Technology Forum

This is an on-line discussion forum called Technology Forum. It is designed to give students an opportunity to dialogue about critical topics and issues related to the use of technology in educational environments.  Students are required to participate in the Technology Forum. 

Log into Blackboard:  Instructions for required participation in the Technology Forum are provided on this page; however, the actual Technology Forum is located on the University of Dallas Blackboard system. To access the Technology Forum, to post commentary, and to read commentary, students need to log into the UD BlackBoard Learning system at

http://blackboard.udallas.edu/webapps/login/

 If you have trouble logging into Blackboard, please contact the course instructor as soon as possible.

Instructions:  Students are required to select, read, and respond to at least two readings from each of three topics.  Therefore, by the end of the semester, students must have posted at least six (6) responses to the articles selected and read.  Students may earn up to 2 points for each of six reading responses submitted to the Technology Forum for a total of 12 course points.  Students may earn an additional 6 course points by making additional contributions to the Technology Forum -- over and above the minimum.

Postings to the Technology Forum must include your first and last names.  No anonymous postings are permitted. In addition, postings to the Technology Forum must promote and support dialogue rather than debate.  Please make sure that you understand the difference. Your grade depends on it!

• Rating Scale to Guide Instructional Conversation to assist you in becoming a good conversationalist!!
• Dialogue versus Debate -- so you understand the difference!!
• Technology Forum Rubric -- so that you know how points will be determined

Doing the Minimum: 

The readings involve three major topics:  Topic I: Integrating Technology into Teaching and Learning; Topic 2: Legal, Ethical, and Diversity Issues;  and Topic 3:  Adaptive Technology Plus Health and Safety Issues  For each major topic, students must read and respond to two readings -- one required reading and one self-selected reading from among a list of recommended readings/articles.  A response consists of a two-paragraph "critical" comment that offers critical insight and judgment based on information and/or questions related to several perspectives.  While it is not necessary to summarize the article, it is appropriate to cite or paraphrase statements made by an author to make clear your response. 

Students will write their reading response(s) first as a FrontPage document with a meaningful file name and then save/import that document into the webfolio.  Next, students should log into the UD BlackBoard Learning system at http://blackboard.udallas.edu/webapps/login/ and copy/ paste their response(s) into the course Discussion Board named Technology Forum.

Additional Contributions and going the extra mile:

Please read "The Instructional Conversation: Teaching and Learning in Social Activity" by Tharp and Gallimore.   (For a PDF version, click here)

Once you have read this article, I hope you have a sense that the Technology Forum is not intended to be setting in which students post "recitation" scripts or where students "debate" the use of technology.  Instead, it is aimed at creating opportunities for co-participation and "instructional conversation" among the members of this course.

It is highly recommended that students engage in an exchange of ideas in the Forum beyond written responses to the readings.  While I will not "require" you to post a given number of comments over and above the required reading responses to earn the extra points possible, I will expect students to dialogue with others in the class.  Such dialogue does not need to be copied and included in the webfolio. 

Besides being a "setting" for posting required responses to technology-related reading, the Forum is also a "setting" aimed at promoting professional dialogue.  Thus, the instructor may pose topics and questions for discussion in the Forum.  Students may wish to start a "thread" of their own to discuss other issues related to technology in teaching and learning.  However, most of the time the Technology Forum is the responsibility of you students - and its success, depends on you!!  I hope you will take that responsibility seriously. 

 Good luck...

Topic 1: Integrating Technology into Teaching and Learning

• REQUIRED FOR ALL STUDENTS Computers as Mindtools for Engaging Learners in Critical Thinking by David H. Jonassen, Chad Carr, and Hsiu-Ping Yueh and originally published in TechTrends, v43 n2 p24-32 Mar 1998. 
• Papert, S. (1999). What is Logo? Who Needs It?, an introduction to LOGO Philosophy and Implementation. -- The PDF file features the entire LOGO Philosophy and Implementation manual.  You assignment is to read only the introduction (about 9 pages).  If interested in learning more about LOGO-type products (microworlds), go to http://www.microworlds.com/index.html 
• Peterson, C. and Koeck, D. (2001) When students create their own webquests. Learning & Leading With Technology, 29 (1).
• Gimbert, B. & Zembal-Saul, C. (2002). Learning to teach with technology: From integration to actualization. Contemporary Issues in Technology and Teacher Education [Online serial], 2(2). 
• Learning, Technology, and Education Reform in the Knowledge Age, or "We're Wired, Webbed, and Windowed, Now What?" by Bernie Trilling and Paul Hood, originally published in the May/June Edition of Educational Technology ©1999

Topic 2:  Legal, Ethical, and Diversity Issues

• REQUIRED FOR ALL STUDENTS -- a careful reading of at least one of these linked presentations/topics.
  • Fair Use of Copyrighted Material , Copyright Crash Course ,
  • A Proposal For Educational Fair Use Guidelines For Digital Images from the University of Texas at Austin. 
  • Or choose and read one of the linked presentations related to copyright offered at http://www.utsystem.edu/ogc/IntellectualProperty/present.htm#copypol
• Swain, C., & Gilmore, E. (2001). Repackaging for the 21st century: Teaching copyright and computer ethics in teacher education courses. Contemporary Issues in Technology and Teacher Education [Online serial] , 1 (4) . 
• Suarez, J., & Martin, A. (2001). Internet plagiarism: A teacher's combat guide. Contemporary Issues in Technology and Teacher Education [Online serial], 1 (4) . 

Part 3:  Adaptive Technology Plus Health and Safety Issues

• REQUIRED FOR ALL STUDENTS  How People with Disabilities use the Web
• Watch and respond to one of the two following videos:  1) the Adaptive Technology Center  or 2) Tracy's Success Story both from Indiana University
• Acceptable Use Agreements -- read two or three of these as a single reading:
  • Irving ISD, Irving, TX - Student Guidelines for Acceptable Use of Technology Resources
  • Irving ISD, Irving, TX - Employees Guidelines for Acceptable Use of Technology Resources
  • CARDINAL CARTER CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL Information Technology Acceptable Use Agreement
  • Redwood City Elementary School District Student Acceptable Use Agreement for Technology
  • Oregon Community Unit School District #220 - Network Acceptable Use Agreement-Students