home

> tdreilin@troy.edu ||  || Course Description:
 * __ Syllabus __ ||
 * * EDU3305: Microcomputers in Education
 * Hawkins Hall - Rm 354
 * Office Hours: Thursday 2:00-5:00,
 * Office Phone: 334-670-5694 || * Instructor: [|Tom Dreilinger]
 * E-mail:

Develops proficiency in computer applications and classroom software; teaches principles and specific ideas for appropriate, responsible, and ethical computer use to make teaching and learning more effective; promotes critical abilities, skills, and self-confidence for on-going professional development. Course Goals:

Promote "fearlessness" and a sense of "learning to learn" in the students - the belief that they can learn new computer applications and their uses without anxiety or excessive amounts of time or energy. Develop information about and commitment to act on principles of responsible technology use in education, including areas of classroom gender equity, privacy, censorship, copyright, and school acceptable use policies. Develop good judgment about teachers' use of technology, a critical eye for hyperbole, and practice in adapting specific ideas to one's own curriculum and instruction. Promote students' creating an image of themselves as teachers, especially how they might use computers to make teaching and learning more productive for themselves as professionals and for their students. Assist in creating a framework for continual professional development. Insure students are proficient in using a number of computer applications that are relevant for education professionals. Core Skills:
 * __Attitudes and Perspectives:__**
 * __Ethics:__**
 * __Appropriate Use:__**
 * __Professionalism:__**
 * __Computer Literacy:__**

Proficiency for computer literacy and use of educational technology tools will be developed in the following areas: Course Resources:
 * Electronic Mail
 * Accessing information on the Internet
 * Operating system, file, and network management
 * Word processing
 * Graphics
 * Data management (spreadsheets and databases)
 * Software evaluation
 * Hypermedia authoring (WWW)

Weekly handouts, compiled by student for additional reading and reference.
 * __Required Texts__**:

Course Assignments:

Course assignments are designed to help you build a professional portfolio and gain practical experience. Assignments will be done in class and on your own time. Expect to spend an average of six to nine hours outside of class time each week to practice your skills and work on assignments. For most assignments, you will need to have access to a Mac or PC and the programs we are learning in class. I strongly encourage you to help each other through this course. However, except for team projects, the work you submit must be your own. Any student found submitting work completed by someone else will receive a score of zero for that assignment, and may receive an F for the course. Assignments are due at the start of class unless otherwise indicated. Assignments turned in after the beginning of class on the due date are penalized 5% (tardiness to class is not a valid exception). Assignments turned in after the due date without valid reason are penalized 5% for each day late. This is not intended as a punishment, but to maintain fairness in evaluating work, and to establish a professional climate in the classroom. Finally, just a word of warning to those who may have never experienced assignments in a computer-based course... Start your assignments early!! Student Expectations:
 * __Rationale__**:
 * __Completing Assignments:__**
 * __Collaboration:__**
 * __Due Dates__**:

Since you are preparing for work in a professional environment, this class will model the expectations that you will have on you as a professional. As such, there are set of rules for classroom behavior. My assumption is that these are obvious and you really should not need to hear them - please do not read these as a sign of disrespect. Unfortunately (and to my surprise) these have been problems in my past teaching experience. So, during class: Please turn off your cell phones and beepers. If the phone rings during class, you will be asked to turn it off without answering. I will give one verbal warning for hearing your phone or beeper. After this, points will be taken off your participation grade. Please do not instant message during class. I will give one verbal warning for using an instant messenger program. After this, points will be taken off your participation grade. Please do not check your email during class. I will give one verbal warning for using your email. After this, points will be taken off your participation grade. Please do not brink food or drinks into the lab. They'll just make me hungry and, anyway, they're not allowed by those that run the labs. Instructor Expectations:
 * __Classroom Etiquette:__**

Grading & Feedback: I will return your assignments, graded and with feedback, in a reasonable amount of time so you can use this feedback on your next assignment. The time it takes to grade your assignments will also reasonable for my busy schedule and other responsibilities. The feedback will be meaningful so you will be able to improve your skills and understanding. Availability: I will have posted office hours during you which you may speak with me. I am also available by e-mail (see next point). E-mail Availability: My commitment to this class includes the 3 hours of class each week, 5 hours of office-hours, time spent prepping for class and time spent grading assignments. It does not include being on call to read and respond to student e-mails. If you have an urgent need that cannot be addressed in class time or during office hours, you are welcome to e-mail me, but I will not guarantee a response before the next class period. Preparation: I will be prepared for each class with a plan for what we will do each class period. Course Grading:

Final grades in this course will be based on a point system. There are 1000 possible point to earn in this course. Click the link to GRADES (above) to see the break-down of these points across the requirements of the course. Following is the way grades will be determined based on point totals. Point totals will be rounded up to the nearest percent when grades are calculated: The following scale will be used to determine grades: 90 - 100% A Extraordinarily high achievement and professional quality of work; shows unusually complete command of the subject matter; represents an exceptionally high degree of originality and creativity.

80 - 89% B Good, acceptable work.

70 - 79 % C Satisfactory quality of work.

0 - 69% F Completely unacceptable work.