Projects Based on the Web
EDUC7796, section 81, 2003 Summer Session III

Meeting Times:
Metro Campus, Monday & Wednesday, 4:30-8:00pm, University Hall 2nd floor lab suite
Dates: July 7, 9, 14, 16, 21, 23, 28, 30; August 4, 6, 11
Prof contact info:  http://edfolio.fdu.edu/BrownA   |   ames@fdu.edu   |  201-692-2631
Links: Class Notes

Catalog Description:
This course is designed to ensure that the student is able to take full advantage of the Internet in and out of a classroom. The course is centered on a project theme which will be gradually built during the course, as the student learns more of the multidirectional possibilities of the Web (and its flexible time frame); and will be based on the Four Pillars of the Technology Literacy Challenge, as stated by the U.S. Department of Education. The student taking this course will develop a complete classroom-ready project based on the Web, and this project will be centered on a technology-supported, constructivist, student-centered theory-into-practice.

Calendar of Seminar Sessions:

1. July 7 (Mon): Exploring Great Web Projects
   The web project for the seminar is introduced through an exploration of some teacher web sites. The major technical components of a teaching website are introduced: a) web pages, b) navigation, c) hyperlinking, c) embedded graphics, d) delivery of downloadable document files such as Word or Powerpoint, e) media inserts such as sound, f) interactivity through the use of online discussion components. The overarching question for this first session is, 'What makes a great classroom project website?' Everyone will also fill out username/password information to receive a portal account next session. Your prof will also take digital photos so that every member of the seminar has a personal photo to upload to her/his portal account next session.
   For next session: Brainstorm a classroom project and email a 5-paragraph description to your prof.
   
2. July 9 (Wed): Initiating Your Portal Account
   The School of Education has a new server which was just deployed at the start of the summer. Members of the seminar will receive a pilot account on this server as a place to author and publish their classroom web projects. This session will introduce the available web portal tools. Topics to be covered include: a) the difference between uploading a web page composed as a file on your computer and directly authoring a web page online using a web browser , b) logging onto and initiating your site, c) creating the first page on your site, d) uploading your photo as a picture file, e) creating a hyperlink, and f) policies governing your use of the site as an education professional. The rubric standards for the project will be introduced.
   For next session: Continue to add to the 'project notes' web page initiated on your portal site during class. Find at least 5 additional exemplary teacher websites which inspire you with ideas for developing your classroom web project and add the URLs to your project notes along with annotations about what you like from each website.
   
3. July 14 (Mon): Conceptualizing & Outlining the Project
   Everyone should now have a fairly well developed idea of what they want to do for their project. This session is devoted to initiating the web structure for the project. The basics of web outlining/storyboarding are introduced. The pedagogic concept of 'constructivism' is reviewed and discussed in terms of project-based learning. Each member of the seminar will establish a main/home page for the project in outline format. Additional necessary pages which link from the home page will also be created. The goal is to end the session with a rough outline structure/shell for the project.
   For next session: Flesh out the draft structure/shell of the project initiated during class. Add additional  descriptions and make notes in the outline about resources you would like to research online for use in the project.
   
4. July 16 (Wed): Authoring Techniques I: Gathering Resources
   Any authoring project always starts with research...it's all about content! Although everyone probably already has a good deal of experience with doing research on the web, we will review the principles of conducting and honing searches using search engines and spring-board sites. We will also spend a good deal of time examining how to professionally list and site web resources in your project, how to format quoted text, how to cite image resources, and a review of the principles of  'intellectual property' which should guide any education professional in authoring.
   For next session: Research and find 10 additional, highly selective, quality web content resources which will form the research core of your site. Add these sites in appropriate format to your 'site references'
   
5. July 21 (Mon): Project Workshop I
   Given the speed with which an intensive summer course moves, we have now introduced the core foundational concepts and tools necessary to create your project. This session is a time to reflect, collaborate with your colleagues, and most importantly work on solidifying a good first draft of your project. Your professor will work his way around the room with his laptop and spend about 10 minutes of quality time with each of you examining where you are now, where you are headed with your project, and the areas you need to concentrate on most. While sitting with you, your prof will outline notes of the discussion using the project rubric as a guiding outline and email them to you. This is your first preliminary evaluation session.
   
6. July 23 (Wed): Authoring Techniques II: Aesthetics
   Any form of educational media quickly raises the issue of its form of presentation. Our theme for this session is, 'Form Follows Content'! We all enjoy attractive classroom settings, textbooks, curriculum posters, and other forms of educational media. Web-based presentation is no different. This session concentrates on basic design principles which will aid in developing an aesthetically engaging project site. Principles covered include: a) text styling, b) use of  'white space', c) use of color, d) scaling and placement of graphics, e) hyperlink styling, and f) navigation layout.
   For next session: Work on adding to and uploading new aesthetic structure and features for your web project. Concentrate on the 3 aesthetic qualities you decided to focus on during the class session.
   
7. July 28 (Mon): Authoring Techniques III: Interaction
   You have discussion forum technology built into your portal account. There are also other types of free forum technologies which can be linked into your site. Pedagogic modalities of discussion/interaction are reviewed in terms of how they have been used in traditional classrooms and how these modalities are adapted to a 'natural' online context. We will all learn how to initiate a forum on our sites and practice different modalities of discussion with our colleagues during the session.
   For next session: Decide where you will introduce online interaction in your project, and develop an introduction for students on how they will use the interaction during the course of completing the project. Also decide on an aesthetic 'hint' which accents the interactive component for students.
   
8. July 30 (Wed): Project Workshop II
   Again, this session is a time to reflect, collaborate with your colleagues, and most importantly work on solidifying a good second draft of your project. Your professor will work his way around the room with his laptop and spend about 10 minutes of quality time with each of you examining where you are now, the areas you need to concentrate on most during the next week as the seminar draws to a close, and one aspect of your project to concentrate on for the next session. While sitting with you, your prof will outline notes of the discussion using the project rubric as a guiding outline and email them to you. This is your second preliminary evaluation session.
   For next session: Concentrate on polishing the one aspect of the project selected with your professor to target for next session.
   
9. August 4 (Mon): Finalization Strategies
   You have all been encouraged to develop ambitious and inspiring projects. In the world of books we talk about first, second, third, etc. editions. In the world of digital media, the term 'version' is often used. This session is oriented towards finalization...the closure strategy for you authoring project. There will probably be some aspects which you just won't have time to complete in your first version/edition. This is normal in all authoring projects. What are the aspects which you will keep and polish? What are those aspects which become notes for your next version/edition? We will also discuss professional techniques for presenting web resources to colleagues using a data projector in preparation for final presentations during the next session.
   For next session: Upload your final draft to present to your colleagues via data projector next session.
   
10. August 6 (Wed):Presentation of final web project draft to group using a data projector. At the end of each presentation everyone will take a moment to give the presenter some helpful feedback on the presenter's website.
    For next session: Take advantage of online critique from your colleagues and professor. Work on polishing and uploading the truly final draft of your project.
    
11. August 11 (Mon): This is a Final touch-ups and closure session. During the session you can sit with colleagues and compare final changes made to the project since you presented it, as well as make some last finishing touches. Before leaving you will write a final self-reflection/evaluation page on the project process for posting to a reflection area of your web site, as well as fill out the course evaluation forms. Your professor will work his way around the room for a quick final summative evaluation meeting with each member of the seminar. We will close with a final class discussion on the implications this project has had on your ideas for teaching in the near and distant future.