Stephanie's Mini-Course
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This course introduction/front page shows what information should be provided about each mini-course. This is only an example. Feel free to modify/adapt as you'd like. I want our mini-courses to be creative, instead of only uniformed.
Overview and Purpose
This section provides the learner with an inviting and engaging introduction to the topic of your mini-course, specifies the target learner, and gives an overview of how this course works. The importance of the topic may be demonstrated through problem scenarios, storytelling, case analysis, statistics, etc.
Feel free to name and organize this section (and other sections) in a way that is most effective for your mini-course. For example, designers from the past sometimes set this section into two parts: Introduction, Course Overview (How This Course Works).
Needs Assessment
The Instructional Problem
Our current student body is growing up within the twenty-first century in classrooms that attempt to use technology to foster student growth and understanding. The NYS Board of Regents Statewide Learning Technology Plan, adopted in 2010, acknowledges “Technology is a path for teaching and learning, but it is also a body of practices, skill, and knowledge to be learned.” Despite this, educators are expected to share an understanding of technology and online practices they haven’t been prepared for themselves. The use of the Needs Assessment process will allow educators access to materials regarding online platforms that will encourage them to introduce the content with their students. The vision for the Computer Science & Digital Fluency Standards of New York State is “Every student will know how to live productively and safely in a technology-dominated world. This includes understanding the essential features of digital technologies, why and how they work, and how to communicate and create using those technologies.” These skills will be shared with educators who will then use these tools in their own classrooms to embolden students in their use of technology for academia and not merely personal entertainment. Furthermore, these skills are necessary for students in their lives after high school as illustrated by CyberStates.
What Will Be Learned
In this course, educators will be exposed to the various opportunities made available by the frequently used Google Drive. The frequently used Google platform provides educators with the ability to build on their everyday use of Google Docs, Google Slides, Google Sheets with add-ons. An add-ons is an additional tool that educators can search for to build on their use of the more commonly accessed aspects of Google. In doing so, educators will become accustomed to making their lessons more accessible while also exposing their students to tools that can assist them in their education. Furthermore, the New York State Education Department acknowledges “Digital tools are available to assist educators in communicating with students and families, facilitating remote or online learning, and creating engaging instructional and learning opportunities for students.” Despite this, educators often resort to the tools they know, but when they expand their tools with add-ons not only will planning a lesson become easier, but ensuring all students are engaged and understand the content will become far more straight-forward and will allow educators to address student needs while data is collected on their behalf; all while exposing students to technology.
Analysis of Learners
The frequent implementation of technology in the classroom must begin at a higher level so educators recognize the tools being used within their classroom are both acceptable as well as expected on a daily basis. Below are the learners that will benefit from this course:
- Board of Education Members
- School Administrators
- In-Service Teachers
- Pre-Service Teachers
- Paraprofessionals
- Schools Counselors and Psychologists
- Anyone who provides students with content
Such a variety of groups is necessary for this course to lead to a generation of students who are confident in implementing technology in their daily lives. Each of the groups provided has an impact on students. When educators see administrators use these platforms, they will recognize the use of technology as an expectation rather than a choice because it is what is needed for our current generation of students in their post-high school lives. Every individual should have a general background of Google Drive including Google Docs, Google Slides, and Google Classroom in order to make the most of this course.
Context for Learning
This course will be shared to educators in an asynchronous online format that reviews a variety of Google-Add Ons. The course will be divided into three units including add-ons specific to Google Docs, Google Slides, and Google Classroom. Each add-ons will then address how the tool impacts both teachers and students. Learners will be required to have access to a laptop to make the most of the add-ons with Google Chrome installed. Note: Any computer can install Google Chrome including Mac Software.
Exploring the Problem and Solution
The solution to the instructional problem is making all educators who take this course confident in their implementation of Google Add-Ons. Schools across New York State have access to a Google for Education domain that isn’t used to its fullest potential for most educators. The mini-course should be implemented as a guide and review for educators to develop educator ability in using these tools as well as student exposure to the platforms on a daily basis.
Goals
The dominant goal of this mini-course is to ensure students have been exposed to technology on a daily basis because their educators are confident in its implementation. When educators expose their students to technology, the New York State Education Department vision for technology will be successfully carried out. Educators should have a variety of opportunities to choose tools that work for their classroom and student body after having been exposed to the tools themselves. Without sufficient time to explore tools such as Google Add Ons, educators will be unable to confidently use technology and prepare their students for life in the digital age.
Performance Objectives
- Learners will be able to articulate the specific uses of Google Extensions
- Learners will be able to plan a lesson with extensions based on student needs
- Learners will be able to integrate digital skills into daily lessons
- Learners will be able to distinguish which digital platforms heighten specific skills
Course Units
This mini-course includes the following units. Click the title of a unit to go to its page.
Brief overview
Brief Overview
Brief Overview ...
To place the above picture, first I uploaded it using the Upload file button in left pane. Then in Edit on this page I typed File:thenameofmypicture.jpg in double brackets. For the advanced features I added after jpg the following
|thumb - puts the image in a frame and allows me to add a width for my image
|300px - using any number sets the width of the image
|left - or right sets the alignment and allows text to wrap around the other side
|any text - place after the final pipe will be added as a caption to the image
The video for adding images can be found on youtube here.
Extended Resources
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