|
|
Field Experience
This process will be changing after SUMMER 2009. Students who have entered the program before Fall 2009 should talk to their advisor about how to submit Field Experience artifacts! Students entering the program after Fall 2009 will include field experience artifacts in their final ePortfolio.
The Field Experience provides an opportunity to apply student coursework, theory and experience into workplace settings. The Field Experience will encompass a variety of activities that are organized for presentation into three distinct areas:
1. Technology Leadership
2. Applications in the Workplace
3. Instructional Design &
Development
The activities for the Field Experience will be collected over multiple semesters. Students are encouraged to seek the advisor's approval on their planned activities.
This course is intended to achieve two related learning outcomes. First, the student will actively identify and engage in opportunities to apply the skills and knowledge gained through course work and other learning experiences. The goal for each student is to expand their understanding of the practical aspects of being regarded as a technology leader and technology facilitator within their organization. Earlier coursework in the Masters in IT program introduces and develops a broad set of skills, but ultimately it is the responsibility of the student to internalize and apply those skills.
Second, and notwithstanding the importance of “doing” instructional technology related activities, for the purposes of this Field Experience course, it is even more important that students refine their ability to fully document their activities and to reflect upon the learning experience – identifying what went as planned, what did not, and how to improve with the next opportunity. Impacting student learning with technology as well as facilitating technology use in the workplace are both goals for program graduates.
Course Rationale
This course combines flexibility with rigor. It is unlikely that any two students will start this Field Experience course at exactly the same place. Therefore, the challenge for the faculty advisor is to be sure that professional growth is occurring and that the student is actively seeking opportunities to apply what has been learned and to expand their skills and knowledge. It is the students’ responsibility to make the case that the Field Experiences they select and document are achieving these goals.
Course Objectives
The student will:
- Demonstrate skills in a technology support program appropriate to the clientele and institution or district it serves.
- Develop strategies that can be used with education personnel in their acceptance and implementation of new technologies.
- Investigate and document the budgeting process for technology in your organization.
- Investigate funding sources, and acquire develop grants
- Develop and implement activities that use technology resources in instruction
- Investigate and document the process of technology evaluation in the organization
- Investigate equity issues that are affected by technology.
- Investigate and document policies and practices related to the social, legal and ethical uses of technology in your organization.
- Investigate and document approaches to technology integration in your organization.
Submission of Field Experience Artifacts (This process is changing after Summer 2009--NO HARD COPY binders will be accepted-collection will be done online using wikis or Google Docs for students who have entered the program before Fall 2009.
All artifacts will be shared in electronic form. Reflections will be attached. Artifacts should be collected in an ongoing way during the program for presentation toward the end of your program demonstrating your experiences in the field--your classroom, your community, your job.Course Requirements
The course requires a variety of experiences that pertain to technology use in organizations. Students will work with their advisors and personnel in school districts to complete tasks that meet the objectives of the course. Students are expected to maintain logs of their Field Experience activities. Activities should be documented in a notebook and presented to their advisor at the end of their Field Experience. The notebook should be categorized into three or four main areas: Technology Leadership, Application in the workplace, Instructional Development and Technology Facilitator Endorsement. Each of these categories should contain a summary of the activities included in the category. The notebook should also consist of a reflective journal that is included at the beginning of the notebook.
Students seeking the Technology Facilitator Endorsement must include the following Field Experience activities to qualify for the endorsement:
- Create a technology staff development program for personnel in an organization. (TF I-A1, TF I- A2)
- Develop methods of promoting technology within an organization. (TF- II- F1)
- Investigate and document the use of multimedia and other authoring programs in your organization. (TF-V- C8)
- Investigate issues and policies relating to the selection and adoption of hardware and software in your organization. (TF- II- F1)
- Investigate and document policies relating to the maintenance and updating of hardware. (TF- VII- A6, TF- VII- B3)
- Develop and implement activities to assist teachers in integrating image capturing to enhance student learning. (TF I-A1, TF I- A2, TF II- F1, TF V- C2)
Field Experience Online Structure
Your Field Experience artifacts will be organized in an online format. They should be well-organized and easy to follow for the reviewer.
Technology Leadership
Applications in the Workplace
Instructional Design and Development
Field Experience Opportunities
Field Experience opportunities will be e-mailed out to students or posted on the IT Master's Blog as they become available. Take advantage of these opportunities!
IT Masters Program Blog
Instructional technology news that everyone wants to know!
Questions? Contact:Dr. Cheryl Ward
Educational Foundations and Leadership
301A Zook Hall
(330)972-6950
cward@uakron.edu
|
 |
