Applications of Technologies

EDTC 6340 Syllabus

Course Description

This course provides a broad overview of many of the technology tools called Web 2.0. These tools are the foundation of disruptive social collaboration tools that are having a wide impact on the global business and educational community. However more importantly, in addition to learning to use the tools, you will be learning how to integrate them into a variety of scenarios and situations. (The focus will be upon a breadth of applications which is meant to be representational rather than inclusive.)

You may have already gained a certain level of expertise with technology in your work place. This course will continue to build your skills repertoire, and, most importantly, provide opportunities to use those skills in meaningful contexts. As you go through the various projects, it is important that you consider both how you can use the tools in your job AND how you can mentor other users in the effective use of the tools.

It is important to understand that the course is not solely about building your skills capacity for instructional technology tools. The ways in which those tools are used effectively is absolutely critical. Therefore in this course, we begin by looking at effective ways to disseminate information (NOT instruction - we need to learn how to differentiate between the two!) The projects will focus upon providing information to a variety of audiences, in a variety of formats, for a variety of purposes through the venues of collaborative interaction within the class and decision-making situations.

Course Outcomes

• Understand and be able to define the meaning of Web 2.0 technology and its importance in the workplace.

• Demonstrate how Web 2.0 technology can be used by professionals through the effective communication of ideas to diverse audiences using a variety of applications.
  

• Evaluate how these programs may be applied in authentic teaching/learning situations.

Instructor Information

Linda E. Newell, PhD                  

email: linda.newell@utb.edu         

Important Course Links

UTB Course Wiki - http://butleratutb.pbworks.com  

(Click on this link to visit department wiki page.)

UTB BlackBoard (My UTB/TSC) - http://myutbtsc.blackboard.com/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp

(Click on this link to login into UTB Blackboard to see your grades and access the Collaborate room for our seminar time.)

Scorpion Online: https://scorp.utbtsc.edu/ScorpionOnline/WebAdvisor?SS=LGRQ&TOKENIDX=3055639959

(Click on this link to access final grades, financial information, etc.)

Acceptable Use Policy: http://www.utb.edu/its/ei/Pages/itnetsum.aspx

Issues Loggin In?

UTB Self Service Password Portal - https://selfservice.utb.edu/

(Visit this link to reset passwords, unlock accounts, and edit your profile.)

Contact UTB IT Helpdesk: (956) 882-HELP (4357)  

Communication Modes

Throughout this graduate-level course you will communicate with your instructor and your peers in a variety of ways:

• Phone conferences

• Online discussions in Collaborate Live Classroom

• Email correspondences

• Course wiki and group wiki

• Twitter

IMPORTANT NOTE: Netiquette will be observed at all times!

Formatting for all class emails: To enable everyone in the class to easily organize emails, please include the course number, your name, and then the subject of your email in the subject line: 6340 firstname lastname - Your topic here. If you do not include the course number and your name, it may be inadvertently overlooked and thus take a longer time to receive a response.

Parameters for tweeting: The Web 2.0 application Twitter, will be part of the required communication for this course. You will need to open an account and then click on this button:
Once you have accessed my page, click Follow! and we will be connected.

Your Twitter name for this course must be your first and last name. Please do not mix any personal or business Twitter lists with this one. This Twitter feed will be used exclusively for EDTC 6340 and class communication and assignments only. Please do not tweet or retweet information that is not relative to the course content or an assignment. That being said, anything having to do with Web 2.0 and technology is always welcomed! If you have not received a tweet from me by the second day of class, contact me by email asap: linda.newell@utb.edu. Once you have set up your account, tweet a "howdy" to everyone!

IMPORTANT

It is critical that you have an email address that can receive emails from the listservs. Many of the commercial email providers (such as AOL) as well as some servers consider email from a listserv to be spam and either trash them or refuse to accept them. Therefore, it will be YOUR responsibility to ensure that your email address can receive emails. To do this, go to Blackboard and click on the Course Email button on the menu bar. Send yourself an email as a single user and another to the whole group. Please put the course number, your name and Trial Email in the subject line. If  you do not receive a copy of your own email, check the spam features on your particular email client.

If you have not yet received an email from me (Dr. Newell), contact the UTB IT Helpdesk. 

Course wiki: Content delivery will be exclusively delivered via this wiki. All assignments submitted for grading will be linked here as well. I recommend that you consider setting up your own PBwiki account. They are free and make a an exceptional platform for an online portfolio of your work.

Tools and Accounts: Almost all Web 2.0 tools require an account. You may want to consider setting up a Gmail or Yahoo! account if you are uncomfortable using your personal or business email. When you set up an account, a user name is always required and is placed on your project as your name, In addition, it  will often give you the option to mark it private. In some cases, the owner has to approve comments from visitors. Please DO NOT mark your projects private or for approval. This means we will be unable to review it in a timely manner. Also, all user names are to be your first and last name. Handles are great, but make grading very difficult at times.  :(

Errata: It is highly recommended that:

• Firefox* be used as the browser of choice for this course;

• an email address other than your work address is used** ; and

• the same email address be used throughout the course for communication and Web 2.0 tool account sign-ups.
  

*tends to work better with most Web 2.0 programs than IE

**often email servers tend to have highly sensitive spam filers and district addresses are sometimes rejected by the Web 2.0 tool itself

Required Textbook:  

They Snooze, You Lose: The Educator's Guide to Successful Presentations

by Lynell Burmark

Pub. Date: May 2011

Publisher: Wiley, John & Sons, Incorporated

Format: Paperback , 320pp

ISBN-13: 9780470902905

ISBN: 0470902906

Course Calendar and Assignment Links

All projects and assignments are due at midnight on Sunday each week, unless specified otherwise. Late work will be deducted 10% for each day late. Work more than four days late will not be accepted. 

APA style (formatting) and APA citation (parenthetical and resource) are expected to be used for all projects where applicable.  It is the responsibility of the graduate student to know the correct format. (See Academic Dishonesty section below)

Deductions will be counted as follows:

1. Incorrect style - 20% deduction

2. Incorrect citation format - 20% deduction

3. Missing citation (plagiarism) - zero for assignment

* For all activities, see course wiki.

Evaluation

Each project will have a "to-do" list. Please use this (along with the directions) as a guide for what is expected to be included in the projects.  If you are uncertain what a requirement means, contact me via the Q&A page or email. In addition, you are strongly encouraged to form a study partnership with classmates.  Questions may also be an appropriate conversation for a Collaborate discussion.

Academic Dishonesty Statement

Students are expected to be above reproach in all scholastic activities. Students who engage in scholastic dishonesty are subject to disciplinary penalties, including the possibility of failure in the course and dismissal from the university. "Scholastic dishonesty includes but is not limited to cheating, plagiarism, collusion, the submission for credit of any work or materials that are attributable in whole or in part to another person, taking an examination for another person, any act designed to give unfair advantage to a student or the attempt to commit such acts." Regents' Rules and Regulations, Series 50101, Section 2.2.

Since scholastic dishonesty harms the individual, all students, and the integrity of the university, policies on scholastic dishonesty will be strictly enforced (refer to Student Handbook for more information).

Disabilities Statement

Students with disabilities, including learning disabilities, who wish to request academic adjustments in this class, should notify the Disability Services Office in the semester so that the appropriate accommodations may be made. In accordance with federal law, a student requesting academic adjustments must provide documentation of his/her disability to the Disability Services Counselor. For more information, call or visit the Counseling Center Cardenas North 103, (956) 882-8292.

Emergency Statement

This UTB graduate distance education class is facilitated via UTB BlackBoard. This allows faculty members and students to continue their teaching and learning, whether or not the university shuts down as a result of a hurricane or any other natural disaster.

Should any disaster occurs, announcements will be made within Blackboard and from your instructor in the case of Elluminate meetings continuing. The final decision to continue or drop Elluminate session will be determined by your instructor. To facilitate the completion of classes, most or all of the communication between students and the institution, the instructor, and fellow classmates will take place using Blackboard.

To receive credit for a course, it is the student’s responsibility to complete all the requirements for that course. Failure to access course materials once reasonably possible can result in a reduction of your overall grade in the class.

Pages are maintained by Linda Evans Newell, PhD
The University of Texas at Brownsville
© Copyright 2012