
Assess the current and future roles that data communications will play in the administration and operation of the schools.
Discuss ways that both traditional and distance learning approaches may impact schools to improve overall student achievement and effectiveness of school operations.
Illustrate the importance of educational and financial planning in considering the selection and purchasing of technological hardware and software.
Develop a multi-year technology plan to assist in preparing students, parents, staff, and teachers in dealing with current and future changes when using new equipment and software in teaching and learning.
Analyze current district and school policies and procedures to ensure that policies are ethical and legal, deal with diversity, ensure privacy protection, and have high levels of security.

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

Picciano, A.G. (2011). Educational leadership and planning for technology. Boston: Pearson.

ISBN-13: 978-0137058228

COURSE STRUCTURE

Leadership and Supervision in Educational Technology is a three-credit online course, consisting of ten modules. Modules include an overview, topics, study materials, and activities. Module titles are listed below.

Module 1: Technology and Leadership
Module 2: Computers and Education

Module 3: Improved Leadership with Technology
Module 4: Data-Driven Decision Making

Module 5: Instructional Applications of Technology
Module 6: Multimedia and Education

Module 7: Communicating Data and Information
Module 8: The Potential of Distance Education
Module 9: Educational and Financial Planning for Technology

Module 10: Developing Effective Users of Technology

ASSESSMENT METHODS

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

Located within the Evaluation Rubrics section of the course Web site are the rubrics used to aid in the grading of all activities.

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. Discussion Board assignments allow interaction with the class. Since discussions are interactive, these activities enable intellectual exchange with one’s peers.

There is also one ungraded but required forum: an introduction forum in module 1.

Written Assignments

You are required to complete five written assignments. The written assignments ask you to answer questions related to the topics covered in each module.

You have a choice between two questions in each assignment. Assignment answers are one to two pages in length (no more than 500 words).

Case Studies

You are required to complete five case study assignments. These assignments ask you to read a case study from the text and answer questions.

Case study answers are expected to be one to two pages in length (no more than 500 words) for all questions taken together.

Final Project

This course requires that you complete a final project, a document in which you address aspects of the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) policy statements. This assignment is described in detail within the Final Project section of the course site.

GRADING AND EVALUATION

Your grade in the course will be determined as follows:

Discussion forums (10)—20%
Written assignments (5)—30%
Case Studies (5)—30%
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: