Course Requirements
EDUC 456/656: eLearning Course Requirements
This course is all about empowering you to design an effective eLearning environment. Thus, the course requirements revolve around you and the nature of the learning environment you want to create.
In the sidebar is a list of the specific assignments and how much they count toward your grade in the course. You can think of these assignments as consisting of three major parts, each of which counts for a third of your grade. The first part is class participation. You create a goal statement and share it with your fellow classmates, with whom you communicate in the course discussion forum. The second major part of your grade is determined by a presentation that you make in class on an evening of your choosing. The rest of your grade is determined by your final project, which you submit at the end of the course.
Assignment #1: Goal Statement
Your first assignment is to state the reasons why you enrolled in this course. Please tell why you decided to take this course and state briefly what you hope to get out of it. If you have only a general idea, go ahead and describe your goals in general terms. If you have more specific goals in mind, please enumerate them. I will use this information to help advise you and guide you through the appropriate course materials.
Assignment #2: Weekly Discussion Forum
Every student in this class is required to participate actively in the course discussion forum. To enter the discussion forum, log on to the course and choose the Discussions option. One of the first messages you write in the forum should inform your fellow classmates about the nature of the project you are hoping to create. The forum is an excellent place to network with your fellow students and help each other learn to use eLearning technologies effectively and understand their potential for improving human performance. To earn all your discussion points, write a thoughtful message at least once per week during the course. Creating a new discussion post counts the same as responding thoughtfully to an existing post. Use the discussions to share knowledge with each other during the course. You can write about emerging technologies, societal issues, multimedia tools, instructional design, or any topic related to helping your fellow classmates make effective use of eLearning.
Assignment #3: Presentation Topic
During the course of the semester, you (individually or with a partner) will be responsible for presenting one of these eLearning tools or environments (or one of your choice if approved by the instructor). Educational technologies are continually evolving. The purpose of this activity is therefore twofold: First, it will enable you to enhance your skills by exploring a technology-enhanced learning environment or tool that you want to explore and maybe you haven't seen before. Second, it will help you develop your skills as instructor / trainer / leader. As you prepare for this activity, here are some things you need to keep in mind:
- Provide an overview focusing especially on the principles upon which your topic is based.
- Explain applicable characteristics such as availability, hardware requirements, appropriate age levels, pricing, publication date, etc.
- If appropriate, download and install the appropriate plug-in on your computer and acquire all necessary passwords.
- Identify the key features of the eLearning environment or tool and discuss how they support (or do not support) the principles of how people learn.
- Try to prepare an interactive presentation. For example, you can create some role playing activities for your classmates, pretend that you are introducing the tool or environment to a group of teachers who are considering adoption, etc.
- Synergy with your final project is good, i.e., it is fine for you to use what you present as part of your final project.
- Check the schedule to make sure nobody else has chosen your topic yet. If they have, you can perhaps talk with them about the possibility of working together and co-presenting. The presentation schedule is a link on your course home page in Canvas.
In response to the Presentation Topic assignment, please indicate which eLearning tool or environment you would like to present, and give one or two preferred class dates when you would like to make your presentation. If you are taking the course online, you have the option of presenting remotely via the classroom videoconferencing stream, or you can come physically to class on the evening when you present. If you are presenting about a tool or an app, actually use it during your presentation so the attendees can experience it in action. If you are presenting about a quizzing tool, for example, actually use it to quiz your fellow classmates.
Assignment #4: Presentation Delivery
This is where your instructor will grade the presentation of your chosen eLearning environment. Your grade will be determined as follows:
- Provides a clear description of the eLearning environment: 5 points
- Articulates the connection between learning theory and the design of the eLearning environment: 7 points
- Is coherent, organized and professional: 3 points
- Is interactive and involves the audience: 2 points
- If this is a group presentation, it has the participation of all group members: 3 points
If you are presenting about a tool or an app, actually use it during your presentation so the attendees can experience it in action. If you are presenting about a quizzing tool, for example, actually use it to quiz your fellow classmates.
Assignment #5: Final Project Idea
For your final project you are required to produce an eLearning module to be used in one of the following settings: (a) a formal learning environment (e.g., school or college); (b) an informal learning environment (e.g., museum or after school club); or (c) a corporate setting (e.g., organization or company). When submitting your final project idea, take these considerations into account:
- Think of a specific instructional unit you would be interested in developing. Make it be something you feel passionate about doing.
- Before submitting this Assignment, prepare one paragraph that outlines your idea. Unless your project needs to be kept confidential, post your paragraph in the Canvas Discussions and invite your fellow classmates to comment and provide suggestions about your idea. Note: Posting this paragraph in the Discussions is only part of this Assignment. In addition to posting this paragraph in the Discussions, you must also respond to the submission prompt in the Assignment itself.
- Provide some background literature on the chosen topic. Identify the professional standards or learning principles that inform your project's design.
- Describe the characteristics of the target audience, its needs and any prior knowledge required.
- State your educational objectives, i.e., what you expect learners/users to learn or experience as a result of using your project.
Assignment #6: eLearning Project
Final versions of eLearning projects must be mounted on the Web for Dr. Hofstetter to review and grade. If you created your project with a learning management system, create a login for Dr. Hofstetter and when you click Submit Assignments to submit your project for a grade, submit the HTTP Web address of your project's login page along with login instructions explaining how Dr. Hofstetter should log on to your project. Note: If you are an EDTC major, consider developing your project as a multimedia eLearning environment that can meet the requirements of your master's degree program's Multimedia eLearning Environment Performance.
Assignment #7: Course Evaluation
Your final assignment in this course is to evaluate it. During the last couple weeks of the course, you will receive email at your udel.edu email address instructing you when the evaluation period begins and ends. You must log on to the course evaluation system within this window of time. The Web address of the course evaluation system is www.udel.edu/course-evals. After you complete the course evaluation, your instructor will give you credit for completing it. The responses you give are completely anonymous. While your instructor will be able to see the ratings and comments, it is impossible for your instructor to identify the person who gave a certain rating or made a given comment. Once you complete the evaluation, your grade on this assignment will be an automatic A.
