Course Syllabus
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EDUC 593B Syllabus
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Course Description
This course provides practical experiences in designing, developing, and evaluating online learning environments for a variety of audiences. This course introduces students with the most recent trends, technologies, and pedagogies in distance education. Focusing on the practice of online learning environment design, the course readings and activities expose students to a range of online learning cases, models, tools, learner, designer, teacher, and institution perspectives. Additionally, the course emphasizes the design of online learning materials using a variety of emerging online technologies.
- Course Name: Principles and Practices of Distance Learning
- Department: School of Education
- Current semester and year: Fall, 2023
- Credit hours: 3
- Course meeting time: AUG 28, SEPT 25, OCT 30,
NOV 27, 6-8pm - Course format: Course delivery is online (WWW)
Instructor Information
- Instructor: Dr. Evrim Baran
- Email: ebaran@iastate.edu
- Office location: 0624B Lagomarcino Hall
- Student hours: Virtual (by appointment)
You can contact your instructor in the following ways:
- General announcements will be posted via Canvas announcements. Properly configure your Notification Settings in Canvas to receive notifications.
- E-mail the instructor your questions or setup a time to meet on Zoom
Course Objectives (COs)
Upon completing this course, students will be able to do the following:
CO 1: Analyze trends related to online learning research and practice
CO 2: Evaluate educational affordances of online learning technologies
CO 3: Discuss frameworks, approaches, critical views on online learning and teaching
CO 4: Create online learning materials and resources in a variety of educational settings
CO 5: Report design considerations regarding effective online learning and teaching
Course Materials
List any required and optional materials, such as books, instructional guides, websites, simulations, interactive games, mass media publications, peer reviewed journals.
Follow a specific reference style guide, such as APA, MLA or Chicago. At minimum, reference the author or owner name, date of publication, title, and the URL or source, such as publisher.
In this course, we will use educational resources in the forms of readings, videos, open educational resources, podcasts, multimedia learning materials, etc. See the Course Schedule for the weekly materials. The course instructor can add additional supporting materials to this list during the semester. Please complete all the resources and online activities by the indicated due date.
Course Format
Explain how the learning activities provide opportunities for practice, interaction and achievement of the listed learning objectives.
This course will use online modules to accomplish outcomes and allow students to access and complete course material at a time convenient to them. Throughout the semester, students will engage with the course content via different modes, such as discussions, collaboration activities and projects.
All live sessions will be recorded and students who are not able to attend the meetings will have the option to access them. Students who cannot attend the live meetings should inform the instructor ahead of time.
Each week, on Tuesday, the instructor will post the module overview and activities covering the topics and announcements. Please review the modules and follow the due dates and deliverables for the projects and online discussions. Your primary responsibilities include:
- Review the Module Overviews released on Tuesdays
- Complete assigned readings/videos/reviews
- Engage in online activities throughout the week.
- Complete project activities with your team members.
To successfully complete this course, you will do the following:
- Review basic processes, concepts, and terminology associated with online learning and teaching
- Evaluate online learning technologies and pedagogies
- Collaborate on online learning activities
- Design an online learning environment
- Participate in discussions
- Engage in professional dialogue on online learning and teaching trends
Assessment & Grading
List all course assessments. Provide specific and descriptive criteria to be used for evaluating student work and explain their connection to the course grading policy.Explain what kind of feedback students can expect after each assessment.
Your learning will be assessed through a combination of participation, projects, live meeting activities, and online learning modules spread throughout the course period. Details on these assignments, including a schedule of due dates, rubrics to guide evaluation, and guidelines on participation and evaluation are posted on Canvas.
Online Module Activities: Students will complete activities and assignments within learning modules on various topics related to online learning and teaching. In this course, you are strongly encouraged to express yourself using NOT only text-based formats but also contribute using audio, video, and images. Because participation, involvement, and leadership are particularly important when learning online, course activities makes up a significant portion of your grade.
Project: Innovative Technology Showcase: This project aims to have students explore and evaluate emerging technologies that have the potential to enhance distance learning experiences. Students will research and select one innovative technology, such as AI chatbots, virtual labs, blockchain, micro learning or any other relevant technology, and create a showcase that demonstrates how this technology aligns with distance learning principles and can improve the overall learning experience.
Reflective Journey in Distance Education: Students reflect on their learning experience, plan for future online learning design. This assignment provides an opportunity for synthesizing students' understanding of distance learning principles, learning theories, and practical applications while reflecting on their personal growth as educators. This reflection will be prepared using multimedia tools.
Grade Distribution
To add more columns or rows, hover the cursor over the table to see table properties. See Canvas Guide for more guidance.
You can accumulate points by participating in the following way:
| Participation area | Total Points |
|---|---|
| Innovative Technology Showcase Project | 80 |
| Online Module Activities | 90 |
| Reflective Journey in Distance Education | 20 |
| Attendance & Participation | 10 |
| Total Points Possible | 200 |
Grading Scheme
Grading scheme: The table below shows the Canvas default grading scheme. This is a Canvas sample grading schema, and not an institutional grading schema. Make sure the grading schema you describe in your syllabus matches your grading schema in the course-specific settings.
The following grading standards will be used in this class:
| Grade | Range |
|---|---|
| A | 93% to 100% |
| A- | 90% to < 93% |
| B+ | 87% to < 90% |
| B | 83% to < 87% |
| B- | 80% to < 83% |
| C+ | 77% to < 80% |
| C | 73% to < 77% |
| C- | 70% to < 73% |
| D+ | 67% to < 70% |
| D | 63% to < 67% |
| D- | 60% to < 63% |
| F | 0% to < 60% |
Course Policies
Below are sample policies. They may not fitting your course, so please change accordingly.
To successfully complete this course, students will do the following:
- Complete assigned resources weekly
- Watch recorded lectures/modular overviews
- Participate in online activities
- Participate in projects
Please be consistent in your participation and inform the instructor at ebaran@iastate.edu of any circumstances that will prevent you to contribute to the online discussions, activities, and assignments, including the live sessions via Zoom. These are being scheduled ahead of time to allow you to make the necessary arrangements to attend.
Feedback
All graded assessments will be returned with feedback within 7 days of the due date. Personalized feedback will be provided for each assignment and reflection. In addition, responses to common questions and unclear content will be posted at the conclusion of each module. Weekly summaries will be posted at the conclusion of each module.
Missed and late coursework
It is important to keep up with the pace of this course. All online activities must be completed within the period assigned. Please contact the instructor for possible missed and late coursework ahead of time.
Attendance
We will hold live class sessions. All live meetings will be recorded for those who cannot attend these meetings. All students should attend the final live meeting for project presentations. Please inform the instructor ahead of time in case you cannot attend this meeting. Make sure to keep careful track of submission deadlines for all of your work in this class.
Original work and copyright
You are expected to turn in original work (your own or that of your team) for every part of every assignment in this course. Please add the full reference of any sources (text, image, or audio) used. Obtain copyright permission if you use any work created by someone else outside the design team.
Written assignments
Your written assignments, including online activities, should be your own original work. In formal assignments, you should follow APA style to cite the ideas and words of your research sources. You are encouraged to ask a trusted person to proofread your assignments before you turn them in--but no one else should revise or rewrite your work.
Please check out the writing resources at the Center for Communication Excellence and the Academic Success Center. Iowa State University students have access to Grammarly Premium. Please check the link to access the directions and resources about the Grammarly.
Collaboration and informal peer-review
The course includes many opportunities for formal collaboration with your classmates. Collaboration and informal peer-review is encouraged.
Notice
The information in this syllabus is subject to change in extenuating circumstances. Changes to the course syllabus will be provided in writing and announced via course-wide announcements.
Use of AI Tools
Students are encouraged to use AI tools in this course. When submitting work, students must clearly identify any writing, text, or media generated by AI. Students are responsible for the accuracy of the generated content. Failure to properly acknowledge the AI-generated contributions will be treated as academic misconduct.
Required ISU Syllabus Statement
Free Expression
Iowa State University supports and upholds the First Amendment protection of freedom of speech and the principle of academic freedom in order to foster a learning environment where open inquiry and the vigorous debate of a diversity of ideas are encouraged. Students will not be penalized for the content or viewpoints of their speech as long as student expression in a class context is germane to the subject matter of the class and conveyed in an appropriate manner.
Recommended ISU Syllabus Statements
Academic Dishonesty
The class will follow Iowa State University’s policy on academic misconduct (5.1 in the Student Code of Conduct). Students are responsible for adhering to university policy and the expectations in the course syllabus and on coursework and exams, and for following directions given by faculty, instructors, and Testing Center regulations related to coursework, assessments, and exams. Anyone suspected of academic misconduct will be reported to the Office of Student Conduct in the Dean of Students Office. Information about academic integrity and the value of completing academic work honestly can be found in the Iowa State University Academic Integrity Tutorial.
Accessibility Statement
Iowa State University is committed to advancing equity, access, and inclusion for students with disabilities. Promoting these values entails providing reasonable accommodations where barriers exist to students’ full participation in higher education. Students in need of accommodations or who experience accessibility-related barriers to learning should work with Student Accessibility Services (SAS) to identify resources and support available to them. Staff at SAS collaborate with students and campus partners to coordinate accommodations and to further the academic excellence of students with disabilities. Information about SAS is available online at www.sas.dso.iastate.edu, by email at accessibility@iastate.edu, or by phone at 515-294-7220.
Discrimination and Harassment
Iowa State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, ethnicity, religion, national origin, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, sex, marital status, disability, or status as a U.S. Veteran. Inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies may be directed to Office of Equal Opportunity, 3410 Beardshear Hall, 515 Morrill Road, Ames, Iowa 50011, Tel. 515-294-7612, Hotline 515-294-1222, email eooffice@iastate.edu
Prep Week
This class follows the Iowa State University Prep Week policy as noted in section 10.6.4 of the Faculty Handbook.
Religious Accommodation
Iowa State University welcomes diversity of religious beliefs and practices, recognizing the contributions differing experiences and viewpoints can bring to the community. There may be times when an academic requirement conflicts with religious observances and practices. If that happens, students may request the reasonable accommodation for religious practices. In all cases, you must put your request in writing. The instructor will review the situation in an effort to provide a reasonable accommodation when possible to do so without fundamentally altering a course. For students, you should first discuss the conflict and your requested accommodation with your professor at the earliest possible time. You or your instructor may also seek assistance from the Dean of Students Office at 515-294-1020 or the Office of Equal Opportunity at 515-294-7612.
Contact Information For Academic Issues
If you are experiencing, or have experienced, a problem with any of the above statements, email academicissues@iastate.edu
(Important note to faculty: The email address for contact information is monitored and answered through the Office of the Senior Vice President and Provost)
Disclaimer: The information in this syllabus is subject to change in extenuating circumstances. Changes to the course syllabus will be provided in writing and announced via course-wide announcements.
The syllabus page shows a table-oriented view of the course schedule, and the basics of course grading. You can add any other comments, notes, or thoughts you have about the course structure, course policies or anything else.
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