EDEL 610

Course

EDEL 610, Distance Education - section 80 (Monday, 6 - 8:50 pm); a hybrid distance education class taught online and on the Asheville campus, Room 113, Karpan Hall.

Instructor

Contact Information	Contact Hours
Dr. Robert Houghton Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, NC 28723
Office: 242 Killian Bldg. Phone: (704) 227-3347 College Fax: (704) 227-7388 Email: Houghton@email.wcu.edu Web Office: http://www.ceap.wcu.edu/ Houghton/home.html or http://ceap.wcu.edu/ houghton/home.html	Class times: section 80, Mon., 6:00-8:50 pm. Office hours: Monday 1-4 pm (sometimes in Asheville and sometimes at Cullowhee). Tues & Thurs. 11-12 noon and 2-3 pm Wed.. 1-4 p.m. One hour after class on Tuesday and Thursday. Special times for office or online communication by appointment.

CEAP Conceptual Framework

The professional education program at Western Carolina University fulfills its mission by creating and nourishing a community of learners guided by knowledge, values, and experiences. The guiding principles of this community include the belief that the best educational decisions are made after adequate reflection and with careful consideration of the interests, experiences, and welfare of the persons affected by the decisions; appreciation of and respect for diversity; and the fostering of the responsible use of technology.

Development

The EDEL 610 course draws on the field of distance education as its knowledge base for teacher education. It builds upon the educational application of general computer and media literacy. If you teach/learn/educate with the teacher separated from the learner by geography and/or time, you are a distance educator or a distance learner. Though distance education is as old as the postal service, more recent technologies, including the Internet and its World Wide Web and Videoconferencing, extend and enhance the educational potential of this concept. There are several key audiences for this class:

K-12 teachers, state guidelines require all teachers to be prepared to integrate telecommunications with their grade level and their professional needs;
Graduate students enrolled in the Instructional Technology Specialist Masters Degree program for 077 certification qualifying them to be School District Computer Technology Coordinator/Supervisors are required to take this course;
Community College instructors needing a course with heavy computer technology emphasis;
Graduate students that need to enhance their research and curriculum composition skills;
Anyone wanting to know more about Distance Education, especially via the Internet and VideoConferencing.

This course teaches current distance education concepts for creating inviting distance education learning environments and current distance education methods and practices for encouraging reflective decision making.

Texts

The course textbook will be this online web site and its related readings.

The tutorial materials that come with Macomedia Dreamweaver/Fireworks application bundle. (http://www.campustech.com/) [fax copy of student ID card with order to establish student status]

Other Required Materials

At least four 3.5" high density (HD) instructional diskettes.
2 or more ZIP disks.
WCU email account data (e.g., account name and password. Information will be sent by instructor).
Find and bring a headphone set with standard Sony mini-jack connector when we meet as a class.
Check the symbols on the diskettes to make sure that you have purchased a couple of high density (HD) diskettes. Hardshell plastic carrying cases for disks are strongly advised.

Description

The development of distance education concepts: theory, administration, programs, methods and curriculum development. Prequisite: EDEL 566 or permission of the instructor.

Diversity and Multicultural Focus

This course, which explores all types of information content for adults and youth, ensures an informed understanding of differences among groups of people and individuals based on race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, gender, language, exceptionalities, religion, sexual orientation, and geographic region in which they live. Through the study of distance education it emphasizes that all people have similar feelings and experiences; and that these universal themes/values can be the central to networked information systems. The course considers current social issues, ethnic diversity, and how people can work through a common ground of information networks to provide a successful, inviting, learning environment for each student including those with cultural, ethnic, and socioeconomic diversities and for students with exceptionalities.

Technology - Media Description
Distance education applies various technologies and information systems to carry the interaction of learner and teacher. In particular, this course explores:

Mail or Correspondence Courses
Two-Way Video

CommunityLink version (in four counties: Jackson, Macon, Swain, Clay)
NC Information Highway (state-wide)

One-way Video/telephone two-way (the state Star network)
Computer Networking

Internet (Web pages; form databases, email, chat, CU-SeeMe two-way video, web servers)
LAN two-way video (Apple Videoconferencing; CU-SeeMe) email, chat; form databases; Web pages).

Related media buzzwords - NCIH (North Carolina Information Highway), electronic highway, information highway, I-way, cyberspace, datasphere, the electronic frontier, the matrix, the web, The Great Work, the linking of collective consciousness, the State of Minds.

In this course you will study different aspects of how to live and learn and educate in this universe, covering: conceptual models addressing why and when to integrate the Internet and VideoConferencing & teaching activities; the basics of the Internet tools including the World Wide Web; beginning two-way video presentation (ITV) knowledge; beginning local area network (LAN) knowledge; how to put curriculum materials and designs online for local or global access (HTML authoring) and optionally how to setup and manage Internet server software. Instructional Technology Specialist (077 certification) graduate students only must have off-campus computer technology available with Internet access to use as experimental web server.

The newest major galaxy in this distance education universe is the Internet: "The Internet is a cooperative society that forms a virtual community stretching from one end of the globe to the other." p.xi, How the Internet Works, 1994. "More than any other experience in modern times, the Internet revives Thomas Jefferson's 200 year-old dream of thinking individuals self-actualizing a democracy." Foreword, The Internet Unleashed, 1994.

Clinical or Field Experience Component

The field experience component requires participants to interact with practicing educators as part of developing effective distance education curriculum materials for a variety of educational and professional needs.

Specific Competencies

Students enrolling in the course will learn how to...

Expand their knowledge of appropriate tools to:

find relevant information within people, on shelves or on the hard drives of the Internet.
select appropriate computer composition tools for the task at hand
utilize a variety of feedback systems
share their creations through publication on the Internet using text, audio and video

Develop criteria, evaluate and select from current distance learning and training offerings
Describe and set up an effective training program for distance instructors and support staff using the Internet and their own web server.
Identify various technologies and media being used in distance learning and training
Use knowledge of intellectual property and ethics related to distance delivery in their planning.
Discern situations which are and are not suitable to distance learning.

In addressing these objectives, participants will also meet the following Teacher Technology Competencies (1995) required for continuing education units (CEU). The following basic and advanced competencies are addressed:

Basic Technology Competencies that support and enhance professional productivity, information access/ collaboration, and communication among educators

1. Computer Operations

Demonstrate these skills:

start up and shut down computer system and peripherals
identify and use icons, windows, menus
start an application and create a document
name, save, retrieve, revise a document
use printing options
insert and eject floppy disk and CD-ROM
initialize, name/rename floppy and hard disks
copy document from hard disk to floppy disk and vice versa
create and name/rename subdirectories/folders
save, open, place documents inside subdirectories/folders
open and work with more than one application at a time

Demonstrate knowledge through practical application:

terms such as graphical user interface, document, application, K (kilobyte), hierarchical file system, directory, operating system, system software, RAM storage capacity of floppy disks, hard disks and CD-ROMs

Demonstrate these skills: (expanded)

make more memory available

exchange disks and files among Macintosh, MS-DOS/Windows

3. Word Processing/Introductory Desktop Publishing
[Done in the context of Web authoring; electronic outlining operations also covered]

Demonstrate these skills:

enter and edit text and copy and move a block of text

copy and move blocks of text

change text format and style, set margins, line spacing, tabs

check spelling, grammar, word usage

create a header or footer

add columns to document

insert clip art into document

5. Database

Demonstrate these skills

use information from an existing database

sort a database by specific fields

6. Networking

Demonstrate these skills:

use a file server (connect/log on, retrieve a program or document, save a document to a specified location)

share files with others on a network

Demonstrate knowledge through practical application:

terms such as local area network, wide area network, access rights, security passwords, file server, zone

Demonstrate these skills:

select/deselect a network zone

7. Telecommunications

Demonstrate these skills( essential):

connect to the Internet or an on-line service

use electronic mail (compose, send, retrieve, read, respond)

access and use resources on Internet and World Wide Web

Demonstrate knowledge through practical application:

terms such as telecommunications, direct access, dial-in access, modem, baud rate, Internet, World Wide Web

obtain/maintain an account on the Internet or an on-line service that provides Internet access

online conferences relevant to professional information needs

use of telnet to connect to a remote computer on the Internet

Demonstrate these skills (expanded):

connect a computer to a modem and telephone line for dial

install and configure telecommunications software

upload a text file and send as electronic mail

use specialized e-mail lists relevant to professional information needs

create and use group addresses for electronic mail

read, save, print, reply to, forward electronic mail

use Gopher to browse resources on the Internet

use ftp to send or retrieve files from remote computers

use effectively: distance learning, desktop video conferencing and tele-teaching technologies

8. Media Communications (including Image and Audio Processing)

Demonstrate these skills:

produce print-based products (e g., newsletters, brochures, posters, books)

produce electronic slides/overheads

set up and operate a videocassette recorder/player and monitor/TV

connect a video output device (e.g., LCD panel) to computer or large screen display

Demonstrate knowledge through practical application:

terms such as painting tool, drawing tool, compression

role of media in effective communication

characteristics, strengths, and weaknesses of different media

consumer issues, including identification/evaluation of available media communication resources

Demonstrate these skills: (expanded):

use painting and drawing tools

use digital camera and scanner

produce a video

9. Multimedia Integration

Demonstrate these skills:

use a linear multimedia presentation

use a non-linear, hypermedia presentation

Demonstrate knowledge through practical application:

terms such as media, multimedia, hypermedia, clip media

Demonstrate these skills: (expanded)

plan/produce a non-linear, hypermedia presentation

II. Advanced Technology Competencies that enable educators to use multiple forms of technology to enhance learning in their classrooms

1. Curriculum

Demonstrate these skills:

use the Computer Skills Curriculum to identify what students should know and be able to do

use school television resources that support the curriculum

access resources for planning instruction available via telecommunications (e.g., experts, lesson plans, authentic data, curriculum materials)

Demonstrate knowledge through practical application:

goals of the NC Computer Skills Curriculum

the NC Computer Skills Assessment

Demonstrate these skills: (expanded)

locate, evaluate, and select appropriate teaching/learning resources and curriculum materials for the content area and target audience, including computer-based products, videotapes and discs, local experts, primary documents and artifacts, texts, reference books, literature, and other print sources.

2. Subject-Specific Knowledge

Demonstrate these skills:

use technology in the discipline/subject for learning and as a medium for communication

use media and technology to present the subject so that it is comprehensible to others

use technology-based tools that are specific to the discipline

use technology to facilitate teaching strategies specific to the discipline

3. Design and Management of Learning Environments/Resources

Demonstrate these skills:

develop performance tasks that require students to (a) locate and analyze information as well as draw conclusions and (b) use a variety of media to communicate results clearly

Use computers and other technologies effectively and appropriately to collect information on student learning using a variety of methods

use computers and other technologies effectively and appropriately to communication information in a variety of formats on student learning to colleagues, parents and others.

Demonstrate these skills through practical application:

physical settings that support active student involvement, inquiry, and collaboration

organizational and management strategies that support active student involvement, inquiry, and collaboration

resources available including satellite, cable wireless and ITFS

Demonstrate these skills: (expanded)

select and create learning experiences that are appropriate for curriculum goals, relevant to learners, based upon principles of effective teaching and learning, incorporate the use of media and technology for teaching where appropriate, and support learner expression in a variety of media using a variety of media communication tools.

4. Child Development, Learning, and Diversity

Demonstrate these skills:

use media and technology to address differences in children's learning and performance

use media and technology to support learning for children with special needs

use media and technology to support learning for children whose primary language is not English

use appropriate local, state and national services or resources to meet diverse learning needs through technology

5. Social, Legal, and Ethical Issues

Demonstrate these skills:

establish classroom policies and procedures that ensure compliance with copyright law, fair-use guidelines, security and child protection

ensuring equal access to media and technology resources for all students

Demonstrate knowledge through practical application:

social, legal, and ethical issues related to technology use

Course Topics

This course addresses several major topics including the theory, administration, programs, educational methods and curriculum development of distance education. It does so through the integration of the aforementioned competencies and the use and study of several forms of telecommunications media, including the Internet, satellite video systems and videoconferencing. Further, it experiments with a new system of distance education designed by the course instructor that provides great flexibility for a wide range of computer-mediated distance education activities, CROP (Communities Resolving Our Problems). Finally, it introduces the use of professional web authoring software.

Assignments

The instructor may change this timetable to meet the needs and interests of participating students.

Evaluation Information

Particiption and Attendance:
You are responsible for all material presented in class, including announcements about changes in course procedures. Exams, quizzes, and homework often include questions on material presented only in class, so performance on these indirectly reflects attendance. Both discussions and computer activity require your active participation and contribution. Students will work with the instructor to design a series of projects relevant to their professional needs with appropriately weighted grading for this work.

Grades include: Midterm and final (50%) ; Web site project (35%) active course participation,m class attendance and contributions of team questions and responses (15%).

Academic dishonesty can result in a course grade of F.

Course grades will be assigned as follows:
A: 90-100%
B: 80 - 89%
C: 70- 79%
D: 60 - 69%
F: Below 60%

Special Dates

September 1-3, Labor Day, classes resume Tuesday.

October 6-9, (Sat. thru Tues.) Fall holiday, classes resume Wed.

November 4, Thursday, all Monday classes meet; No Thursday day or evening classes meet

November 21-25, (Wed. thru Sun.) classes resume Monday.

December 11, Tuesday, Last day of scheduled classes.

Final exam dates: Dec. 17 (possibly Dec. 10; will discuss as we get closer)

Web address of this page - http://www.ceap.wcu.edu/Houghton/DistanceEd/SyllabusDistEd610.html