Introduction to Computers in Education

Syllabus

 

Table of Contents

 

Instructor Information

Instructor: Peter Desberg, PhD
Office: SC Bldg. 12 Room 1060
Office Hours: M 2:00-4:00, T 2:00-4:00

Telephone
  Office: (310) 243-3908
  Message: (310) 243-3524

E-mail Address:
  University: pdesberg@dhvx20.csudh.edu
  America online: pdesberg@aol.com
  EarthLink: pdesberg@earthlink.net

Mailing Address:
  Peter Desberg
  California State University Dominguez Hills
  1000 E. Victoria Street
  Carson, CA 90747


Course Description

This class will enable teachers to use the computer in classroom instruction. There is both a lecture and laboratory component. The laboratory component is a hands-on setting using cooperative learning groups. There are both individual and group assignments for all major areas. The course has been designed to meet the state mandated computer competencies required for credentialing set by AB 1681.

This class is divided into lecture and laboratory components. The laboratory consists of a series of series of hands-on assignments designed to enable each student to master the skills necessary to begin using the computer for classroom instruction. During the laboratory section of the class, students will work in cooperative learning groups.

For many of the laboratory assignments there is both an individual and a group task. The individual assignments are presented in the next section, followed by the cooperative group assignments.

Each assignment must be completed and turned in. Students missing a class must contact a member of their cooperative groups, determine the assignment and submit it to the instructor. Because of the importance of the laboratory for both individual and group work.

 

Department Mission Statement

The Graduate Education Department at California State University Dominguez Hills prepares educators for culturally and linguistically diverse students in urban school settings As part of this mission the Department has adopted the statement below.

With the guidance and support of their instructors and supervisors all Master of Arts in Education and credential candidates will work toward achieving these goals:

 

Grading Criteria

Grades will be based on performance of the following:
  1. Midterm and Final Examinations
  2. Software Reviews
  3. Lab Performance (graded CR/NC)
  4. Sending an email letter to the instructor.
  5. Performing one of the six Cooperative Group assignments on email.

 

Required Text

Desberg, P. and Fisher, F., Teaching With Technology -Boston: Allyn and Bacon, 1997.

 

Course Objectives

1. Identify the following: 2. Describe the major categories of Computer-Based Education (including the following): 3. Identify the following: 4. Summarize the research findings related to the effectiveness of Computer-based Education.

5. Identify the following:

6. Run Macintosh and Apple II programs.

7. Describe the organization and management features of a computer-based lab in a school setting.

8. Describe the characteristics of well-designed CAI.

9. Evaluate the effectiveness of CAI courseware.

10. Identify the critical variables in selecting an instructional computing system for a school.

11. Identify and describe utility programs that are available for administration, management and record-keeping in schools.

12. Identify the relationship between the research on effective schools and the use of computers.

13. Discuss ethical and social concerns created by CBE.

14. Use a spreadsheet program to develop a computerized grade book to enter and assign grades.

15. Use a word processing program to create a document.

16. Use a database program to generate a multiple choice test on the computer.

17. Use a Database program to create a management system for your class.

 

Reading Assignments

Week 1 Introduction (Chapter 1)

Week 2 Tool Applications--Word Processor (Chapter 5)

Week 3 Telecommunications (Chapter 12)

Week 4 Computer Hardware (Chapter 2)

Week 5 Computer-Assisted Instruction (Chapter 3)

Week 6 Courseware Evaluation (Chapter 4)

Weeks 7 & 8 Tool Applications--Spreadsheet & Database (Chapter 6, 7)

Week 9 History of Computing (Chapter 8)

Week 10 Computer-Managed Instruction (Chapter 9)

Week 11 Developing a Computer Lab (Chapter 10)

Week 12 Computer Languages--BASIC, Logo & CAI Authoring Languages (Chapter 11, 13)

Week 13 Operating Systems (Chapter 13)

Week 14 Multimedia (Chapter 14)

Week 15 Social and Ethical Issues in CBE (Chapter 15)

Week 16 (CSUDH Final Exam Week) Final Exam

 

Lab Schedule

Week 1 (Do 1 and 2)
  1. Run a CAI program such as Macintosh Basics or Windows Tutorial (look under Help on an IBM/compatible computer).
  2. Perform the following lab activity:

    1. Identify five important criteria for effective instruction (e.g., active responding by students, immediate feedback).
    2. Determine how well the introductory software has met the criteria you have identified.
    3. Fill out and mail in the Computer Experience/E-mail form.
Week 2 (All)
  1. Complete Word Processing with a Smile
  2. GROUP ASSIGNMENT - With your e-mail group, design a lesson using a Word Processing program as its focus.  Include the following information:

    1. The objective(s) to be mastered.
    2. The lesson content.
    3. The computer skills used.
    4. How the objective(s) will be integrated into the ongoing curriculum.

  3. Write a letter to your instructor telling him how much you are enjoying the course. Remember that flattery may play a part in assigning you a final course grade.
Week 3

Design a lesson where your students would have to gather information from the world wide web.

Week 4 (Do either 1 or 2)

  1. Inventory all of the available technology hardware at your school. Make sure to check with administrators because there may be some that is locked away or stored.

    2. OR 

  2. Go to a software store and identify the minimum requireemetns for 3 software packeages (select at least one CD-ROM package and one that is floppy disk-based.)
Week 5
  1. Identify five important criteria for effective instruction (e.g., responding by students, immediate feedback).
  2. Rate Chapter 3 of Teaching with Technology (CAI) using your criteria.
  3. Select your favorite demo from Teaching with Technology (CAI), and describe how you might use it in a lesson in your class.
Week 6 (2 is optional, but recommended)
  1. Evaluate a piece of CAI software (from home or school) using the CAI Evaluation form provided.
  2. Ask a friend or colleague to evaluate the same piece of software and compare your evaluations. Try to reconcile any differences.
  3. Describe how you would use this piece of software in a lesson.
Week 7
  1. Complete Creating a Teacher's Gradebook
  2. GROUP ASSIGNMENT - As a group, design a lesson using a spreadsheet as its focus. Include the following information:

    1. The objective(s) to be mastered.
    2. The lesson content.
    3. The computer skills used.
    4. How the objective(s) will be integrated into the ongoing curriculum.

  3. Write a memo to your Principal detailing why you need a computer system in your room.  Include the following:

  4. your need for the equipment;
  5. how it will be used
  6. its benefit for your students
  7. a list of the hardware and software you would like.

    8.
  8. Create a spreadsheet for the system.  Include the cost for each item, and the total.  Then determine what it would cost for three such systems in the same spreadsheet.
Week 8
  1. Complete Setting up a Classroom Database
  2. GROUP ASSIGNMENT - As a group, design a lesson using a database as its focus. Include the following information:

    1. The objective(s) to be mastered.
    2. The lesson content.
    3. The computer skills used.
    4. How the objective(s) will be integrated into the ongoing curriculum.
Week 9 (This week is a catch up day. The assignment below is an optional assignment)
    If you were using the latest technology available at the time, describe how writing a paper would differ for each of the following years.

    Most of you are probably too young to have actually used all of these writing tools. This is an opportunity to conduct interviews the way a historian would. Find people who have used these tools to ask for their pros and cons for each writing tool.

Week 10
  1. Write a letter to your principal presenting the reasons for providing you with a classroom computer to restructure the organization of your classroom using the CMI principles presented in this chapter. Include any of the following areas that are appropriate for your situation:

Week 11 (All)
  1. Go to a school lab, preferably your own, and identify the following information:

  2. Critique the lab and indicate how you would improve the overall use plan.
Week 12

Perform HyperStudio Project.
 
Week 13

HyperStudio Project. (Cont'd)

Week 14 (1 and 2)

  1. GROUP ASSIGNMENT - With your E-mail group, create an idea for a piece of software that you could use in your classroom. Identify what the software is intended to do for students, and what interactive elements the students will use in it. Identify multimedia links you could use to enhance it. Include ideas using the following multimedia elements:

    2. Describe how each multimedia element will contribute toward the students' learning.

  2. Create a draw or paint graphic.
Week 15 (Catch up day)

Week 16

  1. Final Examination
  2. Go home and Relax!!!

Instructor Information ­ Course Description ­ Mission Statement ­

Grading Criteria ­ Required Text ­ Course Objectives ­ Reading Assignments ­

Lab Assignments

Questions? Send email to Peter Desberg
GED 535 web pages created by Farah Fisher. Last updated on 1/30/98 by Patricia C. Fabregas for CSUDH's Distance Learning Dept. 
Back to the GED 535 menu