SPRING 2008
EDIT
6900 Research Methods in Instructional Technology
Wednesday, 4:40-7:40 pm, January 9-April 28, 2008
Course
Call #: 03-114
This
page last updated on
January 9, 2008
.
If you decide to register for the course, please email Lloyd Rieber to alert him of your intent. He will create a class email distribution list and will send you an email about one week prior to the first day of the course with important updated notes about getting ready for this course. Included in this email will be your course account information (Lloyd will set up a username and password for you to be activated by the first day of the course).
Please order/acquire the textbook as soon as possible:
You will need the book starting the very first day of the course:
Leedy, P. D., & Ormrod, J. E. (2005). Practical research: Planning and design (8th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education.
You should purchase this book yourself online using Amazon.com, or a similar online bookseller (if you choose to purchase a used book, be sure it is the 8th edition).
Some Critical Dates
- January 9 (Wednesday), 5:15 pm, 618 Aderhold: First class meets in Athens (more information about this is below)
- February 16 (Saturday), 10:00 am-Noon: Library Search Workshop, UGA Main Library (Athens, North Campus)
Notes
from Lloyd on getting ready for this course (first class is on January 9)...
- It
is strongly recommended you come to Athens for a face-to-face meeting
on the
first class on January 9:
We will meet at 5:15 pm in Room 618 Aderhold Hall. (Please note that this is a little later than the scheduled time in order to give everyone a little extra time to find parking and walk to Aderhold. UGA Parking Services recommends that students use the free lots designated as E11 and E08 on the campus parking map. Both lots are free to commuting students starting at 4 pm and are approximately a five-minute walk to Aderhold. Aderhold's parking lot does not open to students until 6 pm.) I will demonstrate the
technology that we will be using in the course and provide a good thorough
orientation to the course. This ensures that
we
start off on the right foot. The second class will be a "trial run"
of the technology, essentially repeating the information provided during the
first class.
- This course
will be offered online. An online class is a
very different learning experience from a traditional on-campus class. The
flexibility inherent in an online class is balanced by the need for individuals
to have a positive attitude toward learning at a distance, coupled with good
personal time management skills.
- This course
will use both synchronous
(same time, any place) and asynchronous
(any time, any place) technologies. Because of our use of synchronous technologies,
you must be available for each schedule live class (synchronous) which
begins promptly at 4:40 pm on Wednesdays. This means you need to get
online and set up no later than 4:25 pm.
- Required
textbook:
Leedy, P. D., & Ormrod, J. E. (2005). Practical research: Planning and design (8th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education.
- You should purchase this book yourself online using Amazon.com, or a similar online bookseller (if you choose to purchase a used book, be sure it is the 6th edition).
- Required
hardware and software:
You must have easy access to the following:
- Windows
or Macintosh computer with Internet Explorer, Foxfire, or Macintosh Safari with cookies enabled with the security setting set no higher than "medium high".
- Access to
the Internet with a high speed Internet connection.
- Microsoft
Office (primarily Word and PowerPoint)
- Computer
headset with microphone and earphones (even the cheapest should work,
just make sure you buy this from the computer section of a store such
as Best Buy, K-Mart, etc.)
- Your computer must be able to view pre-recorded "Impatica" presentations: You need to view pre-recorded
presentations of each of the topics covered in this course. These pre-recorded presentations have been designed and narrated by Lloyd Rieber. These presentations
have been produced with a commercial tool called "Impatica", hence we will refer to them as "Impatica presentations". These presentations will work on both Windows and Macintosh computers. The main technical requirement is that you must have an Internet browser that is "java enabled". To test whether your computer is able to view these, click here to view the first Impatica presentation that introduces everyone to instructional design. If you are having problems viewing this Impatica presentation, click here for some troubleshooting suggestions.
- Your computer must be compatible to use the "Horizon Wimba virtual classroom" for synchronous live online class meetings: This is one of the main technologies used in the course. It will allow us to meet as a group to discuss the various course topics and participate in other activities. To find out if your computer system is compatible with the Horizon Wimba technology run the following "Setup Wizard" (note: if you are missing a component, this wizard will guide you through the steps in downloading and installing the component; and almost everyone will need to install at least one component enabling two-way audio):
Click here (or anywhere on the graphic) to run the wizard.
If your system does not pass all of the tests conducted by the wizard, you should contact UGA's Student Technology Support (STS) for assistance. They provide special support to students enrolled in classes that use the Horizon Wimba classroom. Students may get assistance by e-mailing hlive@uga.edu or calling STS at 706-542-3333. (If you are unable to resolve the technical problems, you will need to wait and take the on-campus version of this course.)
- Skills you must already have:
- Ability to send and receive e-mail (with attachments);
- Able to use all aspects of an Internet browser;
- Proficiency with Microsoft Word (and at least some familiarity with PowerPoint);
- Ability to change basic system configurations and control panels (such as adjusting audio and screen size);
- Ability to download and install software components from the Internet as needed (i.e. browser plug-ins such as for Flash);
- Ability to troubleshoot basic computer problems (especially those common with Internet connections);
- Ability to work independently.
- Attitude you need to have and maintain : 1) positive; 2) not willing to give up at the first sign of trouble; 3) sees this course as a unique opportunity to learn about distance learning by experiencing it; 4) able to keep in check the inevitable frustrations that are bound to crop up in an innovative course like this.
- The Add/Drop
period at UGA goes from January 7-14.
- If you have
questions about this course, please do not hesitate to contact
me at UGA via email (lrieber@uga.edu)
or telephone (706-542-3986).