Syllabus
Master of Science in Education
EDU 634 – Navigating an Online Learning Ecosystem (Spring B 2022)
Credits - 3
Description
This course addresses factors that influence all aspects of an organization’s online learning ecosystem. Equity, availability of student devices and home internet, school and community culture and availability of funding to support high quality online learning are discussed. Participants will evaluate and develop strategies to implement emerging learning technologies.
Materials
Learning Objectives and Outcomes
Students will:
- Apply best practices in online learning systems, including designing for equity and accessibility for all learners
- Navigate the online learning ecosystem and develop plans to implement emerging technologies
- Examine best practices for risk minimization and risk management in online learning ecosystems.
- Evaluate best practices to establish privacy guidelines for online learning ecosystems.
- Advocate for technology needs within the online learning ecosystem.
Assignments
Discussions
There will be weekly whole-class discussions.
Week 2: Learning Ecosystem Diagram
You will create a diagram or schematic of your learning ecosystem.
Week 3: Key Assessment Part 1
You will identify the opportunities for improvement in your learning ecosystem.
Week 4: Job Aid
You will create a job aid for vetting and implementing new technology at your institution.
Week 5: Privacy Evaluation
You will reflect on the project you have chosen through the lens of each of the areas that we have explored throughout the course: policy, privacy and security, and equity, accessibility, and inclusion.
Week 6: Business Manager Interview – Plan ahead!
You will interview your local Business Manager/Finance Director or a school finance officer about the budgeting process for technology needs at your institution. Schedule this early to accommodate busy schedules.
Week 6: Key Assessment Check-In
To review your initial thoughts on your Final Assessment proposal, you will schedule a one-on-one meeting with your instructor during Week 5 or Week 6.
Week 8: Final Presentations
The major assessment for this course is an inquiry-based evaluation of your online learning ecosystem, in which you will identify a challenge or opportunity for improvement then craft a presentation explaining your proposal for the next steps.
Grading Policy
Your grade in this course will be determined by the following criteria:
Grade Breakdown
| Assignments | Points |
|---|---|
| Discussions | 10 discussions, 4pts each |
| Week 2: Learning Ecosystem Diagram | 8 |
| Week 3: Identifying the Opportunities | 5 |
| Week 4: Job Aid | 10 |
| Week 5: Summarizing Best Practices | 12 |
| Week 6: Key Assessment Check-In | 1 |
| Week 6: Finance Interview | 10 |
| Week 8: Final Assessment, Next Steps in Online Learning | 14 |
| TOTAL | 100 |
Grade Scale
| Grade | Points Grade | Point Average (GPA) |
| A | 94 – 100% | 4.00 |
| A- | 90 – 93% | 3.75 |
| B+ | 87 – 89% | 3.50 |
| B | 84 – 86% | 3.00 |
| B- | 80 – 83% | 2.75 |
| C+ | 77 – 79% | 2.50 |
| C | 74 – 76% | 2.00 |
| C- | 70 – 73% | 1.75 |
| D | 64 – 69% | 1.00 |
| F | 00 – 63% | 0.00 |
Schedule
Course Schedule: Wednesday, March 2, – Sunday, April 24, 2022
Week 1: Mar 2 – Mar 6
Week 2: Mar 7 – Mar 13
Week 3: Mar 14 – Mar 20
Week 4: Mar 21 – Mar 27
Week 5: Mar 28 – Apr 3
Week 6: Apr 4 – Apr 10
Week 7: Apr 11 – Apr 17
Week 8: Apr 18 – Apr 24
|
Week |
Topics |
Assignments Due |
|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Introduction
|
Introductions due Friday by 11:59 PM, Responses due by Sunday 11:59 PM |
|
2
|
Nuts & Bolts
|
Discussion: Initial post due by Friday 11:59 PM, Responses due by Sunday 11:59 PM Assignments due by Sunday 11:59 PM |
|
3
|
Policy
|
Discussions (two this week): Initial post due by Friday 11:59 PM, Responses due by Sunday 11:59 PM Assignment due by Sunday 11:59 PM |
|
4 |
Privacy & Security
|
Discussion: Initial post due by Friday 11:59 PM, Responses due by Sunday 11:59 PM Assignment due by Sunday 11:59 PM |
|
5 |
Equity & Accessibility |
Discussion: Initial post due by Friday 11:59 PM, Responses due by Sunday 11:59 PM Assignment due by Sunday 11:59 PM |
|
6 |
Budgeting for Ed Tech Needs (and Wants)
|
Discussion: Initial post due by WEDNESDAY 11:59 PM, Response due by Sunday 11:59 PM Assignments due by Sunday 11:59 PM |
|
7 |
The Fun Stuff! |
Discussion: Initial post due by Friday 11:59 PM, Responses due by Sunday 11:59 PM |
|
8
|
Final Presentations
|
Key Assessment Submission – for instructor grading and peer feedback by Wednesday 11:59 PM, Peer Feedback due Friday 11:59 PM Reflection due by Friday 11:59 PM. |
Student Resources
Online Student Support
Your Student Support Specialist is a resource for you. Please don't hesitate to contact them for assistance, including, but not limited to course planning, current problems or issues in a course, technology concerns, or personal emergencies.
Questions? Visit the Student Support Education page
UNE Libraries:
- Library Access for all students: Your library login ID and password are the same as the ones you use to log into Blackboard/Brightspace.
- Education Databases: https://library.une.edu/library-materials/find/research-by-subject/education/
- Library Questions: Ask a librarian or phone library staff at (207) 602-2361 or (207) 221-4330.
UNE Student Academic Success Center
The Student Academic Success Center (SASC) offers a range of services to support your academic achievement, including tutoring, writing support, test prep and studying strategies, learning style consultations, and many online resources. To make an appointment for tutoring, writing support, or a learning specialist consultation, go to une.tutortrac.com. To access our online resources, including links, guides, and video tutorials, please visit:
Information Technology Services (ITS)
- ITS Contact: Toll Free Help Desk 24 hours/7 days per week at 1-877-518-4673
Accommodations
Any student who would like to request, or ask any questions regarding, academic adjustments or accommodations must contact the Student Access Center at (207) 221-4438 or pcstudentaccess@une.edu. Student Access Center staff will evaluate the student's documentation and determine eligibility of accommodation(s) through the Student Access Center registration procedure.
Online Peer Support
Togetherall is a 24/7 communication and emotional support platform monitored by trained clinicians. It’s a safe place online to get things off your chest, have conversations, express yourself creatively, and learn how to manage your mental health. If sharing isn’t your thing, Togetherall has other tools and courses to help you look after yourself with plenty of resources to explore. Whether you’re struggling to cope, feeling low, or just need a place to talk, Togetherall can help you explore your feelings in a safe supportive environment. You can join Togetherall using your UNE email address.
Information Technology Services (ITS)
Students should notify their Student Support Specialist and instructor in the event of a problem relating to a course. This notification should occur promptly and proactively to support timely resolution.
ITS Contact: Toll-Free Help Desk 24 hours/7 days per week at 1-877-518-4673.
Career Ready Program
The College of Professional Studies supports its online students and alumni in their career journey!
The Career Ready Program provides tools and resources to help students explore and hone in on their career goals, search for jobs, create and improve professional documents, build professional network, learn interview skills, grow as a professional, and more. Come back often, at any time, as you move through your journey from career readiness as a student to career growth, satisfaction, and success as alumni.
Policies
AI Use
The Graduate Programs in Education holds the position that Grammarly and other AI writing and generative technology should not be used when completing course assignments, unless explicitly permitted by course faculty and assignment instructions. These tools do not support a student’s personal and direct capacity to develop and hone skills in creativity, logic, critical thinking, analysis, evaluation, theorization, and writing, which are central to graduate-level rigor, assessment, and research. Use of these tools when not explicitly permitted may result in an academic integrity infraction.
Turnitin Originality Check and Plagiarism Detection Tool
The College of Professional Studies uses Turnitin to help deter plagiarism and to foster the proper attribution of sources. Turnitin provides comparative reports for submitted assignments that reflect similarities in other written works. This can include, but is not limited to, previously submitted assignments, internet articles, research journals, and academic databases.
Make sure to cite your sources appropriately as well as use your own words in synthesizing information from published literature. Webinars and workshops, included early in your coursework, will help guide best practices in APA citation and academic writing.
You can learn more about Turnitin in the guide on how to navigate your Similarity Report.
Technology Requirements
Please review the technical requirements for UNE Online Graduate Programs: Technical Requirements
Course Evaluation Policy
Course surveys are one of the most important tools the University of New England uses for evaluating the quality of your education, and for providing meaningful feedback to instructors on their teaching. In order to assure that the feedback is both comprehensive and precise, we need to receive it from each student for each course. Evaluation access is distributed via UNE email at the beginning of the last week of the course.
Late Policy
Assignments: Late assignments will be accepted up to 3 days late; however, there is a 10% grade reduction (from the total points) for the late submission. After three days the assignment will not be accepted.
Discussion posts: If the initial post is submitted late, but still within the discussion board week, there will be a 10% grade reduction from the total discussion grade (e.g., a 3 point discussion will be reduced by 0.3 points). Any posts submitted after the end of the Discussion Board week will not be graded.
Please make every effort ahead of time to contact your instructor and your student support specialist if you are not able to meet an assignment deadline. Arrangements for extenuating circumstances may be considered by faculty.
8 week: Students taking online graduate courses through the College of Professional Studies will be administratively dropped for non-participation if a graded assignment/discussion post is not submitted before Sunday at 11:59 pm ET of the first week of the term. Reinstatement is at the purview of the Dean's Office. 16 week: Students taking online graduate courses through the College of Professional Studies will be administratively dropped for non-participation if a graded assignment/discussion post is not submitted before Friday at 11:59 pm ET of the second week of the term. Reinstatement is at the purview of the Dean's Office. The policies contained within this document apply to all students in the College of Professional Studies. It is each student's responsibility to know the contents of this handbook. Please contact your student support specialist if you are considering dropping or withdrawing from a course. The last day to drop for 100% tuition refund is the 2nd day of the course. Financial Aid charges may still apply. Students using Financial Aid should contact the Financial Aid Office prior to withdrawing from a course. The University of New England values academic integrity in all aspects of the educational experience. Academic dishonesty in any form undermines this standard and devalues the original contributions of others. It is the responsibility of all members of the University community to actively uphold the integrity of the academy; failure to act, for any reason, is not acceptable. For information about plagiarism and academic misconduct, please visit UNE Plagiarism Policies. Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to the following: Charges of academic dishonesty will be reviewed by the Program Director. Penalties for students found responsible for violations may depend upon the seriousness and circumstances of the violation, the degree of premeditation involved, and/or the student’s previous record of violations. Appeal of a decision may be made to the Dean whose decision will be final. Student appeals will take place through the grievance process outlined in the student handbook.Attendance Policy
Student Handbook Online - Policies and Procedures
UNE Course Withdrawal
Academic Integrity