The course is designed to help practicing and future teachers integrate technology in their daily teaching practices. It is a practical, hands-on course that is grounded in constructivist learning theory. The participants will learn by engaging in authentic tasks in a project-based learning environment.

“Technology cannot teach students. Rather, learners teach technologies. Meaningful learning will result when technologies engage learners in the following:

Knowledge construction, not reproduction

Conversation, not reception

Articulation, not repetition

Collaboration, not competition

Reflection, not prescription"

Students who complete the course will meet the requirements of the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) Educational Technology Standards for Teachers 2008.

Prerequisites: There are no prerequisites for this course. However, the main focus of the course will be to make sure you learn how to integrate technology in the classroom.

How to Get Started: To complete the requirements for this course you will need an email address (your McGill email) and you must create a blog for your journal reflections. The instructor will make sure everybody has these items before the end of the first class.

Course Objectives:

To instill a desire to learn to use technology in the classroom.

To understand how computers can and are being used in classrooms today.

To understand and use Web 2.0 technologies and multi-media authoring tools.

To develop skills in integrating computers in different curriculum areas.

To gain an understanding of the Quebec Education Plan (elementary and high school).

Course Text and Course Readings:

Instructor: Sam Bruzzese (email: sam.bruzzese@mcgill.ca)

Course Web Site:  http://edpt200.mcgill.ca (Course Mindmap). Location: Room 627.

Social Networking Site: http://edpt200.ning.com ~ Symbaloo Page

This course directly targets the development and mastery of the following professional teacher competencies required by MELS (Quebec Education Department):

1. •#1:to act as a professional inheritor, critic and interpreter of knowledge or culture when teaching students (i.e. student teachers are able to evaluate the role of media in today’s society both positive and negative).
   

2. •# 8: to integrate information and communications technologies (ICT) in the preparation and delivery of teaching/learning activities and for the instructional management and professional development purposes.
   

3. • #10: to cooperate with members of the teaching team in carrying out tasks involving the development and evaluation of the competencies targeted in the programs of study, taking into account the students concerned.
   

4. • #11: to engage in professional development individually and with others ((i.e. student teachers will use Web 2.0 technologies to participate in professional learning communities).
   

The students who successfully complete the course will be able to:

1. •“demonstrate critical judgement regarding the real benefits and limitations of ICT as teaching and learning resources;
   

2. •demonstrate a general understanding of the possibilities offered by ICT (and the internet in particular) for teaching and learning, and know how to integrate ICT in a functional manner into teaching/learning activities, when appropriate;
   

3. •use ICT effectively in different aspects of his or her intellectual and professional life: communication, research, information processing, evaluation, interaction with colleagues or experts, etc;
   

4. •effectively transmit the ability to use ICT to his or her students in order to support the collective construction of learning in a well-structured, critical manner”.