OLD DOMINION UNIVERSITY
Syllabus
Instructor: Thomas C. Spencer
Office: Computer Lab Education 134 Phone: [757] 547-0134
Secretary: 244 Educ. Fax: [757] 547-2391
Mailbox: 242 Educ. E-mail: tspencer@whro.org
1. Number: ECI 646
2. Title: Telecommunications and Distance Education
3. Course Description:
Lecture 3 hours; 3 credits. Prerequisite: Basic computer skills such as word processing, email, Internet browsing, and operating system skills. Visit Darden College of Education Microcomputer Labs home page http://www.odu.edu/~darden for more information. The course will consist of an introduction to computer networking, the suite of telecommunications utilities, browsers, and resources that can be found on the Internet. The course will focus on the resources that can be applied to enhance or deliver coursework through the medium of computer networks (LAN, Intranet, and Internet.) Students will become acquainted with the tools that are available by searching for information on-line, demonstrating the use of each of these tools, and producing a curriculum - oriented homepage that can be uploaded to a server on the World Wide Web. Students will learn to employ search techniques to locate information that will assist them in their study of the Internet and other network resources.
Purpose - Educator as a Professional
A teacher is an expert in a field of knowledge who can relate his or her wisdom to novices. A professional teacher can defend his or her practices based on the "state-of-the-art." The ODU undergraduate and fifth year teacher education programs include extensive experiences in the liberal arts, early field experiences, in-depth content preparation, principals of learning theory, classroom management techniques, methods and materials for teaching specific levels, categories of students, and/or subjects, and practice in the field. Graduate programs provide additional professional development experiences for inservice teachers. The sum of these components prepare an educator to be a life-long learner and thus constantly at the edge of the state-of-the-art.
4. Course Competencies:
Upon successful completion of this course, students should be able to:
1. Compose, send, and manage e-mail.
2. Access and navigate newsgroups.
3. Access remote computers and utilize their resources using telnet.
4. Navigate Unix directories.
5. Search for and locate information using Veronica, Archie, Gopher, and the WWW.
6. Identify, research, and be able to make information-based choices when selecting an (ISP) Internet Service Provider.
7. Define relevant terminology associated with telecommunications and the Internet.
8. Describe the system requirements needed to access Internet resources at various levels.
9. Retrieve and place files on the Internet using (FTP) File Transfer Protocol.
10. Design a Web page using HTML that can be uploaded to a host computer on the WWW.
11. Use appropriate search techniques to locate information on specific topics on the WWW, in gopherspace, and on FTP sites.
Objectives -- [NCATE Standards]-- The student will acquire and learn to apply
knowledge about:
1. _X_ the social, historical, and philosophical foundations of education, including an
understanding of the moral, social, and political dimensions of classrooms,
teaching, and schools.
2. _X_ the impact of technological and societal changes on schools.
3. _X_ theories of human development and learning.
4. _X_ inquiry and research.
5. _X_ school law and educational policy.
6. _X_ professional ethics
7. ____the responsibilities, structure, and activities of the profession.
The student will develop understanding of:
8. _X_research- and experience-based principals of effective practice for encouraging
the intellectual, social, and personal development of students.
9. _X_different student approaches to learning for creating instructional opportunities
adapted to learners from diverse cultural backgrounds and with exceptionalities.
10._X_variety of instructional strategies for developing critical thinking,
problem solving, and performance skills.
11._X_individual and group motivation for encouraging positive social interaction,
active engagement in learning, and self-motivation.
12 _X_effective verbal, nonverbal, and media communications for fostering active
inquiry, collaboration, and supportive interactions in the classroom.
13._X_planning and management of instruction based on knowledge of the content
area, the community, and curriculum goals.
14. _X_formal and informal assessment strategies for evaluating and ensuring the
continuous intellectual, social, and physical development of the learner.
15. ___collaboration with the school colleagues, parents, and agencies in the larger
community for supporting students' learning and well-being.
16. ___effective interactions with parents for supporting students' learning and well-
being.
17._X_the opportunity for candidates to reflect on their teaching and its effects on
student growth and learning.
18 _X_educational technology, including the use of computer and other technologies in
instruction, assessment, and professional productivity.
The student will integrate general content, and professional and pedagogical knowledge:
19. _X_candidates learn to integrate their content, professional, and pedagogical
knowledge and skills to create learning experiences that make the central
concepts, tools of inquiry, and structures of the content area meaningful for all
students.
20.___ the learning experiences created by teacher candidates build on students' prior
experiences, exceptionalities, and cultural backgrounds based on membership in
ethnic, racial, gender, language, socioeconomic, community, and family groups,
to help all students achieve high levels of learning.
The Bookmarks Editor How-To! (NS 4.X)
***The online journal is to be prepared with the Netscape bookmark editor***
Open Netscape Navigator | Click on the Bookmarks Icon | select Edit bookmarks from the menu | select Edit | Bookmark Properties | and edit the Description box. Please do not forget to save your work | choose the File menu item | Save As | configure the windows Save As dialog to save the file as a:\username.htm (where username is replaced by the first character of your first name followed by up to seven characters of your last name in all lower case. e.g. tspencer) Always make an extra copy of your bookmarks file (back it up!) You can now view your personal bookmarks file as a local file in the browser to see the bookmarks and their descriptions. Open Netscape Navigator | Click on the File menu | Select Open Page | Choose File and navigate the dialog to find the filename. You can also simply type the filename in the Open Page dialog box directly.
20% Online Journal
15% Multimedia presentation (including one full week's lesson plans)
35% Lab assignments, assigned papers, quizzes and hands-on tests
- Telecommunications assignments described above
- Internet search assignment
- Assigned papers and library research
10% Curriculum - related web page
10% Mid-term exam
10% Culminating paper (in lieu of final examination)
6. Students with Special Needs - In accordance with university policy, a student who
wishes to receive some instructional accommodation, because of a documented
sensory and/or learning disability, should meet with the instructor to discuss this
accommodation.
7. Attendance Policy -- Students will be expected to attend all class sessions. If you must be absent on a given class day, please contact the instructor before the absence. Performance-based class assignments and lecture / discussion participation cannot be made up.
Lab Expectations: Extensive lab hours will be required outside normal class times. The lab hours are posted on the doors to rooms 130/132. These hours may vary depending on requested lab use, so check the weekly schedule for changes. The lab is staffed by qualified assistants. They are your first resource for help. Please see me for an appointment to obtain additional assistance if necessary. Those students beginning this course with little or no computer experience will need to spend significant extra time on the computer, especially during the first few weeks.
8. Course Evaluation --
Grading Scale:
95-100 A
86-94 B
77-85 C
0-76 F
Grades of + or - will be given at the discretion of the instructor.
Note: A grade of "I" indicates assigned work yet to be completed in a given course or absence from the final examination, and is assigned only upon prior instructor approval of a student request. The "I" grade can be given only in exceptional circumstances beyond the student's control, such as illness. In these cases it is the responsibility of the student to notify the faculty member.
9. Honor Pledge -- "I pledge to support the honor system of Old Dominion University. I will refrain from any form of academic dishonesty or deception, such as cheating or plagiarism. I am aware that as a member if the academic community, it is my responsibility to turn in all suspected violators of the honor system. I will report to Honor Council hearings if summoned." By attending Old Dominion University you have accepted the responsibility to abide by this code. This is an institutional policy approved by the Board of Visitors.
10. Office Hours -- by appointment
Underdahl, B. and Willett, E. (1998)
Internet Bible
IDG Books Worldwide, Inc., California.
ISBN --7645-3216-2
Optional Texts: You may choose to use additional resources that can be located at libraries, bookstores, or on the Internet itself. If you find one that may be useful to the class at large, please share that information in class.
Required materials/accounts: A box of high-density 3.5" floppy diskettes.
12. Outline of Topics / Assignments -- Attachment
Note: All assignments are to be turned in on the date specified. You may not assume that assignments turned in late without prior approval will be accepted. Assignments are to be typed, double-spaced twelve point in the Times New Roman font. Please turn assignments in without report covers or binders. A cover page stapled to the assignment at the top left - hand corner of the paper will suffice.
*Note: Due to specific interests and needs of class members, as well as the response of the network (both local and Internet) it will be necessary to maintain a high degree of flexibility with the suggested schedule of class topics. We may need to change topics or modes of instruction on or during any given class day.
13. Cultural Diversity -- The following topics include elements dealing with cultural
diversity: (1) Uses of technology in Teaching and Learning; (2) Students Access to
Computers; (3) Inequalities in Technology Use - Socioeconomic Status, Gender
Differences and Ability Differences; (4) Cognitive Learning and Technology Tools; (5)
Instructionism, Constructivism and Constructionism.
14. Use of Instructional Technology -- This course addresses the application of technology in the classroom, and almost all topics are presented using some aspect of instructional technology. Specific topics include: (1) Technology Standards; (2) Email; (3) Internet - Netscape, browser, searching; (4) Using networks and telecommunications technologies for Content-Area Learning; (5) Educational Applications using Multimedia and Hypermedia.
15. Methods Course Connection to Content Courses -- NA
Please see the following URLs which will be used as references for this class.