Spring 2024: R678 Emerging Learning Technologies"Special Issue Syllabus" (January 7, 2024)Optional Weekly Meetings Mondays nights starting at 6 (or 7) pm EST Section 34189 Online, Canvas: https://iu.instructure.com/courses/2202703 General Course Link to Canvas: http://canvas.iu.edu/
Instructor: Curtis J. Bonk, Professor, Instructional Systems Technology Dept. 2024 Syllabus: http://curtbonk.com/R678_online_syllabus_spring_2024.htm
2022 “Monster” Syllabus (HTML): http://curtbonk.com/R678_online_syllabus_spring_2022.htm 2022 Alternative Syllabus: https://curtbonk.com/R678_alt_online_syllabus_spring_2022.htm Office Hours and Optional Virtual Sessions in Zoom: https://IU.zoom.us/j/8123222878
Padlet Introductions: https://padlet.com/jamrscot/sp24r678 Online Role Play: http://www.trainingshare.com/r678roles.php Dropbox link for course files (R678 Spring of 2024): https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/bba1xfoy4ozfhhjgjtufw/h?rlkey=8vdujz19b1hjtg238keuzo0rm&dl=0
======================================================================== Summary of Course Tasks, Due Dates, and Grading
Course Goals and ObjectivesAfter the course, students should be able to do many of the items below (not all): 1. Explain and demonstrate the educational benefits of emerging learning technologies such as augmented reality, synchronous conferencing, online tutorials, podcasts, chatbots and artificial agents, artificial intelligence and generative AI, virtual worlds, serious games, OER, simulations, social networking software, open textbooks, digital books, mobile apps, etc. 2. Track and report on trends related to emerging learning technologies. 3. Frame learning technology trends and issues from broader psychological, social, cultural, and educational perspectives. 4. Critique articles and conference papers as well as review books and software related to emerging learning technologies. 5. Use, recommend, or create online resources and portals in a variety of educational settings. 6. Design an innovative research or evaluation project related to online learning. 7. Successfully submit research, grant, and other proposals related to learning technologies, open education (e.g., open textbooks), AI, learning analytics, MOOCs, e-learning, etc. to conferences, foundations, summits, agencies, or institutes. 8. Recognize and potentially contact many of the key players and scholars in the field of online learning, open education, MOOCs, and emerging learning technologies. 9. Consult with organizations to develop strategic plans or evaluate the effectiveness of e-learning courses, programs, and events as well as MOOCs, open education, Web 2.0 technologies, etc. 10. Make recommendations regarding online learning initiatives, programs, and strategies as well as various emerging learning technologies, open educational resources, and innovative and nontraditional forms of educational delivery. 11. Obtain a model, guide, or framework for thinking about new technology tools and resources in education. Use this framework for strategic planning reports, retreats, consulting, and other situations where a macro lens on learning technology and educational reform is needed. 12. Obtain the skills to train fellow teachers as well as learners in emerging learning technologies and pedagogically effective instructional activities and approaches.
Total points will determine your final grade. I will use the following grading scale: A+ = 300 high score B- = 240 points A = 280 points C+ = 230 points A- = 270 points C = 220 points B+ = 260 points C - = 210 points B = 250 points F/FN = no work rec'd or signif. inadequate/impaired
Lateness Policy: I usually accept anything turned in within 48 hours (2 days) of the original due date.
Required Texts (none)Required Videos (you select)Required Journal Articles or Special Issues (you pick from a list)Nothing required!!! The world of learning should be FREE!
FREE books (it is free in English and Chinese):
November 18, 2021, TEC VARIETY, 10 Explanatory Videos,
Linda Smith
2. Khoo, E., & Bonk, C. J. (2022). Motivating and Supporting Online Learners. Burnaby, BC, Canada: Commonwealth of Learning. Free book available: http://hdl.handle.net/11599/4481 and free course available: https://colcommons.org/welcome/coursedetails/8; https://www.colvee.org/; EdTechBooks: https://edtechbooks.org/motivating_and_supporting_online_learners ; DOI 10.59668/699 Some of the books of mine that I will refer to (don’t buy them): 1. Bonk, C. J., & King, K. S. (Eds.). (1998). Electronic collaborators: Learner-centered technologies for literacy, apprenticeship, and discourse. Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum 2. Bonk, C. J. & Graham, C. R. (Eds.) (2006). Handbook of blended learning: Global perspectives, local designs. San Francisco, CA: Pfeiffer Publishing. 3. Bonk, C. J., & Zhang, K. (2008). Empowering Online Learning: 100+ Activities for Reading, Reflecting, Displaying, and Doing. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
10. Pawan, F., Daley, S., Kou, X., & Bonk, C. J. (2022). Engaging online language learners: A practical guide. DC: TESOL. Available: https://bookstore.tesol.org/engaging-online-language-learners--a-practical-guide-products-9781942799931.php
========================================================================= Projected Seminar Weekly TopicsWeek 1. (January 8). Systematic Reviews of Research on Emerging Learning Environments & Tech. Week 2. (January 15). Systematic Reviews of Research on Emerging Learning Environments & Tech. Week 3. (January 22). Systematic Reviews of Research on Online Learning Week 4. (January 29). Creative Learning in Authentic Contexts with Advanced Educational Technologies Week 5. (February 5). Augmented Reality and Cross Reality (XR): The Blurring of Reality in HCI Week 6. (February 12). Using ChatGPT in Language Learning Week 7. (February 19). Precision Education – A New Challenge for AI in Education Week 8 (February 26). Creating Computational Thinkers for AI Era—Catalyzing Process thru Ed Tech Week 9. (March 4). Adoption of Learning Technologies in Times of Pandemic CrisisWeek 10. (March 18). New Technology Challenges in Education for New Learning Ecosystem Week 11. (March 25). Conventional AI to Modern AI in education- AI & Analytics Techniques Week 12. (April 1). Open Access to Open Science—Open Ed in Transition and Outcomes of Openness Week 13. (April 8). Emerging Tech for Diverse and Inclusive Educ. from a Sociocultural Perspective. Week 14. (April 15). Balancing Student Privacy and Technology Integration in Higher Education (or… Technology Integration in Higher Education in Africa) Week 15. (April 22). Smart Learning Environments (or: Emerging Technologies in Education for Innovative Pedagogies and Competency Development) ==========================================================================
Weekly Course Special Issue Readings: You are to read 3-5 articles from one special issue each week. However, you can substitute a different special issue that you find at any time. Note that there are 12 different journals listed in the 15 weeks below: AJET, BJET, CHB, DE, ES, ET&S, ETR&D, ILE, IRRODL, JCAL, Languages, and OLJ; 9 of which noted in red are top tier SSCI journals.
Some Special Issues Substitutes: 1. IRRODL Special Issue: AI E-Learning and Online Curriculum (2022), 23(1), Ting-Chia Hsu, Hal Abelson, Natalie Lao. Available: https://www.irrodl.org/index.php/irrodl/issue/view/109
2. IRRODL Special Issue: Open Universities: Past, Present, and Future (2019), 20(4), Ross Paul & Alan Tait. Available: https://www.irrodl.org/index.php/irrodl/issue/view/98
3. TechTrends Special Issue: Mobile Learning in Teacher Education. (2019), 63(6), Tony Hall & Cornelia Connolly. Available: https://link-springer-com.proxyiub.uits.iu.edu/journal/11528/volumes-and-issues/63-6
4. Distance Education Special Issue: Inclusive Online and Distance Education for Learners with Dis/abilities (2022), 43(4), Mary F. Rice & Michael Dunn. Available: https://www.tandfonline.com/toc/cdie20/43/4?nav=tocList
Task #1. Discussion Moderation and Interaction in Canvas (60 points: Due each week)
You will start and moderate at least one discussion for your 60 points (60 points): At the start of each week, I want one person to post a short summary to Canvas on at least 4 of the main articles assigned for that week. That person is the starter for discussion. You will need to use the forms below to signup for your chosen week. Other students will add to their conversation with their reflections and reactions. There will be two discussion forums for you to choose from: (1) one for interaction among humans only, and (2) one for augmented use of ChatGPT and other Generative AI tools or platforms; in the latter, you are to rely on an AI tool for wording or a comment, quote, critique, comparison, or other means that you deem relevant. Please contribute to one or both of the discussions each week.
Sign up to moderate human-to-human discussion: https://trainingshare.com/r678human.php Sign up to moderate with AI tools: https://trainingshare.com/r678AI.php
Moderators or co-moderators might: 1. State reactions, questions, and suggestions for the upcoming readings. 2. Post author pictures, quotes, figures, tables, etc., from the articles for the coming week. 3. Recap or briefly summarize key parts of the assigned articles for the week. 4. Monitor the discussion. And spark it when it goes weak. 5. Offer feedback to peers on their posts. 6. Add resources and links to resources to the discussion. 7. Connect discussion to experts in the field. 8. Connect or synthesize comments within the week. 9. Point to counter points and inaccuracies in the postings of students during the week. 10. Be creative or offer creative insights when needed. 11. Point out the relationship of upcoming week topic or articles to past lectures or readings. 12. Reflect on the discussion from past weeks; repost prior quotes from others. 13. Discuss the position of a researcher or pioneer in the field (or perhaps even write to him/her); 14. Discuss a recent speech or colloquium you attended related to the week or a visit to a technology center or exhibit. 15. At the end of the week, you might react and reflect on the class discussion that transpired as well as the questions and concerns raised. You might also link to the next week’s readings.
Online Café: There will also be a forum or online café to recommend, critique, discuss, share, and potentially demonstrate specific emerging technology tools, platforms, and resources.
Participation considerations:
Task #2. Tidbit and Video Reflection Paper (60 points: Due February 26)
Tidbits and Videos (60 points): Besides reading 3-5 assigned articles each week, during the semester, I want you to read 75-100 total short news items or technology articles from e-newsletters, magazines, newspapers, applied journals, and similar sources or what I call “tidbits” that you find or see my former syllabus from 2022 (HTML) for a list of tidbit readings or about 5 or 6 per week. Typically, these are very short online news or magazine articles—see tidbits in the monster syllabus or find your own. I also want you to watch at least 5 short videos that you find on emerging learning technology for education (you can find many in the old syllabus). On February 26, you will turn in a list of your top 50 tidbits read so far (best ones at the top) and top 3 videos watched. You might also note a few tidbits that you did not enjoy. After those lists, I want you to reflect for 1-2 single spaced pages on what you learned from those tidbits. I am not asking you to summarize each article or video; instead reflect on your learning in general. What themes, trends, or concepts were clarified for you? What new insights did you gain? What inspirations did you feel? You might include brief comments at the beginning or end of the paper on why you ranked the tidbits and videos the way you did. There are task examples in Dropbox. Please be creative. You can use ChatGPT to generate starter text or 2-3 comments or quotes, but be sure to cite such work properly. For example, citations in text: (ChatGPT, personal communication) or (OpenAI, 2023).
OpenAI (2023). ChatGPT (March 14 version) [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com/
Task #3. ETR&D Review and Critique and Interview (60 points: Due February 26)
During the first two weeks of the semester, we will read from the special issue on Systematic Reviews of Research on Emerging Learning Environments and Technology that Vanessa Dennen, Florence Martin, and I edited that was published in the summer of 2020. The next week (Week 3) you will read an article from our special issue of Systematic Reviews of Research on Online Learning that was published in the Online Learning Journal in March 2023. I want you to review and critique at least four articles from one of these special issues (2-3 pages single spaced). In addition, I want you to interview one or two of the contributors (i.e., the authors) to either of these special issues. I have all their email addresses so just ask if you need them; first try to look them up online or see their article bio for their email addresses. I am also happy to make introductions. Perhaps you might ask them questions like the following: What were they attempting to accomplish with the research in their article? What do they see as the strengths and weaknesses of that article? What is their current research targeting and why? Where is their research headed in the future? (1-2 or so pages). Total of 3-4 single spaced pages not counting references and pictures of your grandmother (which might add a bonus point).
Another option is to review and critique a different special issue, a special conference symposium or summit, or edited book related to any week of this course. What are the strengths and weaknesses of it? Why or why not would you recommend that others read or explore it? How does the content of it relate to R678 content? If you choose this option, please run the special issue, symposium, summit, or book that you selected by the instructor. This critique will be a 3-4 page single spaced report
You can work with a partner on this. Feel free to utilize generative AI tools like ChatGPT or ChatPDF to generate starter text and up to three quotes in your paper as long as they are marked or you have reworded them and cited them properly. If you utilized ChatGPT or some other generative AI platform, please cite it appropriately.
Or perhaps put the articles or the entire special issue into ChatPDF, ChatGPT, or other generative AI tool or platform and have it do a critique or a book review. If you choose this route, you are to write a 2-3 page single-spaced reflection paper, review, or critique of what generative AI produced.
Martin, F., Dennen, V. P., & Bonk, C, J. (Eds.) (2020). Special Issue: Systematic Reviews of Research on Emerging Learning Environments and Technology. Educational Technology Research and Development (ETR&D) 68(4). https://link.springer.com/journal/11423/volumes-and-issues/68-4
Martin, F., Dennen, V. P., & Bonk, C. J. (Eds.) (2023). Special Issue: Systematic Reviews of Research on Online Learning. Online Learning Journal, 27(1). DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.24059/olj.v27i1.3887. Available: https://olj.onlinelearningconsortium.org/index.php/olj/issue/view/126. Entire issue with cover: http://www.publicationshare.com/34; EdTechBooks: https://edtechbooks.org/online_learning_journal_27_1
Task #4 Options (Due April 15):
Task 4a Option. Report or Strategic Plan Analysis and Evaluation (60 pts—Due April 15; students are encouraged to work in teams of 2-3 people)Find and evaluate a summary report, technical report, or a strategic plan of a company, university, non-profit organization, school, state, province, country, or region related to e-learning, blended learning, mobile learning, or emerging learning technologies of some type and critique it. For instance, you might pick the state or country where you were born or perhaps where you plan to live after graduation. You might find the strategic plan online or request a hardcopy version. I want you to not simply read and critique the report but to also interview someone who created it or is/was affected by that report. You might discuss and critique the online learning technologies highlighted, proposed pedagogical plans, intended training methods, targeted skills or competencies, or evaluation methods detailed. You might visit the organization or write someone an email. What might this organization do differently in planning for e-learning, open education, MOOCs, or using some emerging learning technology? Has there been an update? For example, you might read the following report from the Commonwealth of Learning:
Report: Authors: Shafika Issacs and Sanjaya Mishra Cite as: UNESCO IITE, COL & BNU (2022). Smart Education Strategies for Teaching and Learning: Critical Analytical Framework and Case Studies. Moscow: UNESCO IITE. Available: https://iite.unesco.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Smart-education-strategies-publication.pdf; https://oasis.col.org/items/53fc7c8c-5ea4-4b44-9fce-9b829905e89f
You are encouraged to work in teams on the report. When done, it would be great if you presented an overview of the report to the class. Testimonials, graphs, and trends of indicated growth, comparisons, and other data or handouts are welcome. You are also encouraged to directly contact the organization that developed the report or plan and receive additional product information (e.g., DVDs, brochures, white papers, technical reports, product comparison sheets, videotapes, company annual report, customer testimonies, data sheets, Web site information, etc.). Your evaluation, critique, and extension paper should be 4-5 single-spaced pages (excluding references and appendices; those working in teams are expected to have 6-8 single spaced page papers, not counting references and appendices). Please post it to Canvas. If late please also send to me via email.
Or perhaps put the articles or the entire strategic plan report into ChatPDF, ChatGPT, or other generative AI tool or platform and have it do a critique or a book review. If you choose this route, you are to write a 2-3 page single-spaced reflection paper, review, or critique of what generative AI produced.
Summary Report/Strategic Plan Grading (10 pts for each of the following dimensions) 1. Review of Plan or Document (clarity, related to class, organized, facts, data, relevant, style). 2. Relevant Resources and Digging (citations/refs, linkages to class concepts, extensive). 3. Soundness of Critique (depth, clear, complete, practical, detailed, important, coherence). 4. Creativity and Richness of Ideas (richness of information, elaboration, originality, unique). 5. Knowledge of Topic (learning breadth & depth, growth, displays understanding of topic). 6. Overall Quality Review and Critique (would make an excellent consultant, cogent advice) and Recommendations, Insights, and Implications (contains relevant recommendations, guides).
Task 4b Option. Naturalistic StudyYou have various midterm options. For instance, you might perform a case study or pilot observation of workers, students, etc. using tools or instructors interacting with employees, students, other instructors, etc. while they use a Web-based learning tool, resources, project, or curriculum application. Perhaps you might look at how different people are utilizing ChatGPT for their learning. For instance, you might decide to complete a case study of a child, young person, or adult using a particular learning tool for the first time. Such naturalistic studies should include at least five careful observations and commentary of the person and tutor/teacher. The commentary should reflect your learning and provide insights as to how to make this tool more educationally meaningful. If you are looking at student-teacher-tool interaction patterns, teacher guidance, or simply tool use, you will need to design coding schemes and observation log sheets to help interpret tool functionality in this environment.
When done with your brief study, you might interview an instructor, learner, instructional designer, or some other person in that environment about the phenomenon that you observed. Interviewees might come from corporate, K-12, military, government, or higher education settings. These optional interviews can be live (face-to-face), via videoconferencing, phone- or Skype-based, or conducted through email.Your naturalistic study report should be 5-6 single-spaced pages (excluding references and appendices; those working in teams are expected to have 7-10 page papers, not counting references and appendices). In your report, I want you to reflect on what you learned about e-learning from this assignment. How has it opened your eyes? What might you have done differently next time in your study? What recommendations do you have and what implications do you see? How might you put your new ideas to use in training programs or in your own future teaching? Please post it to Canvas. If late, please also send to me via email.Note: You can use ChatGPT to generate starter text or 2-3 comments or quotes but be sure to cite such work properly. Or perhaps have ChatGPT write your study report. If you choose this route, you are to write a 2-3 page single-spaced reflection paper, review, or critique of what generative AI produced.
Sample Format Naturalistic/Research Activities: I. Title Page (Name, affiliation, topic title, acknowledgements) II. Topic Literature and Method 1. Res topic & materials; 2. Brief stmt of problem and why impt 3. Brief review of the relevant literature 4. Methods: a. Subjects & design (i.e., who/how selected); b. Materials/setting (i.e., hard/software, text) c. Procedure (i.e., how data was obtained) d. Coding Schemes & Dep. meas/instr (i.e., how segment/code data); e. Analyses or comparisons III. Results and Discussion 1. Preliminary Results; 2. Discussion of results IV. References (APA style: see syllabus for example) V. Appendices (e.g., pictures, charts, figures, models, tests, scoring criteria, coding procedures)
Sample Grading of Major Project (60 Total Points or 10 pts each dimension): 1. Review of the Problem/Lit/Purpose (interesting, relevant, current, organized, thorough, grounded) and are the Hypotheses/Research Questions/Intentions (clear, related to class and theory, current, extend field) 2. Method/Procedures (subjects/age groups approp, materials relevant, timeline sufficient, controls) 3. Research Activity/Design/Topic/Tool (clear, doable/practical, detailed, important) 4. Overall Richness of Ideas (richness of information, elaboration, originality, unique) 5. Overall Coherence and Completeness (unity, organization, logical sequence, synthesis, style, accurate) 6. Overall Quality Project and Research (would make an excellent researcher, cogent advice)
Task 4c Option. Software or Technology Tool or Platform Review In the fourth option, you are to review at least 3 emerging technologies for learning. What are the key features? How could they each impact on education? What skills do they potentially enhance? What audience do they each serve? Who are the stakeholders? List at least 5 pedagogical ways in which each of these tools or applications can be used in education or training? For each emerging technology, please identify at least 3 features you like best and explain why and how these features can foster or enhance teaching and learning. Please also list at least 3 features you think need improvement and detail why and what can be done to add, modify, change, or delete different features. You should also detail how you would redesign these technology tools or products to improve them for educational use if you were the educational product designer. This review will be a 4-5 page single spaced report (excluding references and appendices; those working in teams are expected to have 7-8 single spaced page papers).
If you utilized ChatGPT or some other generative AI platform for any aspect of this assignment, please cite it appropriately. Perhaps you might put the articles or reviews on a technology tool into ChatPDF, ChatGPT, or other generative AI tool or platform and have it do a critique or a book review. If you choose this route, you are to write a 2-3 page single-spaced reflection paper, review, or critique of what generative AI produced.
Technology Tools (you might try out): 1. Animaker: https://www.animaker.com/ 2. Flip: https://info.flipgrid.com/ 3. GoAnimate: https://goanimate.com/ 4. Kahoot!: https://getkahoot.com/ 5. Jing: https://www.techsmith.com/jing-tool.html 6. PhET Interactive Simulations: https://phet.colorado.edu/ 7. Screencastify: https://www.screencastify.com/ 8. Sli.do: https://www.sli.do/ 9. Vialogues: https://vialogues.com/ 10. WeVideo: https://www.wevideo.com/
Language Learning Tools and Platforms: 1. About.com (from the New York Times) a. ESL: http://esl.about.com/ b. French: http://french.about.com/ c. German: http://german.about.com/ d. Italian: http://italian.about.com/ e. Japanese: http://japanese.about.com/ f. Mandarin: http://mandarin.about.com/ g. Spanish: http://spanish.about.com/ 2. Babbel: https://www.babbel.com/ 3. BBC Learning English: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/ 4. Chatterbox (learn languages with refugees): https://www.chatterbox.io/ 5. ChinesePod: http://chinesepod.com/ 6. Coffee Break Spanish: http://radiolingua.com/shows/spanish/coffee-break-spanish/ 7. Duolingo: https://www.duolingo.com/ 8. English Central: http://www.englishcentral.com/ 9. German Online: http://www.dw-world.de/dw/0,,2547,00.html 10. iTalkie: http://www.italki.com/ 11. Japanese Online http://japanese-online.com/ 12. Japanese: https://www.nihongomaster.com/ 13. Korean Online http://learn-korean.net/ 14. LanguageBoost: https://languageboost.biz/ 15. LoMasTV (online Spanish immersion TV): https://spanish.yabla.com/ 16. Mango Languages: http://www.mangolanguages.com/ 17. The Mixxer (uses Skype): http://www.language-exchanges.org/ 18. SpanishPod: https://www.spanishpod.com/
Task #4d Option. Other (requires instructor approval) Other options to the midterm might be grant proposals, research interventions (as opposed to observations), technology tool design proposals, curriculum integration plans, or conference research papers. If one of these appeals to you, please write to the instructor for additional information and guidance. Ethical use of generative AI for any parts is encouraged but must be documented.
Task #5 Options (60 points: Due April 15)
Task 5a Option. Cool YouTube Video Creation (60 points: Due April 15)So you want to be cool? You want to be creative? In this option, you are to create a shared online video (e.g., YouTube) related to this class. You cannot be the only person in it. What do different topics in this course mean to you? Alternatively, you can design a YouTube video for someone else. You should post this video of at least 5 minutes in length.
You are encouraged to use ChatGPT or some other generative AI tool or platform in the development of your script and other associated work. You will turn in a 2 page single-spaced summary reflection of your design (3-4 pages if with a partner) along with a link to your video or a way to download it. If you utilized an AI tool or platform to support your efforts, please use appropriate citations. Your video and paper will be graded according to the dimensions listed below.
Fun and Relevant Cool Video Examples from the past:
Video Grading (60 Total Points or 10 pts each dimension): 1. Insightfulness, creativity, and originality. 2. Design and visual effects. 3. Coherence and logical sequence. 4. Completeness. 5. Relevance and accuracy of the content. 6. Overall quality of assignment.
Task 5b Option. Analysis of Issues/Challenges in the Field of Learning Tech:In this option, you will identify and briefly outline 10-20 key issues in the field (e.g., institutional supports for nontraditional learners, corporate recognition of microcredentials and nanodegrees, faculty awareness of open textbooks and OER, cost effectiveness and consumer utility of virtual and augmented reality, teacher training for online and blended forms of learning; instructional design challenges for MOOC instructors and the instructional support team, etc.). What are the issues that you have noticed when doing the readings for this class, watching the videos, talking to your peers, and attending the lectures? What are some open research questions? To create an historical context for your paper, you might indicate in a timeline when each of these issues arose or potentially make become more salient in the future. You will turn in a 4-6 single spaced paper if working alone and 7-8 page paper if with a partner (plus any references, charts, graphs, appendices, etc.) on the issues and challenges in the field of emerging learning technologies. I want to know if you have a grasp of the key issues. We also want to know what your role might be in resolving these challenges or issues after graduation. Among these issues and challenges, choose one or two that you are highly interested in or want to address most and describe your possible plan on addressing them or map out some possible future research. Finally, please do not limit your references to our assigned course readings. You are encouraged to add at least half of your references from articles, books, and other resources that are not listed in our class readings. A minimum of 15 references should be used. Please follow APA guidelines when writing your paper. (Note: It will use a similar grading rubric to those above.)
Task #5c Option. Usable Class Product and Authentic Learning (60 points: Due April 15)Students choosing this option might design their own final project or combine ideas together into something truly unique (i.e., a mash-up). As part of this effort, they might create or perform a meaningful activity for the class. For example, you might summarize the learning principles embedded in different articles or readings for each week of the course. Or, they might create a unique categorization scheme of the technology tools and resources studied during the semester. The more ambitious of you might create an interactive multimedia glossary or comprehensive Website for the course as an individual or as part of a team. Still others might create an online database of articles from two or more open access journals related to emerging learning technologies including links to the major themes and trends in those journals over a significant period of time (e.g., 3-5 years).
There are still more options. Among them, you might create a mobile application, an educational activity in a virtual world, an interesting global collaboration activity or partnership, or a mobile book. Others might organize a class mini-conference or real conference symposium or demonstrate a set of e-learning tools to your school, company, or organization and then reflect on it. Such tools might have relevance in K-12, military, corporate, or higher education settings or perhaps in more informal settings such as a museum, zoo, or computer club.
You might also engage in a major problem-based learning project related to this class with a school, company, organization, or institution. In this option, you make the contact and find out what needs to be resolved and then get it approved by the instructor. The final product might be a distance learning evaluation project. It might involve the design of e-learning tools and resources. It might entail the creation of a strategic plan, white paper, or vision statement. Whatever the problem or task, it must be authentic. Anyone selecting this option should include a 2-4 page single-spaced reflection paper on what your learned; slightly longer with a partner (not counting references and appendices). Note: any final project report to an organization or institution can substitute for that final reflection paper. The grading scheme will be project specific.
Task 5d Option. MOOC (or OCW/OER) Review Option (60 points: Due April 15)Recently, there has been a huge explosion of open educational contents. Among these new learning resources are open educational resources (OER), OpenCourseWare (OCW), and massive open online courses (MOOCs). OCW and OER typically are freely available contents without direct contact with instructors. MOOCs are instructor-driven courses which are usually free and open to the world community, thereby involving large enrollments. An optional assignment idea for this class is to explore or enroll in one or two massive open online courses (MOOCs) related to learning, cognition, and instruction. Even if you do not select this task, you might explore a few of these MOOCs and observe how they are conducted. And then reflect, reflect, reflect!
You could replace the midterm or final by enrolling in one or more MOOCs and writing a 2-4 page single spaced reflection paper (4-6 pages with a partner) on what you learned as it relates to various topics from this course (not counting references and appendices). Note: you might include a recap table or chart at the end summarizing key concepts or ideas mentioned in your paper. You would NOT have to complete the course; just sit in and lurk if you want. Your MOOC review paper should include your insights about the learning environment and learning theories relied upon as well as a few specific examples of instructional tasks and ideas from the course. It will be graded for: (1) connections to course content; (2) coherence and organization; and (3) overall insights and conceptual understandings.
If you complete the course or get a certificate (Coursera calls these “Signature” courses), you can replace your final assignment. Even if you do you not complete a MOOC, you could replace your final assignment if you write a longer reflection paper or extend the assignment in some way (e.g., interview the MOOC instructor(s) about their instructional approaches and beliefs about learning; interviewing other participants/students taking this course about their learning experiences; etc.). As part of these efforts, you might also explore some of the open educational portals and contents listed in your syllabus or that you find online.
Some questions you might ask before writing your paper:
Portals to MOOC courses: MOOC Provider Companies and Organizations:
2. Coursera: https://www.coursera.org/; Coursera list of courses: https://www.coursera.org/courses
7. LinkedIn Learning: https://www.linkedin.com/learning-login/ 8. MasterClass, https://www.masterclass.com/ (fee based)
12. Pluralsight: https://www.pluralsight.com/product/skills 13. Skillshare: https://join.skillshare.com/learn-adobe/
16. Wondrium: https://www.wondrium.com/
MOOC Lists:
MOOC Review Grading Criteria if a Final Project (60 Points; 10 points each):
I will also look for: breadth/depth of thought, knowledge growth displays, understands theories, concepts, and principles in relation to the MOOC experience. And I will want to see some critical thinking displayed including sound analysis and evaluation of instructional approach taken in MOOC, logical, backs up claims.
Grading Note #1: I will use a rubric for the above. Write me an email if you would like to see that rubric.
Grading Note #2: Extra consideration (and the potential for bonus points) given for those who cite references on MOOCs or open education, create a summary or recap table of terms or concepts mentioned in their reflection paper, participate in more than one MOOC, and those who actually complete the course. Summary or recap tables are especially welcome.
Task #5e Option. R685/R678 Course Topics Historical Evaluation (60 points: Due April 15)Perhaps, like me, you like history. The first version of R678 was first co-taught at West Virginia University by Dr. W. Michael Reed and myself back in the fall of 1990. Since that time, this course has evolved into many formats. Below are links to two dozen syllabi from the course including the present one. Unfortunately, I have yet to locate the original version of the course but did find an outline of the topics addressed. If you select this option, I want you to track the history of this course over time. For instance, you might explore the topics, people, concepts, etc., that were popular in the 1990s, 2000s, 2010s, and today. You will turn in a 4-5 page single spaced paper on what you discovered (6 to 8 pages with a partner); not counting references and appendices. Additional pages may be attached such as reference lists, visuals depictions mapping out trends over time, correspondences with researchers about their articles from previous versions of the course, and interviews with scholars about their perceptions of changes in the field over time. You might, in fact, gather oral histories or accounts from experts as well as former students about how the field has changed.
Many questions can be asked. Among them, are there any educational technology topics and trends that remain popular over the past two decades? How did the focus of this course change over time? Is this course more or less important today than it was back in the 1990s? Is the total number of pages any indicator of how the field has changed? If so, in what ways? Please compare the tasks from 1995 to those in 2001 or 2002 as well as 2010, 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2024. Please look at the books, journals, new sources, online resources, etc. that now comprise this course and note how they have changed over time. Is there anything from the 1990s that remains important today and should be added back to the current syllabus? Are there any tasks, activities, or articles that you found interesting and want to know more about? Is there anything that remains missing despite the fact that the current syllabus is long? What do see about the field of education or educational technology from browsing through these syllabi and resources?
You should end your paper with a personal reflection of your learning in this course. Included in that summary should be an account of what inspired or mattered to you. In addition, you might reflect on the areas wherein you learned or grew the most during the semester.
Sample Prior P600/R685/R678 Syllabi:
History Evaluation Grading (60 Total Points or 10 pts each dimension): 1. Insightfulness, creativity, and originality. 2. Learning growth displayed. 3. Coherence and logical sequence. 4. Completeness and fulfills spirit of the assignment. 5. Relevance and accuracy of the content. 6. Shared and discussed in Canvas and in class. 7. Overall quality of assignment.
Task #5f Option. Pressbook (60 points: Due April 15) Do you want to be an author? Or work with a team of writers? Do you want to be famous? In this assignment, you will create an open textbook related to emerging technologies using Pressbook. If the textbook can also be related to your current job or research interest it would be perfect. You can share this textbook with your colleagues, students, classmates, or families. You can also put your Pressbook link in your resume. Maybe your opentext book can be used as next years’ assignment examples! For this assignment, you can have at least two chapters. In total, it should be a minimum of 3,000 words. If you work in a team, each of you should contribute at least 2,000 words. A one page single-spaced reflection paper from each student on what you learned from this Pressbook activity needs to be included (not counting references and appendices). Describe what you learned from the task including specific course concepts and ideas mentioned in your chapter as well as ideas related to open educational resources. If you work in a team, attached to your reflection paper will be documentation of what you contributed to the Pressbook. Your paper and chapter will be graded according to the dimensions listed below.
Example (note: you do not have to include as much content as this example):
Pressbook Grading (60 Total Points or 10 pts each dimension): 1. Chapter and reflection paper relevance: Contribution is meaningful to class, we learn from it. 2. Chapter and reflection paper coherence: flow, well organized, good layout, enjoyable to read. 3. Chapter and reflection paper completeness: Sufficient coverage of info, extends topic & class. 4. Overall chapter creativity: Original ideas, insightful points, something unique in it such as a figure, model, graph, timeline, comparison chart, acronym, quote or set of quotes, etc. 5. Overall reflection paper insightfulness, depth of thought, flow, informational content, etc. 6. Effort, digging, extensiveness of the project, etc.
Task #5g Option. Wikibook Online Work (WOW) (60 points: Due April 15) In this option, you help with a Wikibook related to emerging technologies. About 17 years ago, students from five universities (including the University of Houston, Beijing Normal University, Indiana State University, the Open University of Malaysia, and National Chiao Tung University in Hsinchu, Taiwan) designed a wikibook on “The Web 2.0 and Emerging Learning Technologies” (The WELT); see http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Web_2.0_and_Emerging_Learning_Technologies. If you write a unique chapter for the WELT, it should be a minimum of 2,000 words. A 2 page reflection paper (3-4 pages if with a partner) on what you learned from this wikibook activity needs to be included (not counting references and appendices). Describe what you learned from the task including specific course concepts and ideas mentioned in your chapter as well as ideas related to the social construction of knowledge. Attached to your reflection paper will be documentation of what you contributed to the wikibook, including your chapter (with highlights or special notations of your contribution), highlights to the chapters worked on, and perhaps even print outs of the wikibook chapter editing history. Your paper and chapter will be graded according to the dimensions listed below.
Wikibook Chapter Examples: Robert Halford, Spring 2015, Wikibook Chapter on Professional Development: https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Web_2.0_and_Emerging_Learning_Technologies/Professional_Development#Technology_as_a_tool_for_learning Greg Snow, Korea, Spring 2016, Wikibook Chapter on Virtual Reality, https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Virtual_Reality Luci Mello, April 26, 2017,
Mobile Learning,
Wikibook Chapter Grading (70 Total Points or 10 pts each dimension): 1. Chapter and reflection paper relevance: Contribution is meaningful to class, we learn from it 2. Chapter and reflection paper coherence: flow, well organized, good layout, enjoyable to read 3. Chapter and reflection paper completeness: Sufficient coverage of info, extends topic and class 4. Overall chapter creativity: Original and distinctive ideas, insightful points, something unique in it such as a figure, model, graph, timeline, comparison chart, acronym, quote or set of quotes, etc. 5. Overall reflection paper insightfulness, depth of thought, flow, informational content, etc. 6. Overall quality of assignment
Task #5h Option. Student Determined Project (60 points: Due April 15)You have total control over your final task in this course. If you do not find any of the options above to be to your liking, you can decide on the project based on your needs, interests, and passions. Please include a 2-3 page single spaced reflection paper with any of these project options. In this reflection, including pictures of your dogs, cats, or fish or other family pets or that of your roommate or best friend’s pets (for a potential bonus point...please include their name(s).
Class Sharing of Final Projects: If possible, I would like you to post your final projects to Canvas. In addition, some people “might” briefly share their final projects in the final optional synchronous session. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
