TEDX1897X - Educational Technology: Effective Use of Technology in the Classroom

Course Description

Technology integration doesn’t have to be hard. In fact, it should be easy! Regardless of your skill level, this course will walk you through innovative technology that will inspire your creativity and elevate the way you share information and ideas. Students will learn how to select and evaluate technology tools to align to current curriculum. You will gain knowledge and skill to effectively pursue professional growth in educational technology. Through discovery, reflection, and analysis you will realize practical applications of interactive digital tools. You will have the opportunity to explore easy to learn internet-based multimedia that can be integrated inside and outside of the classroom. This course will also provide pathways for you to improve your practice through self-reflection. You will leave with a toolbox of strategies and ideas to transform everyday content into extraordinary products.

After you have completed your studies in the chapters on educational technology in the classroom, you will be presented with various classroom scenarios in which you will be able to practice and hone your skills for creating a digital culture, integrating practical strategies based on standards, and implementing educational technology in your classroom.

The course, Educational Technology, has been divided into four chapters. The first two chapters, Introduction to Educational Technology and Digital Literacy, provide foundational concepts that must be considered to effectively integrate technology into your classroom. The first chapter encompasses the historical significance, key concepts and components, and benefits of educational technology. Focusing on the transformative role of technology in modern education, the chapter discusses advantages and challenges in teaching and learning. The chapter concludes with an activity that guides learners on identifying professional goals. Chapter two gives learners an in-depth review and discussion on the Digital Age. Understanding the impact technology has had on the world, and specifically education, gives teachers the competence and confidence to navigate rapid change. Practical tips for safeguarding online security, distinguishing between reliable and misleading content, and leveraging technology for creative expression converge to shape a holistic understanding of digital literacy. There are twenty-four subject areas in these two chapters, which are sequential and should be completed in the order in which they are presented in the course. After completing these twenty-four areas you should understand the importance of technology in today’s classroom, including the essential task to learn and teach digital literacy skills.

In Chapter three you will learn practical skills to assist you in integrating technology into your classroom. The chapter identifies specific educational technology tools and strategies to increase student communication, motivation, and engagement achievement. Also included are several future trends. Teachers should be aware of the benefits and questions surrounding new tools including how to evaluate new tools. The course concludes with a discussion on the changing landscape of educational technology. Chapter four reviews the impact the pandemic had on student needs and how education is changing in response. One of the biggest challenges for teachers and students during and after the pandemic has been online learning. Recognizing that this technology is here to stay, this chapter focuses on how to minimize stress and barriers of online learning to create quality online experiences. There are twenty-two subject areas in chapters three and four; they are sequential and should be completed in the order in which they are presented in the course. After completing these twenty-two areas, you should be able to compare educational technology tools and strategies and select the most effective ways to enhance your practice and classroom.

After completing each chapter, you will be required to take an examination.

Examinations
At the end of each course chapter, you will be expected to complete an examination designed to assess your knowledge. You may take these exams a total of three times. Your last score will save, not the highest score. After your third attempt, each examination will lock and not allow further access. The average from your exam scores will be printed on your certificate (your graded scenario scores are not included in this average). However, this is not your final grade since your required writing assignments have not been reviewed. Exceptionally written or poorly written required writing assignments, or violation of the academic integrity policy in the course syllabus, will affect your grade. As this is a self-paced computerized instruction program, you may review course information as often as necessary. You will not be able to exit any examinations until you have answered all questions. If you try to exit the exam before you complete all questions, your information will be lost. You are expected to complete the entire exam in one sitting.

Key Benefits

• 100% online self-paced course.
• No textbooks and other materials required for purchase.
• This course is designed to be an informational course with application to work or work-related settings. The types of educational technology, tools, and strategies introduced are designed to be used in any educational classroom but are best suited for elementary and secondary students.

Learning Modules Include

• Chapter 1: Introduction to Educational Technology
  • Course Description
  • Chapter Introduction
  • Defining and Recognizing Technology
  • Five Domains
  • History and Impact of Educational Technology
  • The Path to Integration
  • Research
  • Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK)
  • Substitution, Augmentation, Modification, and Redefinition (SAMR)
  • Technology Integration Matrix (TIM)
  • Important Considerations
  • Decreasing Resistance- Understanding Problems Using the Iceberg Model
  • Decreasing Resistance- Seven Essential Conditions
  • Decreasing Resistance- Community of Learners
  • Decreasing Resistance- Using Data
  • Decreasing Resistance- Interprofessional Teams
  • Decreasing Resistance- Becoming a Change Agent
  • Professional Goals through Currere
• Chapter 2: Digital Literacy
  • The Digital Age
  • Digital Literacy
  • The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE)
  • ISTE Student Standards
  • ISTE Standards for Educators
  • Ethics and Netiquette
  • Concerns and Issues
  • The Digital Divide
  • Evaluating Educational Technology
• Chapter 3: Technology Integration
  • Introduction
  • Educational Technology Integration
  • Communication
  • Engagement
  • Achievement
  • Future Trends
  • Case Study Examples
  • Feedback and Data
  • Integration Ideas
• Chapter 4: Changing Landscape of Educational Technology
  • Chapter Introduction
  • Impacts of the Global Pandemic
  • Online Education
  • History of Online Education
  • Learning Management System (LMS)
  • Research and Research Gap
  • Frameworks of Quality
  • Barriers and Opportunities
  • Feedback
  • Technology
  • Interaction
  • Structure
  • Community

Course Learning Outcomes

• Recognize the importance of technology in today’s classroom.
• Identify key concepts and important components of educational technology.
• Review the history of educational technology as it relates to current theory and practice.
• Discuss the benefits of integrating technology in and out of a classroom.
• Examine best practices and recognize how technology, pedagogy, and content can enhance learning outcomes.
• Use self-reflection to propose professional goals to improve your practice in technology integration.
• Explain the ways in which digital culture is supported and influenced by ethics.
• Describe the Digital Age and the teacher’s role in it.
• Recognize concepts and important components of digital literacy.
• Adapt ethical guidelines and examples that you can apply to your teaching.
• Recall the ISTE standards and how they are significant to technology integration.
• Identify types, tools, and strategies that can be used to create innovative products.
• Acquire educational technology strategies that if used correctly, can increase student communication, motivation, engagement achievement.
• Apply your learning by creating a lesson plan utilizing a selected technology tool or strategy.
• Successfully evaluate educational technology tools to enhance teaching and learning.
• Identify practical ways to elevate your skill set and effectively integrate technology.
• Examine how the global pandemic has changed education and student needs.
• Articulate how online learning impacted the world before, during, and after the pandemic.
• Explain common barriers to effective online courses and strategies that can overcome them.

Requirements to Enroll

No application is needed to enroll. All learners are eligible to enroll in the course. There are no admission requirements. It is recommended that learners have a high school diploma or GED, and have basic computer and internet knowledge.

Estimated Time to Completion

This course is designed to be completed in 40 contact hours.

Access Time

Learners will have access to their course learning modules for up to 12 months from the date of enrollment.

CEUs and PDUs

CEUs- 4.0 National University Continuing Education Units

Certificate of Completion

To be awarded an official National University Professional and Continuing Education and Virtual Education Software Inc. Certificate of Completion, students must do the following:

• Complete all four section examinations, showing a competent understanding of the material presented.
• You must obtain an overall score of 70% or higher, with no individual exam score below 50%
• Successfully complete ALL writing assignments to pass this course.

Refund Policy

We at National University want all of our students to have a positive and rewarding learning experience. In the event that a student is not completely satisfied with a course, we offer a refund policy to ensure satisfaction.

To be eligible for a refund, the student must submit a written request, including a valid reason, within 9 calendar days of registering for the course. Additionally, the student must not have attempted more than 25% of the course.

To request a refund, email PACE@nu.edu and include your full name, student ID, and course name. Your reason for requesting a refund will be carefully reviewed, and we reserve the right to refuse a refund if we determine the request to be invalid.

If you meet the eligibility criteria and are approved for a refund, we will issue a refund to your original method of payment within 60 days of the refund approval.

How to Access My Course

Allow up to 24-48 business hours after enrollment to receive an email from Virtual Education Software Inc (VESi). You will receive your login information through email on how to access your course.

If you do not receive your login information from VESi contact Technical Support: support@virtualeduc.com