Syllabus

Course Description

Exploration of educational technology for teaching and learning in P12, higher education, and other educational settings. Emphasis on universal design for learning and the development of instructional products and resources.

Purpose

To teach preservice teachers to use and manage technology in educational settings and to communicate means for using technology in educational settings.

Course Objectives

At the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Develop an exploratory, experimental approach to technology with a willingness to try new applications

• Define universal design for learning and explain how technology can support the needs of diverse learners

• Operate available computer hardware and associated peripherals

• Evaluate resources for their potential for achieving instructional objectives

• Plan instruction that incorporates technology in appropriate ways

• Use technology as a personal productivity tool

• Recognize various implications for technology use in P12, higher education, and other educational settings

• Reflect on literature related to using technology in educational settings

• Access, evaluate, and utilize online educational resources

• Explain and give concrete examples of how educational technology can be used to enhance instruction and personal productivity

• Create technology-supported learning activities and products to enhance instruction and personal productivity

Labs

Participants must comply with all lab procedures and policies as established by the University of Georgia.

Course Schedule

• 08/21 - 09/01 Unit 1: Educational Technology Foundations (2 weeks)

• 09/04 - 09/22 Unit 2: Technology to Facilitate Classroom Learning (3 weeks)

• 09/25 - 10/13 Unit 3:  Technology to Support Student Collaboration (3 weeks)

• 10/16 - 11/03 Unit 4: Technology to Support Student Creativity (3 weeks)

• 11/06 - 12/01 Unit 5: Design Project (4 weeks - included Thanksgiving Break)

Assignments are due on Fridays at the end of the day of the unit. You are welcome to email the lecturer your draft work ahead of time for formative feedback. 

*No Final Exam*

Materials

• Textbook: Gonzalez, J. (2022). Teachers Guide to Technology 2022 (6th ed.). Cult of Pedagogy.
  : Don't purchase the book yet -- the instructions for purchasing the book with the discount code can be found in Unit 1 - Task 4.

• May need access to: headphones, microphone, webcam, mobile device

Policies

Grading Policy

Throughout the semester we will discuss your progress in the course. This may be achieved through email and office hours. 

A:  92-100        C+:77-79        
A-:90-91           C:73-76        
B+:87-89          C-:70-72
B:  83-86           D:67-69
B-:80-82           F:69 or lower 

Late Work Policy

• The course schedule already allows flexibility, with 2-3 weeks for each unit. Therefore, late work will not be accepted without a sufficient reason. Requests for deadline extensions will be accepted at the discretion of the lecturer.  

• Late submissions without prior communication may result in a grade deduction. 

Resubmission Policy 

If you turn in an assignment on time and receive a grade below 90%, you have the option to resubmit the assignment after receiving your feedback. You need to inform the lecturer via email once you've resubmitted your work. The highest grade you can receive on a resubmitted assignment is 90%. 

** Updated as of October 2023: 48-hour limit removed - you can now resubmit your work at any time

AI Policy

• AI tools may be used for grammar checking, spell checking, and synonym identification. Outside the approved uses, you are not allowed to use any AI tools for generating sentences or paragraphs for your writing. By submitting assignments in this class, you affirm that they are your original work without any AI-generated content. 

• Use of AI tools to write your paper or disguise plagiarized work is considered unauthorized assistance that violates UGA’s “A Culture of Honesty" policy.

• If your writing requires the outputs of generative AI tools, consult with the instructor beforehand. If approved, your use of AI tools must be properly documented and cited in order to stay within UGA academic honesty policy. 

• Honesty Policy

• All academic work must meet the standards contained in “A Culture of Honesty.” Each student is responsible for informing themselves about those standards before performing any academic work. The full version of “A Culture of Honesty: Policies and Procedures” detailing UGA’s policies on this matter can be found at: https://honesty.uga.edu/_resources/documents/UGA_AH_Policy_2022.pdf 

Attendance Policy

While there is obviously not an attendance policy - there is a mutual expectation that we all will be easily contacted during the 15 weeks of the semester. All tasks are due on the assigned due date unless another arrangement has been made. 

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Accessibility

UGA is committed to creating a dynamic, diverse, and welcoming learning environment for all students and has a non-discrimination policy that reflects this philosophy: http://tinyurl.com/UGApolicy. Our class will respect all students regardless of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, ethnicity or national origin, religion, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status. Ideas are open to critique; individuals are not. 

Any student who faces challenges securing food or housing and believes this issue may affect their performance in this course is urged to contact UGA Student Care and Outreach for support: https://sco.uga.edu Furthermore, please notify me, as the course instructor, if you are comfortable in doing so. 

Please let me know if you have any special circumstances that you believe may affect your performance in class so that I might develop appropriate accommodations. Where legally permitted, I will try to maintain complete confidentiality of any information that you choose to share with me. 

If you have a disability and would like to request accommodations, please feel free to discuss this with me. All individuals receiving accommodations in the classroom must be registered with Disability Services. Please visit their website at https://drc.uga.edu for further information. I am happy to help you with this process. 

** The course syllabus is a general plan for the course; deviations announced to the class by the instructor may be necessary.