Assignments - Philosophy of Computing in Education
(Draft fall 2005)



(Context)

The purpose of this course is to look at three aspects of the computer in education.
1.    Machine learning/machine-intermediated learning--the computer as a device with which you communicate or where the machine is only an intermediary for human to human communications.
2.    The computer as tutor/ tool/tutee--depending on your philosophy, the computer can take on different functions in education. Which fits your style and why?
3.    Pedagogy—what is technology’s role in education; how can it help you be a better teacher? Starting at the beginning - what is pedagogy and what is a good teacher?

There will be three assignments and a term paper. Assignment 1 is on aspect 1, assignment 2 on aspect 2, and assignment 3 on aspect 3. 

Student completed assignments for 2004.
Student completed assignments for 2005.

Assignment 1:  (Due:   17 Sept. 2005)

a.    Read the Roblyer/Knezek and Southworth et al. articles.

b.    Read the last chapter of Boole “Laws of Thought” and at least one chapter of Kemeny “Man and the Computer”.

c.    Write a 3-paragraph essay about types of relative advantages you see in the future for computers in education; and whether or not you believe computers will some day be intelligent.


Assignment 2: (Due:  15 Oct. 2005)

a.    Read Luehrmann (2003) “Should the Computer Teach the Student ..” and the original Luehrmann article in Taylor (1980) “The Computer in the School: Tutor, Tool, and Tutee”.  Comment on whether you agree with Luerhmann’s assessment of what has succeeded and what has not, among the Tutor, Tutee, Tool groupings.

Notable Articles now online from Tutor, Tool, Tutee:

• Robert Taylor
• Arthur Luehrmann
• Alfred Bork

b.    Read the following technology classification articles:
Knezek, Rachlin, Scannell (1980). A Taxonomy for Educational Computing.
Knezek (1988). Intelligent Tutoring Systems and ICAI.
Jones & Knezek (1995) Categorizing Distance Learning Systems: Discovering Successful Ingredients.
Lomerson & Knezek (1991). Teacher Benefit: The Critical Design Criteria for CMI.
Do you see antecedents of these in the work of Taylor and Luehrmann?  In the work of Kemeny?  What kinds of items are missing regarding a modern day taxonomy?

c.    Read the Muir, Knezek, Christensen (2004) article: Early Findings from the Maine Learning Technology Initiative. (For more information on the Maine initiative, see http://www.mcmel.org/MLLS/mlti/index.html.) Find one other article about ubiquitous and computing and give and your opinion about whether computers will soon be everywhere in education; if so, in what form; and why?  (Other choices might include Laptops in Irving, Handheld Computers in Schools, Using Handhelds in Schools.)

d.    Write a 3-paragraph to 2-page essay covering these three points.


Assignment 3:  (Due:  12 Nov. 2005) 

(Movie Resources)

a. Watch two of the following four movies (Conrac/Voigt, Dead Poet's Society/Williams, Emperor's Club/Kline, O'Tool-Clarke/Goodbye Mr. Chips) and compare/contrast their intended audiences of learners as well as their teaching goals/pedagogical styles. Is any form of technology used in either?  Are their underlying philosophies of education in either that you can identify?

b. Watch the movie Matrix and compare it to the previous 2 selections. (2001 A Space Odyssey & The Forbin Project also have themes in this area.) Would you agree this presents an extreme view of technology in education?

c. Use any established framework of pedagogical techniques to justify how you ideally think information technology should be used - in terms of your favorite philosophical perspective.

d. Try to do this all in 3-5 pages (not including references), add a cover page with abstract and three main-point bullets; and post what you come up with on the listserv.

e. Come prepared  at 9 am to read and discuss whether a classmate's posting is like yours in philosophy, and what makes it the same or different. You will have a few minutes to be assigned a partner and complete the reading of their paper.

Final Project (Assignment 4: Term Paper Due 3 Dec. 2005):

1.    Produce at 10-15 page term paper with at least 10 references, APA style.
2.    The topic should be grounded in Philosophy of Computing in Education.
3.    Include components from at least one journal article, one book chapter, and one movie you have viewed for class (choose 3 new ones of your own).
4.    It is suggested that you build on one aspect of the assignments required for class.  (Probably this means one of your paragraphs will be expanded into 10 pages.)
5.    It is suggested that you chose one of the 4 philosophies discussed in class as your underlying theme.
6.    It is suggested that you must address pedagogy in some form.
7.    It is suggested that you must focus on one or more technologies.
8.    Comparisons/contrasts of two or more philosophies, including discussion of where their conflicts lie, are acceptable.
9.    Comparisons/contrasts of two or more technologies, given an underlying philosophy, are acceptable.
10.    Intersections of technology and pedagogy (taxonomy of which teaching style fits which philosophy) are acceptable.
11.    Critical reviews including before vs. after reflections by authorities we have studied are acceptable.
12.    Critical essays for/against the Clark arguments are acceptable.
13.    Other topics that meet the approval of your instructor are welcome.