EDU 597 – Master of Education in Educational Studies Program
Faculty of Education, University of Alberta
Emerging Technologies and 21st Century Educational Practices
Location: NAIT Campus – T615 (see attached map)
Policy about course outlines can be found in Section 23.4(2) of the University Calendar
Dates: May 12-23, 2008
Instructor: Dr. Philip McRae
Phone: (780) 492-1760
Email: phil.mcrae@ualberta.ca
Office: 732a Education South, University of Alberta
Office hours: by appointment
Course Prerequisite: Accredited bachelors' degree.
Course Description:
The purpose of this course is to support post secondary educators as they explore how technology can
be infused, integrated and incorporated into educational practices for 21st Century learners. Analysis
of research papers, primary source expertise, online discussions, demonstrations, and hands-on
experiences with learning and technology will be used to engage with, and learn about, the
appropriate and effective strategies to integrate technology into a variety of educational disciplines.
Course Objectives:
Participants will:
1. Investigate and critique activity structures and technological approaches that have been
shown to enhance and support student learning.
2. Consider how technologies influence curricular and pedagogic goals in post secondary
education settings.
3. Review and analyze web-based resources and readings related to emerging technologies and
21st century educational practices.
4. Explore emerging technologies and future considerations for learning and technology in post
secondary education settings.
Topics will come from a range of emergent areas of pedagogical interest to the field:
 Interpersonal Exchanges
 Information Collection and Analysis
 Problem Solving and Inquiry
 The Shifting Space of Text and Reading – Web 2.0
 The Emergence of the Semantic Web – Web 3.0
 Primary Sources as Mediated by Technology
 Digital Video Creation
 Socially Open Technologies and Social Networking Online
 New Media and Culture in a Global Era
 Educational Issues Related to Establishing and Facilitating On-line Courses.
 Contentious Issues Related to Emerging Technologies and 21st Century Educational
Practices
Participants will seek to explore and understand technology integration structures within the unique
educational settings and analyze, evaluate and create online educational spaces through differentiated
new media approaches.
Course Evaluation:
Course Activities: The course consists of a set of four activities. Each of these activities contains one
or more evaluation products to be completed by the student.
Activity
Mark Allocation
Due Date
Position Paper Learning & Technology in Post Secondary
Education: Contentious Issues (2 Pages)
Blog - Speaker Series Reflections
(Reflections Posted to Individual Blogs)
Collaborative Wiki Contribution
(e.g., article summaries, activities)
Podcast
Learning Management System – Online Discussion
50 points
May 23
15 points
May 23
10 points
May 16
10 points
15 points
May 16
May 23
Total
100 points
2 Page Position Paper (50 points) Due May 23, 2008:
The position paper is intended to explore a contentious issue related to learning and technology
integration within post secondary settings. It represents a brief exploration of an issue that you find of
interest, relevance or concern. The content should be kept strictly to two pages, with the references
listed on a third page. Note: A rubric will be provided for the position paper.
Blog - Speaker Series Reflections (15 points – 3 blog entries worth 5 points each)
Due May 23, 2008:
The blog reflections are intended to capture the issues, concerns, comments and ideas that you found
compelling within the daily speaker series presentations, along with your own personal questions or
synthesized thoughts. The grading is calculated at 5 points per blog entry (total of four blog postings
– one for each guest speaker) which ideally should not exceed two or three paragraphs (or bulleted
notes/questions) that you can reflect upon far beyond the completion of this course. I will be looking
for evidence of personal reflection on the speaker(s) presentations.
Please post your blog entry by the date and speaker(s) names, followed by your two or three
paragraph summation (e.g., May XX, 2008 – Dr. Thomas Keenan). If you wish to add more
notes/comments/questions on the blog entries, please feel free to do so, but I will not read beyond the
first three paragraphs. Also, given the short course timeline, comments will likely be made
summatively once all three blog entries have been posted.
Collaborative Wiki Contribution (10 points) Due May 16, 2008:
The collaborative wiki contribution is evidence of your contribution to the overall structure of the
‘Emerging Technologies and 21st Century Educational Practices’ Wiki – www.nait.wikispaces.com.
Evidence of at least three additions/edits to the wiki will be sought; however, it is hoped that your
contributions will be greater and move beyond those of this course.
Podcast or Audioblog (10 points) Due May 16, 2008:
A minimum of one podcast or audioblog will be created and posted to your blog during the course
and this is considered a mastery activity. You may consider commenting on the contentious issue that
you are writing about and then ‘listening’ to this commentary at a much later date, a historical
perspective on your inquires in a rapidly changing world.
Establishing and Facilitating On-line Courses - Online Discussion (15 points) Due May 23, 2008:
This online discussion will ask participants to engage within an online course learning management
system with the intent of discussing different approaches to online courses, and considerations for
engaging and interacting online with post-secondary students. Participants will be asked to engage in,
manage, and assess issue-related discussions about online learning.
General Course Expectations:
Attendance, Assignments, Missed in-class activities:
 Regular attendance is required.
 No assignments will be accepted late.
 No make-up assignments will be given.
Equity Statement and Inclusive Language Policy
The Faculty of Education is committed to providing an environment of equality and respect for
all people within the university community, and to educating staff and students in developing
teaching and learning contexts that are welcoming to all. In seeking to achieve a climate of
respect and dignity, all staff and students must use inclusive language to create a classroom in
which an individual’s experience and views are treated with equal respect and value in relation
to his/her gender, racial background, sexual orientation, and ethnic background.
Code of Student Behaviour
The University of Alberta is committed to the highest standards of academic integrity and
honesty. Students are expected to be familiar with these standards regarding academic honesty
and to uphold the policies of the University in this respect. Students are particularly urged to
familiarize themselves with the provisions of the Code of Student Behaviour (online at
www.ualberta.ca/secretariat/appeals.htm) and avoid any behaviour which could potentially
result in suspicions of cheating, plagiarism, misrepresentation of facts and/or participation in an
offence. Academic dishonesty is a serious offence and can result in suspension or expulsion
from the University.
Laptops: Students will require a laptop with Internet connectivity for this course. If you do not
have a laptop, one can be issued to you for the face to face component of the course. If you are
NAIT staff and require a laptop, please contact the NAIT AV Departments at: McNally Library – AV
Desk, Room U310 (3rd Floor Learning Resources Centre), Call: (780) 471-8788. If you are not a
NAIT student and require a laptop, please contact Phil McRae Call: (780) 994-7445, and we will
assign you one from the University of Alberta wireless laptops.
Texts or Readings: Course readings will be provided in-class and linked to a WebCT site. There
is no required textbook for this course.
 Anderson, T. (2004). Chapter 11: Teaching in an online learning context. Theory and Practice of
Online Learning. Edmonton: Athabasca University Press, p. 273- 294. Accessed online May 6,
2008 at: http://epe.lac-bac.gc.ca/100/200/300/athabasca_univ/theory_and_practice/ch11.html
 Kelly, K. (2005). We are the web. Wired Magazine Online 13(8). Accessed online May 3, 2008
at: http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/13.08/tech.html
 Lamb, B. (2004, September/October). Wide open spaces: Wikis ready or not. EDUCAUSE
Review. Accessed online May 3, 2008 at: http://www.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/erm0452.pdf
 McRae, P. (2007). Echo-chambers and positive feedback loops: Exploring the complex nature of
echoing voices on the internet. In Doctor of Philosophy Thesis Entitled: Intercultural
Collaborative Inquiry on the Internet: Epistemological Humility in a Global Era. Edmonton:
University of Alberta Press, p. 81-102.
 Turkle, S. (2004). The fellowship of the microchip: Global technologies as evocative
objects. In Suarez-Orozco, M.M. (Ed.) & Qin-Hilliard, B.D. (Ed.).Globalization Culture
and Education in the New Millenium. Berkeley: University of California Press, p. 97-113.
Tower
Room T615