Week+1


 * Week One - Monday, May 13 - Sunday, May 19, 2013 **


 * This Week's Lesson: ** Introductions to: 1.) the course; 2.) educational technology (broadly, speaking); and, 3.) NETS (National Educational Technology Standards)

**Required Readings:** There are THREE readings to complete this week


 * Required Viewings: ** There are TWO viewings to complete this week

**This Week's Assignment/What's Due:** There are FOUR things due this week


 * Introductions & Directions : **

//Welcome to our first class session! // The purpose of this week's lesson is to provide an overview of TE 831 and introduce you to the class wiki. You should also spend time this week exploring the course wiki, to be sure that you understand how it is set up, how to use a wiki, and what content is available and where.

A couple of important things about this course, related to your role(s) as learners and my role as your instructor. First of all, be sure to check your email regularly - it is the primary means of communication in this course. I will be using the preferred email you submitted via the bio assignment (see below); if you wish to change this, or add an additional email address, let me know. I value consistent and engaged dialogue between students (which is one reason you will utilize your go-to-groups this semester) and between students and instructor. If/when someone from this class initiates a conversation, either in discussion posts or via email, be sure to respond in a timely manner. As an instructor, I value connection and community in the classes I teach and as I seek to facilitate your learning, I also desire to engage in dialogue along the way. The more you connect and communicate, the more you'll learn and grow. As a member of this course, you (and I) are making a commitment to regularly and thoughtfully engage with one another. //Communicate well and often!//

Also, as stated in the TE 831 course syllabus, students in this class must meet all assigned deadlines.
 * In most cases, your work is due by each Sunday, and I will spend Mondays reviewing, responding to, and grading your work.
 * Yes, you may turn your work in early //for that week// but I would discourage you from working far ahead into subsequent weeks' work.
 * No, I do not have a preference for a specific time by which you turn your work in on Sunday. I will look at your work starting around 9am Eastern time each Monday morning - if it's not there, then it's not there.
 * The one exception to this pattern is discussion posts - most often if I ask you to post a discussion comment, then I'll also ask you to review your peers' comments and respond to them, too. The rhythm for this work, then, will generally be that the post is due by Friday so that you have Saturday and Sunday to review and respond to your peers' comments.
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.5;">If there are extenuating circumstances or for some reason you are unsure if you will be able to meet a particular deadline, you must email me well in advance of the deadline (emergencies not withstanding).
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.5;">That said, I also seek to make this course manageable and interesting - we are all professionals with busy, full lives and although this is one of many parts of our lives this semester, it should be a relatively important one. So, that said, please adhere to the deadlines and due dates in this course - doing so makes everyone's lives easier.


 * Please do note that because this is a summer course, the rhythm is accelerated. The structure and content of the course is based on the semester format, although I have cut out some parts and re-organized the work you otherwise would have done in a 15-week course. Nevertheless, the pace of work will likely be 'faster' than other MATC online courses you take during the fall and spring semesters. I am flexible in supporting you to complete the course - I also will travel during the course and have other personal and professional obligations to juggle while facilitating the course - but also expect you to approach the commitment and assignments in good faith.**

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 10pt;">Without any further harping on deadlines, let's get down to business and start thinking about education, classrooms, technology, and how we, as teachers, can integrate technology into our teaching/classrooms, in order to improve our own teaching AND benefit our students' learning and achievement. //<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 10pt;">Here's to a terrific course! //

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 10pt;">This Week's Lesson:
<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 10pt;">This week's focus is on educational technology (it's worthwhile to skim the information on this link, connected to Wikipedia, as an overview). For the purposes of this course, we'll define educational technology as //**any technology educators use in their classrooms to enhance/improve their teaching as well as their students' learning**//. This would include things such as websites, Internet connectivity, laptops, tablets, projectors, etc. and, in large part, teachers play an important role in the way(s) in which technology is integrated in K-12 classrooms (and beyond). However, many teachers do not feel equipped or knowledgeable enough OR, and this is more likely, they don't have enough time to learn what they need to know in order to successfully integrate new technologies into their classrooms. If you fit in either camp, you are not alone. It is also important to consider WHY teachers might want to incorporate a particular tool (hardware or software). There are many variables when it comes to K-12 technological integration!

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Georgia,serif;">In order to begin thinking about teaching, teachers, technology and education, this lesson includes readings on the National Educational Technology Standards (NETS) for Teachers. These standards are published by the International Society for Technology in Education (also known as ISTE). The NETS for Teachers identify the concepts, knowledge, skills, and attitudes for integrating educational technology in school settings. According to their website, "ISTE is a professional association for educators and education leaders engaged in improving learning and teaching by advancing the effective use of technology in PK-12 and higher education." It is an excellent association to consider joining and you should familiarize yourself with the NET standards, if you have not done so already.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Georgia,serif;">This week's "lesson" is rather short, since the majority of your time should be spent familiarizing yourself with this class wiki and completing the assigned work (i.e., readings, viewings and assignments). Also, please read/view the content below in the order it's listed - it's purposefully scaffolded for you and your learning. As we work together this semester, we have the opportunity to learn from one another and share our own ideas and work. //Here's to smart and thoughtful technological integration now and in the future!//


 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 10pt;">Required Readings: **<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 10pt;"> (there are THREE required readings this week)

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 10pt;">Crowley, B. (2012). Tips for tech-cautious teachers. //Education Week Teacher//.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 10pt;">NOTE: This short article focuses on a larger question related to how (and when) teachers integrate technology into their teaching. Not only is this content pertinent to the entire content and course outline of TE 831, it also connects to social media (something we'll explore later in this course). As you read through this author's ideas, consider the ways you fit or don't fit into her label of a "tech cautious teacher."

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 10pt;">1. ) <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Georgia,serif;">Read through the two-page NETS for Teachers. As you read, consider what you already do well and what you'd like to do better, not only as you move through this course but also well beyond this semester. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 10pt;">2.) Once you've read through the NETS that connect to teachers, read the two-page set of NETS for Students - pay attention to repeated words and themes
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 10pt;">NET Standards: **


 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Georgia,serif;">Required Viewings: **<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Georgia,serif;"> (there are TWO required viewings this week)

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Georgia,serif;">"How Does the 21st Century Teacher Help Networked Students Learn" - Read through this slideshare presentation and as you do, consider the things that strike you as interesting. Here are two rhetorical questions to ask yourself: //In what ways do you see yourself in this? In what ways do you want to grow, to help students use technology to learn?//

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Georgia,serif;">Go to <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 10pt;">the NETS Wiki a <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Georgia,serif;">nd on the left-side navigation bar, click on the grade level you teach (and/or are certified to teach). Explore some of the resources there, focused on grade-level specific teachers' implementation of the NETS.


 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 10pt;">This Week's Assignment/What's Due: **<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 10pt;">(there are FOUR things due this week)

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 10pt;">1.) **W** <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Georgia,serif;">**atch the "Intro to TE 831" short video** <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Georgia,serif;">This will give you a sense of how this wiki is designed and intended to be used. I used jing to record and upload the video (it's a free screen recording software used for all sorts of purposes; educators ofte <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 10pt;">n use screen capturing software to create tutorials for students and/or fellow faculty or parents). Also, especially if you haven't used wikis before, please spend some time reading the Wiki Editing Information page as well as About Wikispaces. Reading (and/or reviewing) this information now will help you throughout the course. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 10pt;">View this by Sunday, May 19.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 10pt;">2.) **Upload a Profile Picture for this Wiki:** Please update your profile for this course by uploading a picture to your wiki account. You can do this by clicking on your name, then selecting "my account" and then from there, choose "settings." Follow the directions to upload a picture. You can also watch this tutorial from YouTube, if you prefer a visual. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000; font-family: Georgia,serif;">Complete this by Sunday, May 19.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 10pt;">3.) **Complete the Who We Are - TE 831 Course Members bio post:**Directions for what to do and include are on this page. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000; font-family: Georgia,serif;">**Complete this by Wednesday, May 15**. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 10pt;">You should also read through your peers' posts next week, in order to "meet" everyone else.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 10pt;">4.) **Post to this week's discussion forum:** Your post (150-250 words) should be a response to the prompt below. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 10pt;">Your post is due by Friday, May 17. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 10pt;">You should then read all of your peers' posts (and comment if you like - this week there are NO follow-up comments required, though). <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 10pt;">Read everyone's post by Sunday, May 19 <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 10pt;">. To complete this assignment, you'll need to click on "talk bubble" icon at the top of the page.


 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 10pt;">Week One Discussion Prompt: **<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 10pt;">This prompt is an extension of an idea presented in Bullough's (2008) text, //<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 10pt;">Counternarratives: Studies of Teacher Education and Becoming and Being a Teacher //(this is not required reading, just offered to build background fi you'd like)<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 10pt;">. Respond to both parts (150-250 words, TOTAL, for your entire response).

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 10pt;">1.) Identify at least one critical incident or moment (more if you like) which motivated you to learn more about and/or incorporate technology into your teaching and classroom.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 10pt;">2.) What are you most excited about and most "cautious" about (re: Crowley's article linked above), in terms of using and integrating technology into your teaching/classroom?


 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 10pt;">Looking ahead: **

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 10pt;">We have a 'repeating' assignment in this course, which is to explore new tech tools, analyze them and share your insights with your peers. The general assignment is described on the Tech Tools page, and the first post for it is due on Sunday, May 26. This is just a heads-up that the assignment is coming.