Overview
MDDE 620 Technology in Education and Training is intended to develop students' knowledge and understanding of educational technologies, and their planning skills in relation to the introduction of technology into existing educational and training systems. Besides acquiring information about present and emerging open, digital, and distance education and training technologies, students will study planning and implementation issues. The course combines information, theoretical concepts and frameworks, case studies, and, where possible and appropriate, direct experience with specific technologies in actual educational and training use.
Outline
The course consists of eight units as described below.
- Unit 1: Basic concepts and background issues are introduced, relating to technology as a learning tool. Students are asked to begin forming positions on some questions about the proper roles for and uses of technology. Some terms are introduced and clarified, and some distinctions drawn which are used in the course.
- Unit 2: The organizational context for technology is discussed. Key leadership issues related to change in complex organizations are identified. Students examine their personal management values and leadership style.
- Units 3: Ed tech tools and technologies are described and examined. Ed tech domains covered include: Social media, Learning management systems, Youtube, Audio/video platforms, Gaming, XR (extended reality including Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality), Metaverse, and the influences of Artificial Intelligence upon these domains. Journal articles, websites, and vendor information constitute the major information sources. The students’ own experiences and observations of local technology implementations may also be incorporated.
- Unit 4: Strategic planning as a tool for combining the concepts from the previous units is introduced.
- Unit 5: Ed tech integration as part of organizational technology change and planning is introduced. Concepts from the previous units are combined to enhance understanding of ed tech integration.
- Unit 6: Management issues in the adoption and use of technologies for teaching and training are considered from the literature, direct experiences, and from what is learned through the assignment two processes.
Learning outcomes
The course is designed to achieve the following goals:
- Review, describe, and analyse issues in open, digital, and distance education to which technology might apply as a delivery, administrative, student support, or learning tool.
- Describe salient operating characteristics, communications and interaction capabilities, and technical requirements of selected open, digital, and distance education technologies.
- Evaluate strategic planning models and approaches applicable to technology use in open, digital, and distance education and training.
- Summarize principles of effective organizational management, development, and renewal, from the perspective of an agent of technological change in an education or training environment.
Evaluation
Students are evaluated on the basis of two assignments and course participation.
| Activity | Weight |
| Assignment 1: The student completes assignment of choice, selected from a list of edtech choices provided or approved by the instructor. | 30% |
| Assignment 2: | 60% |
| Part 1: The student creates a video pitch to an organization of the Assignment 1 topic or one approved by the instructor (45%) | |
| Part 2: The student evaluates the video pitch of their peers (15%) | |
| Conference Participation: Students are expected to engage in the course forums, peer facilitation, live sessions, and summative reflection. | 10% |
| Total | 100% |
Materials
Other Materials
All reading materials are found online.