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Technology Tools for Online Learning
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Description
This instructor-led, eight-week, fully-online course explores some of the technology tools used to build and deliver online courses. The main emphasis of this course will be to introduce students to issues concerning the use of technology and the many tools that are available. The economical, technological, and pedagogical pros and cons of each technology will be discussed. Participants will learn how to choose what technologies to integrate into their online course based on sound pedagogical decisions.
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Audience
This course is for faculty and staff who are interested in exploring the use of technology tools (mostly computer-based) in education.
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Topics
- Issues Surrounding the Use and Integration of Technology in Education
- Faculty Support for Technology
- Conferencing Tools
- Streaming Media
- Course Management Systems
- Online Quizzing and Testing Programs
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Outline
Module 1 – The Challenges and Benefits of Technology in Education
Module 2 – Communication and Conferencing Software
Module 3 – Course Management Systems (CMS) and Educational Computer-Based
Learning Environments
Module 4 – Teaching and Learning Technologies
Module 5 – Computer-Based Assessment Tools
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Goals
- Discuss some issues surrounding the use of technology in courses and curricula.
- Introduce students to a wide variety of technology tools.
- Examine example online courses and tools and explore how they enhance or detract from educational objectives.
- Provide students with criteria with which to judge new tools as they emerge.
- Discuss technology tools from the student’s perspective.
- Discuss the support of technology tools.
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In threaded discussions via an asynchronous online discussion forum, students will:
- Identify appropriate uses of technology.
- Identify features required to make a tool useful in an educational
setting.
- Experiment with some features of technologies used in online courses.
- Identify elements of courses that use technology successfully.
- Identify methods for supporting technology tools on a limited budget.
In collaborative team projects, students will:
- Critique conferencing software, course management systems, and quizzing
and testing programs.
- Critique a course using technology.
In a final course project, students will:
- Convert a segment of an existing course to use a given form of technology.
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The course is eight weeks in length and requires an online orientation.
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You may take this course without any course prerequisites.
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- Complete the online course orientation prior to the start of the
course.
- Read the instructor's lesson introductions and assigned readings
from the Web.
- Engage in positive and meaningful dialog with classmates concerning
the course subject matter.
- Answer discussion questions and present reasoning behind answers
to hypothetical questions given in class.
- Answer weekly discussion questions related to the technology tool
under discussion.
- Write a summary / reflective discourse of the key items covered each
week and how they apply to you.
- Complete group projects to create critiques of software products.
- Log onto the course 3 times per week.
- Active participation (participation will be part of your final grade)
- Complete all required postings.
- Complete a final project.
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The course has a modular structure consisting of somewhat
separate units. Each unit is individually assessed, but successive units build on previous information. The course pedagogy is based on collaborative learning and group participation. Content in the form of active asynchronous and synchronous chat participation, direct email, postings of materials, Web resources, and instructor notes are presented. Content in the form of student participation in discussion forums and comments on the ideas and work of others will also be present. Links to outside sources are required through which students will acquire more in depth information on some topics.
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This is an intensive course requiring about 8-10 hours a week. The time commitment will vary depending the individual's input, needs, and personal study habits. Students are required to log on to the course a minimum of 3 times a week.
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Continuing Education Credit (CEU Credit)
8 Continuing education units (CEU credit) are available for this course.
Graduate or Undergraduate Academic Credit
This course can also be taken for academic graduate credit through the University of Illinois at Springfield. To earn academic credit, you must first enroll as a non-degree or as a degree student through UIS. Visit the How to Enroll page for more information.
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Taking a course for CEUs:
Registration for this course is open to the general public, but there is a
tuition charge for participants who are not employees of
the University of Illinois. The tuition is determined by the number of contact hours and online discussion requirements for the course.
To view the tuition schedule for a specific section of this course, visit the Schedule and
click on the link for that section (e.g. SA0551).
Taking a course for Graduate Credit through the University of Illinois
at Springfield (UIS):
All of our courses except the Advanced Online Seminars may be taken for graduate
courses through UIS. You do not pay twice if you choose this
route. You pay only the fees associated with UIS enrollment. If you choose
to enroll through UIS, you need to follow the instructions.
You do not register through this site.
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