Course Information

CECS 4100
Computers in the Classroom

Course Information:

Class Meeting Times: R 5:30-8:20
Matthews Hall 312
Instructor : Dr. Darlene Griffin
Office MH 316
Office Hours T 4:45 - 10:00 by appointment
Phone: home (972) 346-2269
Email: dgriffin4@prodigy.net
Course Website: courseweb.tac.unt.edu/griffin

Course Overview/Objectives:
This survey course will introduce experienced educators to the extensive field of educational technology. Topics covered in this course will be areas that impact or have the potential to impact educators working in the classroom environment. Special emphasis will be placed on constructing relevant and appropriate instructional environments.

The objectives for this course include the opportunity for students to analyze computer uses in education including simple applications programming LOGO (MicroWorlds). In addition students should gain knowledge in the selection of educational software, feel comfortable modeling an educational presentation system, understand the integration of technology into the classroom and the use of other electronic sources for educational classroom resources.

This semester we are incorporating the Intel Teach to the Future Preservice program. We are pleased to have received this opportunity and feel it
will enhance the course.

Course Topics
How are Computers Used in the Classroom?
Technology Integration in the Classroom
Creating a Unit Plan Which Integrates Technology
Computer Ethics and Equity
Technology and Diverse Needs of Learners
Educational Software: How Should We Evaluate It?
Telecommunications and the Internet in the Classroom
Searching for Educational Resources
Copyright Laws and Educational Technology
Technology Applications (TA) Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS)
National Standards for Teacher Competencies
National Standards for Student Competencies
MicroWorlds

Course Prerequisites
You need CECS 1100 to take this course (may be taken concurrently with consent of department). It is possible that you may have acquired the required skills required prerequisite skills. This course assumes you have these skills and will build on those skills.

Course Policies
Attendance and punctuality are professional behaviors expected of educators. Educational technology is not "doing computer projects"--it is much more. Hence, you need to be here for class discussions and learning activities.

Anyone who misses the first class and does not contact the instructor will be administratively dropped from the course.
Although attendance at the remaining classes will not be taken, in-class activities will be given at random and will count for a part of your grade. You will not be allowed to make them up.
Many assignments are explained and then started in class with the expectation that you will finish them outside of class. If you miss one of these classes where the assignment is explained in this hands-on fashion, the instructor cannot be responsible for helping you make up what you missed. If you were in class and participated fully in the hands-on portion of class, the instructor will answer questions about the assignment outside of class via email or during office hours.

Having a classroom with technology in front of us is not the norm...yet. So to make our classroom environment more conducive to learning for everyone there are a few suggested behaviors that would be appreciated. Students are expected to observe classroom etiquette and common courtesy to the instructor and fellow classmates.

Pagers, cell phones, and other electronic devices should be silenced during class. If you receive an emergency communication, please excuse yourself from the room to take care of it.
Playing computer games, instant messaging, and checking email during class are considered rude. Refrain from being rude.
Surfing the Internet should only happen during class when in-class activities involve the computer.
While it is not only distracting to the instructor to see your face glowing green from the reflection of solitaire, it may be an annoyance to your classmates. It is my experience that students who are checking their email, making flight arrangements on the Internet, playing solitaire, IM-ing, or working on assignments for other classes miss important information. Please turn off your monitors when class begins until you are instructed to turn them on. (BTW, we really can hear your keyboard and your mouse clicking.)
The printer is very noisy. It is rude behavior to get up during class to walk to the printer. Please do not print anything during class except when we are working on in-class activities.

Assignments are due as stated in the course schedule. Assignments that are to be turned in to the office, are to be turned in to Matthews Hall 316. The person at the desk will stamp the assignment with the date and time it was turned in and place it in my mailbox. Make sure they put the correct date and time on the assignment before you leave the office. The date/time stamp will be used as the indicator of whether the assignment is on time or late. If class begins at 5:30, the time on the assignment must be 5:30 or earlier. Other assignments are to be sent as an attachment to an email by the deadline (date and time) stated in the course schedule.
Keep an electronic copy and a backup copy of all assignments and project for this semester. After the semester is over, you can delete the files, but during the semester you are accountable for having copies of every assignment and project.

Readings are to be completed before class on the assigned date so that you may actively participate in discussions and activities during class that are related to that chapter.

You are expected to conform to all policies of the University of North Texas and work within the honor code.

Requirements/Grading
You are responsible for the chapter assignments, even if they are not covered during class lecture.
Workload for CECS 4100: Expect to spend 2-3 hours outside of class for each hour spent in class. In other words, you should expect to spend 6-9 hours each week outside of class reading, completing assignments, and working on the computer in addition to the 3 hours you are in class. This is a 4000 level class

--Any in-class exercises are to be turned in on the day they are assigned or no credit will be given.
--These requirements will be weighted as follows:

Requirements	Percentage of Final Grade
Exams	20%
Unit Plan	5%
Student Sample Publication (newsletter or brochure) and Rubric	15%
Additional Resources (Webquest, Software Evaluations, Activity Templates)	10 %
Website Supporting Your Unit	10%
PowerPoint supporting Your Unit	5%
Filamentality Website Supporting Your Unit	5%
Final Unit Portfolio	5%
MicroWorlds Projects	10%
In Class Activities/ Chapter Outliners / Class Participation	15%

Important: Late assignments will receive a maximum grade of 75%. Late assignments are those that are turned in after the posted deadline. However, turning in a late assignment is much better than not turning in one at all.

Grades will be calculated by the following scale:
A = 90.0% or higher
B = 80.0% to 89.9%
C = 70.0% to 79.9%
D = 60.0% to 69.9%
F = Below 59.9%

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Required Materials

Textbook: Teaching and Learning with Technology, Second Edition by Judy Lever-Duffy, Jean B. McDonald, and Al P. Mizell. (c) 2005. The First Edition is NOT an acceptable substitute.
Electronic Storage Media:
4 floppy diskettes OR
2 CDR-W's OR
1 USB jump drive (flash drive, pen drive, ....)
You must pick something that will work on all the computers you plan to use for this class (home, MH 309 lab, classroom, friend, relative,...)
Backup Electronic Storage Media: one of the above or the H: drive provided by UNT or using attachments on email. Corrupted or lost electronic files are not an excuse for not turning in assignments on time.
Intel Teach to the Future book and CD ROM: these will be provided.
Optional Materials
Software: MicroWorlds EX software is available at a discounted price in the bookstore. If you want a copy for your home computer for any reason, this is monetarily a good deal. If you have adequate access to the COE General Access Lab (GAL) in Matthews Hall 309 (the only place on campus with MicroWorlds EX software), you don't need this.

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EEO/ADA Statement
EEO/ADA: The University of North Texas does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability or disabled veteran status in its educational programs, activities, admissions, or employment policies. Please see me outside of class to make any arrangements involving special accommodations.

Cheating: Plagiarism and cheating are serious offenses which may be punished by any of the following:
1. failure on the exam, project or paper
2. failure in the course, or
3. expulsion from the University of North Texas

For more information on EEO/ADA or academic dishonesty, please refer to your current Undergraduate Catalog.

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University Policy Regarding E-Mail

"All students should activate and regularly check their Eagle Mail (e-mail) account. Eagle Mail is used for official communication from the University to students. Many important announcements for the University and College are sent to students via Eagle Mail. For information about Eagle Mail, including how to activate an account and how to have Eagle Mail forwarded to another e-mail address, visit https://eaglemail.unt.edu ."

Additional information concerning Eaglemail and student network storage can be found by clicking here.

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Dropping A Class

If you need to drop this or another class, be sure to do so in a timely manner (there are deadlines) and be sure to do it correctly (you need to double check that it really worked).

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