Special Topics: E-Learning Research and Practice INTRODUCTION

Purpose of Course To provide an opportunity to study and explore e-learning research and practice, with a special emphasis on open & new developments (Web 2.0; Open Educational Resources) E-learning research: what has been done, tends to be done, and what is possible E-learning practice: developing online resources using Web 2.0 (and other) technologies

Emphasis on your ideas, needs Small number of students makes it possible to tailor the course to individual needs and suggestions Two possible areas of emphasis: – Research: Doing a small research project, writing up a paper on research (paper can be submitted to a journal) – Practice: Focusing on developing an online resource; submitting it and detailed instructional rationale for its design

Organization of Course Alternating weeks: Meet here, in class & discuss readings, etc. Work online, discuss readings, develop resources & research work – Exceptions: Reading week (Feb. 16); trip to New Zealand (March 19, 26) Move from working together on shared topics to specialized work on your selected topic

Schedule Overview Weeks 1 and 2 (Jan. 8, 15): Blogs and blogging; reflecting on the readings online Weeks 3 – 5 (Jan. 22, 30, Feb. 5): Wikieducator, Wikimedia editing Week 6 (Feb. 12): Children and media Feb 19 is reading week: will ask you to start using Moodle Week 7 (Feb. 25): OER Project due; guest speaker on Moodle and Marginalia

Schedule Overview, con’t Week 8 (Mar. 5): Technology in the Classroom? Week 9 (Mar. 13; F2F): Technology in the Classroom? Week 10 (Mar. 20): Learning theories and Technology Week 11 (March 27): Technology and the future of education Week 12 (April 2): Presentations Week 13 (April 9): Presentations

General Terms Check the course Website: I will change and provide more detailed information for each week as we get to it & Online communications as important: I will you about any change, and will expect to be in touch with you each week online (RSS feeds, blog postings, etc.)

Suggestion: Authoring in a Wiki Week 3: (January 22) “Other resources to be added” Do a “getting started” workshop on authoring in Wikis Will be facilitated by Nellie Deutsch (Wikieducator participant) & I As a part of the Wikieducator project

About Wikieducator (from) building capacity in the use of Mediawiki and related free software technologies for mass-collaboration in the authoring of free content; developing free content for use in schools, polytechnics, universities, vocational education institutions and informal education settings; facilitating the establishment of community networks and collaboration with existing free content initiatives in education; fostering new technologies that will widen access, improve quality and reduce the cost associated with providing education, primarily through the use of free content.

About the Workshop Said to take 7 hours of learning (= one week of online course time) In reality, takes much less time (will ask you to read a few things in addition) We will do it in two weeks: begin Jan. 22, end Feb. 5. Covers all aspects of Wikimedia Wiki editing Will give you all the skills you need to create a resource (i.e. assignment #2)