Online Course on Leveraging New Technologies for Educational Practice in Developed and Developing Markets

Cross-posted from TechChange Courses.

Course Title: New Technologies for Educational Practice

In the last decade a number of new technologies have been developed which will dramatically reshape the classroom space, alter the way academic research is carried out, and increase opportunities for global access to education. A handful of teachers, practitioners and educational professionals are beginning to use social media, mobile devices, video games and other innovations to enrich the learning process, but these practices are far from mainstream.

This four week online certificate course is designed for teachers, administrators, practitioners and educational professionals working in universities and k-12 schools as well as the non profit and international development arenas. It aims to provide participants with exposure to a variety of tools and platforms that deepen dialogue, enhance curricula and improve academic research techniques. It will also explore the latest advances in online learning, virtual collaboration, mobile learning, and assistive technology for people with disabilities, in an effort to chart the future of teaching and education in the years to come.

Through an innovative and interactive pedagogical approach, participants can expect to develop a practical set of strategies and skills that will prepare them to apply new technologies to their work in teaching, research and educational development amid this rapidly evolving landscape.

Course topics:

• Classroom 2.0: Tech Tools for Collaboration and Curriculum Development
• Mobile Learning: Fad or Future?
• New Tech Tools for Academic Research, Metrics and Evaluation
• Video Games for Social Change
• Social Networking and Social Media in the Classroom
• Advances and trends in eLearning

Dates: The course will be held Mon February 20th – Friday March 16th (4 Weeks).

Selection of Featured Tools:

• Twitter & Facebook
• EpiSurveyor, FrontlineSMS, & GeoPoll
• PearlTrees & Diigo
• Zotero

Course objectives: by the end of this course participants will:

• be able to critically analyze both the opportunities and the pitfalls that emerge when working with technology in education
• be able connect relevant educational theories to the technological strategies and tools discussed in the course
• be able to manage specific software platforms and utilize various technological tools for educational practice
• be able to design dynamic and effective strategies for using technology platforms and tools in the classroom
• be able to work collaboratively with others by participating in dynamic group exercises and simulations
• develop confidence and critical self-awareness in working with technology to further educational objectives

Teaching Method/Class Format: The course is delivered entirely online. The total time commitment is a minimum of 7-9 hours a week. The course is designed to be highly interactive and social, but we also work hard to ensure that the majority of content can experienced in a self-paced manner. We do feature real-time interactions each week such as live discussions, live expert interviews, and live simulations. In order to accommodate busy schedules of learners from around the world we’ve set up a learning environment where participants have plenty of options and can choose the ones they’d like to be involved with depending on their availability and interest. Participants can also access all course content up to three months after course completion so if you get pulled away at the last minute for part of the course you can still revisit the material afterwards.

Course Facilitator: TechChange staff, advisory board members and a number of guest experts will all be heavily involved in the design and facilitation of the course. The lead facilitator for the course will be Nick Martin. Nick is an educator, technologist, and social entrepreneur with significant international enducation. He is an adjunct faculty member at American University, George Mason University, George Washington University and the United Nations University for Peace (UPEACE), and has given a number of guest lectures and speeches on the role of technology in education, peacebuilding, development and humanitarian work. Contact Nick at nick [at] techchange.org.

Cost:
$495 if application and payment is submitted by February 1st
$595 if application and payment is submitted by February 20th

Apply Here: TechChange Application