CE5560-Elements of the Web 

Orientation

Please begin by reviewing the syllabus as it lays out the framework for this course. The information that follows in this orientation folder talks about many of those points in greater detail. Should you have any questions that are not answered by the syllabus, please ask. If the question is one that is general in nature and if it's answer may benefit your fellow classmates, please use the discussion post: Around the Water Cooler. One of the underlying tenets of this class is social sharing and collaborative effort. By sharing an open dialogue, we can develop a sense of community in this virtual environment.

Pre-requisite Coursework

It is suggested that students have first completed the Plymouth State University graduate course ED 5060 - Theories of Learning and Cognitive Development prior to participation in this course. This will provide learners with the background necessary to frame their developmental comprehension and applicability of these emerging web-based technologies.

Assumptions & Technology Requirements

This course assumes that technology is readily available in the classroom and that the majority of students have access to an Internet connection either in the home or in other publicly accessible venues such as the local library.

This course is delivered entirely online and therefore requires of the learner a moderate level of technological ability and a high degree of comfort with the unpredictable nature of computer technologies.

Computer Hardware and Internet Access Requirements

Most computers purchased within the last three years will be sufficient for our purposes. However this course employs some technologies that may require you to download and install software, such as plug-ins for your browser, in order to take full advantage of the materials presented. Many of the most prevalent requirements are listed in the table below. Bear in mind, however, that this list is in no way conclusive due to the rapid nature of web-based technology development and that you will likely encounter web sites that require unique software.

• Adobe Acrobat Reader
• Audio/Video Media Player - Windows Media Player, iTunes, QuickTime, Real Player are some examples
• Flash player - browser plug-in which supports Flash animations

This Course

This course consists of six learning modules which can be found by clicking on either the Course Content icon or it's associated link. Each module builds on lessons learned in prior modules, so it is important that learners attend to each learning module in the order they are presented.

Each learning module contains a table of contents on the left to better enable the learner to navigate the content provided. The first topic in each of the learning modules is an outline of the specific goals or learning objectives for that module. Use these to guide your learning process and to gauge your understanding of the material presented. Additionally, you will find a number of links to readings, web resources and assignments.

Course Philosophy

This course will not focus on tools individually, but rather in the context of each domain. It will be stressed that it is never the technology that is the primary focus, rather the connections between seemingly disparate pieces of data and the constructed learning that the technology facilitates.

Learners will be expected to apply their newfound or expanded skills to each successive module in such a way that it demonstrates their ability to employ connectivity theory.

Assessments