Instructor
Dr. Mary Ann Fitzgerald
604A Aderhold Hall
(706) 542-4030; (706) 542-3810
mfitzger@coe.uga.edu

Office hours: I am usually available immediately after class, and/or you can set up an appointment.

Goals
As a learner, you will:

• Develop the belief that technology can play an important and central role in in your classroom as a medium of instruction, a tool for students, and a management assistant
• Acquire skills that enable you to use technology in these ways
• Learn to welcome new ideas and methods afforded by technology, and be willing to experiment
• Articulate your position on the use of technology in the the teaching/learning process, including what you perceive to be its most significant challenges and opportunities

• Operate a microcomputer and peripheral components at a basic competency level
• Employ basic features of software from the following general categories: word processing, databases, spreadsheets, presentation/authoring tools
• Use telecomputing resources including email and the World Wide Web (WWW)
• Plan instruction that incorporates technology resources in effective ways
• Apply basic instructional design and visual design principles to design technology-based instructional resources
• Evaluate and select instructional resources for achievement of learning objectives
• Articulate the potential benefits and liabilities of the use of technology in education
• Apply technology skills to your specific teaching field, identifying any special contributions technology can make to your discipline (e.g., early learning software; music education software; geometry exploration software, etc.)
• Identify media and technology-related resources available in Georgia public schools

• Flexibility of assignments: if you can think of an alternative assignment that meets the goals of any regular assignment, please feel free to propose it. I am flexible and open to negotiation, especially when creativity and collaboration are involved.
• I expect assignments to be turned in on time. Please contact me in advance if you have a problem with meeting a particular deadline. A late assignment will not receive full credit.
• Communication and writing skills are essential for teachers. Therefore, all writing must comply with grammatical and spelling rules, and should look professional in a visual sense. Please use a word processor and laser or inkjet printer, and avail yourself of the spelling and grammar-checking tools provided by your software. If errors or appearance detract from the quality of an assignment, the score will reflect this problem.  Cite any resources that you consult.
• Resubmit option: I believe in mastery learning, a learning model in which students have the opportunity to keep working at a skill until they have accomplished it. If you receive less than a 90% score on any assignment, you may correct the problem(s) and resubmit up until the final due date (see calendar).  If you choose to use this option, please resubmit the original assignment and scoring sheet/rubric along with your revised assignment.  The final project is due  before the date of the final exam in order that you may have time to resubmit if necessary.
• Tracking: your final grade will not come as a surprise if you keep up with your scores.  You may ask me at any time to show you your official electronic score sheet, and I recommend that you do so several times over the course of the semester. A Score Sheet handout is provided to help you track your scores.
• All policies of the University of Georgia regarding academic honesty apply to this class.

Special Needs
If you need special assistance due to a physical or learning disability, please let me know.  I will be happy to accommodate you in any way that I can.
 

Ground Rules

• Participants must comply with all computer lab policies established by UCNS and the Office of Information Technology; including posted lab schedules, printing costs, and copyright policies.

• Food and drink are not permitted in computer labs.

• Feel free to interrupt me with points and/or questions.

• In a computer lab class, it is tempting to multi-task by checking email, etc., while demonstrations and presentations are going on.  If a demonstration, talk, or presentation is under way, please refrain from doing  this.  Have empathy for the person who is in front of the group - your turn will come!

• Keep all class-related materials in a 3-ring notebook.  Bring them all to class each day, because you never know when you might need to refer to an old handout.
• Folder system: each student will have a folder which we will exchange each class. Pick it up at the beginning of class, and return it at the end.  I will distribute graded work through these folders, and you should place any assignments in the folder.   A copy of your scores will remain in the folder at all times.
• Daily agenda: On the afternoon before each class, I will post an agenda for the day's events.  Please read the agenda on the evening before or first thing as you arrive at class.
• This syllabus is a "living" document and may evolve somewhat over the course of the semester.  I promise that no major assignments will be added, and that the overall course objectives will remain the same.  I reserve the right to make necessary changes in the calendar and to remove or adjust assignments if time runs out.  The most current version of the syllabus will always be available online, with recent changes displayed in red.

Calendar