MDDE 620: Advanced Technology for Distance Education and Training

Delivery mode: Grouped study using Moodle

Credits: 3 - Elective

Prerequisite: None

Instructor Spring 2012: Avgoustos Tsinakos

Overview

MDDE 620 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 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.

Course Objectives

1. Review, describe, and analyse issues in distance education to which technology might apply as a delivery, administrative, student support, or learning tool.
2. Describe salient operating characteristics, communications and interaction capabilities, and technical requirements of selected distance education technologies.
3. Survey and evaluate strategic planning models and approaches applicable to technology use in distance education and training.
4. Summarize principles of effective organizational management, development, and renewal, from the perspective of an agent of technological change in an education or training environment.

Course Outline

The course consists of eight units:

• 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, 4, 5, and 6: Specific technologies are described, from print to the World Wide Web. Textbooks, journal articles, information provided by vendors, and the course Study Guide constitute the major information sources. The students' own experiences and observations of local technology implementations may also be incorporated.

• Unit 7: Strategic planning as a tool for combining the concepts from the previous units is introduced.

• Unit 8: Management issues in the adoption and use of technologies for teaching and training are considered.

On-line Interaction

Accompanying each unit is a computer-mediated conference (CMC) component. The CMC element of the course allows students to interact with each other and with the course instructor. Students also use the online course page to access such basic course components as the schedule, details of assignments, e-mail, introductions and biographies of the participants, and updates to the course Study Guide. (Students are required to have reliable Internet access as a condition of acceptance into the course.)

Student Evaluation

CMC Participation	Papers	TOTAL
10%	90%	100%

 

Note: details of assignments are posted on-line at the commencement of the course.

Course Materials

Course Reader

Course text

• Bates, A. W. (2005). Technology, e-learning and distance education. New York: Routledge.

 

CDE - Last updated by MM February 06, 2012