Course Syllabus
| Course Name and Number: |
Leveraging Online Tools (Course Number 2018-217-NDE) |
| Course Commitment: |
This is a 15 hour, 1 credit course. The 1 credit is issued by the Nevada Department of Education and can be used for license renewal. Because of this, the 15 hours must be spent outside the contract time. |
| Course Availability: |
The course is run between March 12, 2018 and April 29, 2018. |
| Intended Audience: | This course is intended for grade 5-8 teachers working at a Nevada Ready 21 school. |
| Instructor: |
Chris Justus, Professional Development Strategist for Nevada Ready 21. Contact Chris through the Canvas inbox, via email at justucr@nv.ccsd.net, or by text at 702-767-9248. |
Course Description
In this 15 hour course you will explore online tools and how they can be used to teach the Four C's of 21st Century Learning. By the end of the course, you will have practiced using online tools and integrated at least two of the online tools into your curriculum. Successful completion of the course will earn you 1.0 continuing education unit (CEU) issued from the Nevada Department of Education.
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Course Objectives
By the end of the course, the participants will
- gain insight into the Four C's of 21st Century Learning;
- explore how Google Docs, Google Drawings, Flipgrid, and WeVideo can transform instruction, and;
- either integrate at least two online tools into a lesson and show student-created work as evidence of the integration or write a lesson plan that integrates at least two online tools and make examples of what students will create using those tools.
Access the learning modules here >>
Course Structure
This course is conducted entirely online through learning modules. You will participate in this course through the Canvas Learning Management System by advancing through pages, recording responses to prompts on a Flipgrid, posting in discussion boards, earning badges, reflecting on best practices, reviewing your peers' discussion posts, and generating evidence of integrating the educational technology into your curriculum.
During the course, you will learn how Google Docs, Google Drawings, Flipgrid, and WeVideo can be used to transform instruction in your classroom. In order to demonstrate mastery of the tool, you will create an artifact using each of the online tools.
During the Culminating Activity Module, you will be asked to complete one of two options.
Option 1: Integrate two of the online tools you learned about from this course into your curriculum then show student-created evidence of the integration.
Option 2: Write a lesson plan that integrates two of the online tools you learned about from this class and create examples of what students will be expected to make using those tools.
One of these options needs to be completed by April 29, 2018.
Access the learning modules here >>
Course Communication
Successful participation in the course will require that you communicate with the instructor and your classmates throughout the duration of the course. This course will use the following communication tools:
- Announcements — General messages and news pertaining to the course.
- Canvas Inbox — Email in the Canvas environment.
- Flipgrid Discussion Boards — Embedded in the start and end of the course.
- Artifact Discussion Boards — Embedded in the middle of the course.
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Time Log
The Nevada Department of Education requires participants in this course to maintain a time log of their participation in the course. You will be asked to download a blank time log here.
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Assignments
To receive credit for your participation in the course and to receive the CEU from the Nevada Department of Education, you need to earn no fewer than 1,000 points. Review the table below for details on the learning modules, assignments, "finish by" dates, and point breakdown.
| Module | Associated Assignment(s) | Finish by | Total Points Available in the Module |
|
March 18, 2018 | 250 | |
|
March 18, 2018 | ||
|
March 25, 2018 |
100 | |
|
April 8, 2018 | 100 | |
|
April 8, 2018 |
100 | |
|
April 15, 2018 | 100 | |
|
April 22, 2018 | 350 | |
|
April 29, 2018 | ||
|
April 29, 2018 |
Each assignment will include a rubric.
Access the learning modules here >>
Late Work Policy
All coursework must be turned in by the "finish by" date. The participant will earn 0 points on any assignment if it is not turned in, if it is turned in after the due date or if the participant does not contact the instructor before the due date. Participants earning 0 points on an assignment may be dropped from the course.
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About the Instructor
I am a former AP Biology, Chemistry, Video Production, and Student Council teacher and a current professional development strategist! Since my first day on the job at West Prep in Clark County School District, I was always looking for ways to incorporate educational technology into my curriculum. One of the reasons my bosses always helped me fund and outfit my classroom with the latest and greatest instructional technology tools was because I was never afraid of trying out something new. Sometimes my ideas worked, sometimes they didn't. But "change" never scared me and I kept making tweaks to my ideas, often during passing periods as I got ready for my next class!
Everything did change when my classroom was provided 15 iMac computers to go along with my class set of iPads, Mac laptops, and assortment of video cameras, microphones, tripods, and various video production gear. My classroom looked like the showroom floor of a Best Buy! Using my iPads and iMacs as tools, I experimented with setting up virtual labs with my science students, establishing video editing workflows with my video production students, and exploring online marketing with my student council students. I began making and recording video notes using my favorite iPad app, Doceri, and created something in my classroom that would eventually resemble the "station rotation" blended model.
I was able to leverage my experience with educational technology into my current position as a Professional Development Strategist for the Nevada Ready 21 program. My favorite part of my job is that I still get to experiment with process and content presentation, and this course, Leveraging Online Tools, is the latest result.
I am excited to facilitate this course and look forward to seeing what you and your students create using the resources. If there is anything you find along the way that could be different or better, please tell me. I take feedback seriously and look forward to using it to hone my craft and practice.
Enjoy the course!
-Chris Justus, justucr@nv.ccsd.net
**This syllabus and the requirements for the course are subject to change as class needs develop. Any changes will be fully communicated to the class in advance.**
Course Summary:
| Date | Details | Due |
|---|---|---|