Classroom Technology: Learning the Concepts and

Techniques of Productivity Software

Summer/Fall 2001

 

Indiana University South Bend

Division of Education

Instructor:  Kevin McNulty

Office: 259-7961, ext. 2553

Home:  233-4918

E-mail:  kmcnulty@phm.k12.in.us

 

Course: 

 

E518, S512: Classroom Technology: Learning the Concepts and Techniques of Productivity Software

 

Course Description and Goal                        Welcome

 

In this workshop, teachers will equip themselves with an understanding of various software titles to improve their functionality in their classrooms.  Participants will improve their skills in the use of word processing, spreadsheet, database, planning, and publishing software, and they will document such improvement over the course of the semester. 

 

One of the major goals of this course is to make the content critical.  The instructor will strive to accomplish this goal by presenting students with various “problems” from the real world and the real classroom.  Students will then strive to seek technological solutions to these problems.  Additionally, students will use software to produce documents (such as templates, formatted documents, charts, multimedia presentations, and graphical productions) that apply to their respective classrooms.  Finally, students will complete a culminating exit project that allows them to utilize the software they have learned and additional hardware such as scanners, digital cameras, and the Internet.

 

Instructional Outcomes

 

Course Participants Will be Able to:

1.      create an information database and share information between word processor, spreadsheet, and publishing software; 

2.      create a multimedia presentation utilizing PowerPoint software;

3.      plan classroom integration of technology for the upcoming academic year;

4.      research technological solutions to real-world/classroom problems and discuss the issues central to the problems;

5.      participate in a community discussion group (both verbal and electronic) to aid in metacognitive understanding of technology and its use in the classroom;

6.      complete an exit project that illuminates their understanding of productivity software.

 

Course Syllabus (see class schedule)

 

July 9               Introduction, Presentation Software, Article 1.

 

July 10             Spreadsheet Software, Project 1 Due

 

July 11             Integrating Software: Spreadsheet and Presentation.

 

July 12             Web Authoring Software, Begin Preparing Exit Project, Project 2 Due.

 

July 13             Web Authoring Software Part One of Exit Projects Due.

 

Dec. 01            Presenting and Publishing: Part Two of Exit Projects Due.

 

Course Requirements

 

1.      Attendance and Participation

·        40 hours in-class instruction (+95 hours of outside preparation, public school classroom technology integration, and conferences with instructor)  Three credit are equal to 135 hours of study.

·        Participation must be active and thoughtful in order to grasp critical elements of technology integration.  Therefore, student participation in all activities is expected by instructor.

 

2.      Projects

·        Project 1- Mini-research project (extrapolating information to present to fellow classmates);

·        Project 2- Curriculum integration samples (templates, instructional units, formatted documents, examples of mail merging, etc.);

·        Community Learning Log- To facilitate a greater understanding of computer technology and its use in the classroom, students will participate in electronic discussion on classroom website;

·        Exit Project- Multimedia Presentation and Technology Plan for Academic Year to come.

 

3.      Assessment

·        Attendance and Participation

a.       Forty hours in class                                                       15%

b.      Two hours in conference                                               15%

·        Completion of Practice and Activities                            20%

·        Completion of Projects (listed above)                                        50%

·        Pass/Fail, Passing grade is greater than 85%