Differentiation & Technology: Course Requirements

girl with apple Course Requirements

This page details the course requirements.
Use the links below to access different areas of this page.

Getting Started
Introduce Yourself
Reading and Assignments
Project

After reading all of the requirements, proceed to CourseQuest Learning Guide.

Keep in mind that this class contains students with a wide variety of educational, work, life, and technology experience. Try not to compare yourself to other students. Instead, focus on your own strengths and weaknesses.

NiceNet Access

I've set up a class discussion and sharing area using NiceNet. This will be used to share the Connections activities you complete. First, register and log into the system. Second, practice using the system by introducing yourself to the class.

Registration. To use the system you'll need to register and join the course. Use the following directions:

Go to Nicenet.org at http://nicenet.org.
The first time you use the system, follow these directions:
Click Join a Class
Enter EZ2073Z284 as your Class Key and click Join the Class.
Enter a username and password of your choice. Be sure to write it down. If the username has already been used, try another one.
Enter your email address (the one you want me to use to contact you) in two spaces and your first and last name (the name you want to be called).
Click Join the Class!
Click Finish Registration
Enter your username and password, then click Log into the ICA.
The class will appear.

If you already have a username and password but need to Join a Class, use the following directions:

Click Join a Class
Enter EZ2073Z284 as your Class Key and click Join the Class.
The name of the course is 2005 ICE Workshop Course

If you already have a username and password and have joined the class, use the following instructions:

Enter your username and password, then click Log into the ICA.
The EZ2073Z284 class will appear.

Nicenet contains features that are similiar to Blackboard and other online courses. We'll be using the Conferencing Topics, Link Sharing, Documents, Class Schedule, and Class Members sections of the system.

Conferencing Topics. The page provides an area for threaded discussions. You can read a discussion, add to a discussion or add a new topic.
Link Sharing. This page provides a list of Internet resources. It also allows you to enter a webpage name, the web address, and a description.
Documents. This page provides a way to post a document. You simply copy and paste from your word processor. You can even include HTML tags if you want to provide web links. These documents can also become topics for the conferencing area.
Class Schedule. This page lists special events and assignment due dates.
Class Members. This page shows the name and email address of the instructor and each student registered for the course.

Introduce Yourself. Enter the Nicenet Class page. Click on the Conferencing option. Click on Introduce Yourself to the Class and post a new message. Come back later and read a message posted by a classmate. Share something you have in common or ask a question. Post a message, respond to a message directed at you or someone else, then comment on a message you receive.

Although Nicenet provides an internal email system, I prefer to use standard email for regular communication. Please send email messages to alamb@eduscapes.com rather than the Nicenet system.

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Introduce Yourself & Sharing Requirement

The biggest drawback to an online class is the lack of face-to-face communication with your instructor and your peers. I'll be sending out periodic course updates that will hopefully help you feel connected to me. I'll be reading your assignments which will help me feel connected to you. We can email personally whenever you have something you'd like to share or discuss. I LIVE on email... in the motorhome our living room, dining room, bathroom, and bedroom are all within 38 feet, so I'm always available. When I'm "on-the-road" I'll usually provide information in the weekly update. In this case, it should still take less than 24 hours for a reply.

Introduce Yourself and Course Sharing

Your first assignment involves posting some information about yourself and getting to know your classmates. Some people like to share photographs, personal websites, favorite movies or books, family information, or other tidbits that will help the class get to know you. This is important because you'll be involved in lots of online discussions. This is all done in Nicenet so "outsiders" won't be able to see the information. Enter Nicenet. Click on Introduce Yourself and Course Sharing.

Introduce Yourself
Put your name in the subject of the message. Include your name, a little personal and professional information about yourself, as well as the reason you chose this course and how you feel about online courses in general. This will be a good chance to share a little about your interests and expertise with education and technology. Also, tell us what makes you laugh and how you like to spend your spare time (like you have spare time). If you know how to use HTML, you may wish to insert a photo or favorite website. If you need help, check the "Help" discussion for the directions.

When you're done entering the information, click SEND to post your message.

Reply to an Introduction
Read the messages posted by classmates. If you want to share something you have in common or ask a question, enter information below the message in the area that says REPLY TO MESSAGE. You should post at least one response or observation. This area is also a place to go if you have questions. Find someone you think shares your interests, email them and introduce yourself personally. This contact may be helpful later in the semester as you have questions about the course. Always feel free to contact Annette too!

Be sure to reply to at least one message posted by a classmate.

Sharing

Many students enjoy seeing the work of others to gather materials for future projects. All students are required to post a short paragraph reviewing the topic of your project. Then if you're interested, you can contact this student for more information.

Sharing

Post a short paragraph reviewing the topic of your project.
Your Name
Email Address
Project Title. A short paragraph description of the project.
The URL (if possible)

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Reading and Connection Assignments

This course involves required readings, Connections activities, and projects.

Readings

Use the readings to help you with the Connections and Project. These readings/website explorations are required for your success in the course.

The readings and links will get you started. Then, complete the activity. DO NOT spend multiple hours on each assignment! You should be able to say everything in a couple paragraphs. Save your energy for your Projects.

10 Connection Activities

You must complete all 10 activities. These assignments are used to guide your learning and encourage you to try out new ideas. These activities are intended to help you analyze and apply the course content. Many times you'll be asked to read an article or explore a link. Then, do some brainstorming, writing, or thinking. For each connection activity, you are also required to react to the posting of at least one other classmate.

The Connections activities are required, posted in the Nicenet forums, and graded.

Your posting should cause classmates to think, react, investigate, question, laugh, or cry. Okay, maybe not laugh or cry, but at least stop and think, "that's interesting"... Quality postings contain some of the following characteristics:
- References the professional literature (texts, websites, supplemental reading, additional relevant materials located by the student)
- Concise and on target (100 to 250 words), but detailed enough for understanding and meaningful application to the issue addressed
- Raises an area of inquiry or an issue in a clear manner for further discussion or debate
- Recommends a resource which helps a fellow student gain more understanding on an issue or topic
- Summarizes information as evidence that either validates (supports) or suggests a different perspective (counters) and the information is referenced; such information may or may not agree with the poster's personal opinion
- Links together several postings to suggest a conclusion, a recommendation, a plan or a broader observation that what has been previously posted on the issue or topic
- Messages are on a frequent basis across the semester so that they interact with messages from other classmates and are not bunched for delivery.
These can be added to the discussion of your posting or the posting of another student. It is suggested that you go back and read through the comments and suggestions added to your posting, but you are not required to respond specifically these comments.

Below you'll find examples of the kinds of "responses" that will be counted. Feel free to "get into" the discussion with as many comments to your peers as you'd like.
- Act on a suggestion. For example, after reading a comment from a peer, you might decide to add an example, suggest a website address or other resource, answer a question, or clarify an idea.
- Provide feedback to others such as a specific comment or idea along with an example, expansion, or suggestion. In other words, "way to go Susie" is a good start, but won't get you a point. You could even start with "that's crap Susie", however the key is providing positive, constructive criticism or helpful and encouraging advice. Healthy debate is fine, but let's discourage mean-spirited comments.
- State an opinion and provide supportive evidence or arguments. This can be fun because it can really get a discussion going.
- Add an insight. If you've had an encounter with the topic being discussed, it would be valuable to hear your thoughts and "real world" experiences. This should be more than "I'll use the idea in class." How and why will you use the idea? Would the idea work in another area? How or why?

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Course Project

You are required to complete a course project. The topic and scope of the project is up to you. It must include the following four elements:

Element 1 - Teaching and Learning

You need to develop a lesson, series of activities, project, unit or other type of learning environment. You don't have to build this from scratch. For example, you could adapt a project you find on the Internet or one you've done in the past.

Element 2 - Differentiation

Focus your project on one or more of the "connection" areas. In other words, you might focus on providing resources for different reading levels or promoting realism through "real world" connection with students at another school.

Also, provide a brief discussion of how your approach addresses one or more of the areas on Tomlinson's Equalizer (Read an article for more information).

Element 3 - Technology

Incorporate technology as an important tool in your project. You need to involve students in using technology. In addition to the use of Internet as an information resource, you must use some other aspect of technology. Some ideas are below:

Productivity Tool (i.e., word processing, database, spreadsheet, Inspiration, Kidpix, graphing tool)
Educational Software (i.e., simulation software, math tool)
Communication Tool (i.e., email, forum, blog, video conferencing)
Digital still camera, digital video camera, microphone, scanner
Online tool (i.e., online graphing tool, online poll/survey, interactive online game)

Element 4 - Implementation and Evaluation

You need to "try out" your idea. You can have a couple colleagues evaluation your project. OR, you can complete the activity with a group of students and report on how it went.

Plase consider including sample projects or digital camera photos as evidence of your implementation.

Project Evaluation

The following questions will be used to determine whether the project "passes":

Was a learning environment described in adequate detail?
Was the project connected to one or more of the "ten connection" areas?
Was at least one idea from Tomlinson's Equalizer associated with the project?
Was evidence of implementation provided?

Project Ideas

Create a Young Hoosiers book club. Build a threaded discussion in Nicenet where students can discuss their favorite Young Hoosier books. Identify books by reading level to assist students making good choices.
Develop a photo essay project where students create photo essays using the digital camera (or historical photographs) and the word processor. This is an assignment that doesn't place as much emphasis on writing so students with lower level writing skills could still excel.
Build a WebQuest that incorporates websites with different reading levels, depths of content, resources (i.e., audio, video, text, graphics) to reach different intelligences.

Project Submission and Sharing

You must submit your project electronically. For example, you might email your work as attachments or create a web page(s). You can also upload documents to the Documents area of nicenet.

Email your instructor when the work is ready to be graded.

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After reading all of the requirements, proceed to CourseQuest.

Created by Annette Lamb, 1/04. Updated 1/05.