Units

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Sample subject outline - Semester 1 2013

Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.

Rationale

The impact of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) on society in general and education in particular is well documented. You are increasingly being pressured and challenged by employers, parents and students to use these technologies within educational settings. It is important that early in your career, you develop the skills and understandings that will allow you to adopt a critical approach to the effective use of ICT in teaching and learning. Because of this the unit is introduced early in the course.

Aims

The aim of this unit are to challenge you to develop a critical and appraising attitude towards the use of ICT in educational settings; and to give you some basic skills in applying ICT in professional and personal settings.

Objectives

On completion of this unit, you should be able to:

1. Understand the nature and scope of the uses of ICT in an educational context.[ QCT Standard Six; QCT Standard 1]
2. Design and implement learning experiences that develop language and literacy and that demonstrate a sound fundamental knowledge of language forms and features and textual structures of spoken/ written/ visual multimodal texts; provide evidence of attaining acceptable standards of academic, professional and personal spoken and written English language literacies relating to this unit. [QCT Standard 2]
3. Critically examine the depth and scope of ICT skills and understandings appropriate for students at differing stages of development. [QCT Standard 4; QCT Standard 6]
4. Identify and examine critically those areas in education which lend themselves to applying ICT. [QCT Standard 3]
5. Access your level of technological literacy and take responsibility for your own professional development in this context. [QCT Standard 10]
6. Demonstrate competency in a range of ICT applications commonly used to support teaching and learning. [QCT Standard 5; QCT Standard 9]

Content

This unit will cover the following topics: This unit encourages you to be reflective and critical with respect to the use of ICT in educational contexts. The political, economic and educational forces that drive the introduction of ICT into education are examined. Current policy documents are examined to assist you to analyse the scope and level of ICT literacies required by contemporary educators and their students. You will develop a range of practical skills in the use of ICTs, including publishing, spreadsheet, database, graphics and website construction, to assist them in their professional work and personal life.

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

This unit will be presented online by an extensive set of web-based resources hosted on the QUT blackboard site. Multi media as well as synchronous and asynchronous communication technologies are extensively employed to support teaching, learning and collaborative environments. First year experience principles will be applied as appropriate.

Assessment

Assessment is both formative and summative. Formative feedback will be given following assessment items 1 and 2. The unit website text also contains banks of self-administered formative items with associated feedback. On-line discussions will also be used to provide timely input and feedback pertinent to key issues.

Assessment name: Essay
Description: A critical analysis
Length: 800 words
Relates to objectives: 1 & 4
Weight: 20%
Internal or external: External
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Early semester

Assessment name: Essay
Description: A critical analysis
Length: 1200 words
Relates to objectives: 1 - 4
Weight: 30%
Internal or external: External
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Mid semester

Assessment name: Portfolio
Description: Production of folio of educational and/or professional resources using ICT
Length: 2000 word equivalent
Relates to objectives: 5 & 6
Weight: 50%
Internal or external: External
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: End of semester

Academic Honesty

QUT is committed to maintaining high academic standards to protect the value of its qualifications. To assist you in assuring the academic integrity of your assessment you are encouraged to make use of the support materials and services available to help you consider and check your assessment items. Important information about the university's approach to academic integrity of assessment is on your unit Blackboard site.

A breach of academic integrity is regarded as Student Misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties.

Resource materials

Workshop notes, readings, and supplementary and complementary resources will be made available online via QUT Blackboard

Text

There will be no prescribed text -- all materials will be supplied online.

References

Education Queensland . (2007). Smart Classroom Professional Development Framework. Brisbane : Author.
Education Queensland . (2005). Professional Standards for Teachers: Guidelines for Professional Practice. Brisbane : Author.
Education Queensland . (2004). Information Strategic Plan 2004-2007. Brisbane : Author.
Education Queensland . (2000). Schooling 2001: Minimum standards for teachers - learning technology. Brisbane : Author.
Education Queensland . (1995). Guidelines for the use of computers in learning. Brisbane : Author.
Quick. Journal of the Queensland Society for Information Technology in Education, Brisbane.
The Computing Teacher, Journal of the International Council for Computers in Education, Oregon.

Risk assessment statement

There are no out-of-the-ordinary risks associated with the general conduct of this unit. Workplace health and safety protocols in relation to computer use will apply.

Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.

Last modified: 31-Oct-2012