Syllabus

Learning Objectives

By the end of this 10-week course participants will be able to...

1. Locate all digital applications presented in class.

2. Create at least six digital artifacts, with published reflections of their process, from 6 different digital technology applications.

3. Digitally comment on at least 20 other course participants’ reflections during the course- at least two per assignment.

4. Collaboratively create at least two digital artifacts with at least two other course participants.

5. Set-up, participate in, share their screen, and facilitate an online video chat.

Exploring Digital Applications and Resources

Digital technology training. To minimize “tech bloat” digital tools presented in this professional development curriculum for teachers are chosen with the intention of minimizing steep learning curves, taking into consideration the limited time and “mental bandwidth” available to most teachers during their day-to-day lives in the classroom. The tools are free, open-access or creative-commons licensed, easily downloaded, and/or readily available as school district software.

The following digital applications and resources are introduced to encourage exploration and the building of skills to utilize them most effectively in the classroom through projects designed to mimic those most often needed by teachers.

• Google Docs for easy on-line, asynchronous collaboration

• Building a website with Google Sites incorporating a blog & comment functionality

• Video conferencing for on-line, synchronous collaboration

• Creating online presentations with Google Slides

• Creating surveys and assessments with Google Forms

• Digital image creation with copyright free images and videos

• On-line photo and image editing

• Using built in screen capture apps

• Designing flyers, posters, infographics

• Making a lesson screencast

• Video creation

• Audio editing

• Creating animated GIFs