It is important to check the EDUC261 unit website and student email regularly as assessment clarifications may be announced and it will be assumed all students have read them. The following requirements apply to assessment tasks:

1. The Quiz Questions Task is to be completed via the Peerwise website (link available from the unit website).
2. The Moodle Module Task is to be submitted via the Turnitin assignment drop-box available from the unit website. The name of your assignment file should include your full name – for instance MattBowerTask2.doc .
3. Extensions of time for the submission of the assignment will be granted only in special circumstances. Applications for such extensions must be made in accordance with the Macquarie University Disruptions to Study Policy (see http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/policy.html). In particular, all applications for special consideration need to be made online via Ask (http://ask.mq.edu.au). The Professional Authority Form (PAF) is the officially required documentation, which must be completed by a registered health professional or professional within Macquarie University Campus Wellbeing and Support Services. A copy of the PAF is available online: http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/Form_Disruption to Studies_PAF.pdf. 
4. Late assignments will be penalised at a rate of 5% of the maximum mark for an assignment for each day it is late. The late penalty does not apply when an extension of time has been granted.
5. It should be noted that late assignments cannot be accepted for grading after marked assignments have been returned.
6. Students are responsible for periodic back up of any digital work during the creation of an assignment. In case of system failure students will be provided with reasonable time compensation commensurate with the amount of time that the system was down. All students must keep a digital copy of their assignments so that in case of system failure the assignment can be resubmitted.
7. Students should keep strictly within the stated length or word limit, and students may be penalised for exceeding this limit. Reference lists are not included in the word count. Appendices are not included in the word count, though it is at the marker's discretion as to whether information in appendices is taken into account for determining grades so please ensure all essential information is included in the main body of the submission.
8. The Department of Educational Studies Referencing Procedures must be adopted. These requirements are based on the APA style. Online guides are provided via the unit website to support students with their referencing.
9. Assignment feedback will be provided on a marked up version of the assignment file. Feedback will include the assessment of performance in relation to the assignment criteria as well as qualitative feedback in the form of comments. Overall student performance on assignments will be reported using a grade.
10. If you wish to appeal against your grade you must first contact the original marker within one week of a marked assignment being returned. If you remain concerned you should arrange to meet with a unit convenor.
11. It is particularly important that students note that by submitting their assignment they are acknowledging that their work is original. Remember assignments must be your own work.  Plagiarism is a serious offense.
12. Feedback on task performance will be provided via the Gradebook in iLearn. Additionally, feedback for the Task 2 Moodle Module will be provided through Turnitin in the form of performance in relation to the assignment criteria, as well as qualitative feedback in the form of comments. Overall student performance on assignments will be reported using a grade.

Unit Description 

This unit considers ways in which Information and Communication Technology is changing education. It is particularly concerned with issues related to the use of technology in the classroom – how to successfully select and apply learning technologies to achieve intended learning outcomes, the new literacies that educational technologies create, and appropriate pedagogies for the contemporary global classroom. Practical application of these understandings is developed through a series of skills-based workshops which focus on how to use the contemporary technological approaches being discussed.

We welcome you to EDUC261: Information and Communications Technologies and Education and hope it makes a significant contribution to your learning.

Unit Organisation

This is a three credit point unit run over a 13 week semester. Note that there are no lecture or tutorial classes in the two weeks following the mid-semester break so that education students can complete their in-school block practicum experience. In other weeks there is a one hour lecture and a two hour tutorial.

Lecture

   Monday 2pm - 3pm in W5AT2

Weekly Tutorial Schedule

    Tutorial Class A: Monday, 4pm - 6pm, in C5A204

    Tutorial Class B: Tuesday, 9am - 11am, in C5A204

    Tutorial Class C: Tuesday, 11am - 1pm, in C5A204

    Tutorial Class D: Tuesday, 2pm - 4pm, in C5A204

    Tutorial Class E: Wednesday, 9am - 11am, in C5A204

    Tutorial Class F: Wednesday, 11am - 1pm, in C5A204

    Tutorial Class G: Wednesday, 1pm - 3pm, in C5A204

Students must attend the tutorials for which they have enrolled. This is because students work at a computer during these sessions and there are a limited number of computers available. Students are expected to attend all the tutorials.   

Activities completed during tutorials are essential for building the core knowledge and/or skills required to demonstrate the learning outcomes of this unit (as assessed through the Task 4 Tutorial Activities). In order to satisfactorily complete the Task 4 Tutorial Activities students will need to:

• prepare for the tutorial by completing the readings and lecture
• attend the tutorial
• participate in workshop discussions
• complete the workshop activities.

You are required to retain all documentation related to absences. This documentation needs to be presented to your tutor or the unit convenor on request. If sufficient documentation is provided in the case of a tutorial absence then tutors may choose to prescribe activities for you to complete in order for you to demonstrate accomplishment of the tutorial outcomes. If you experience serious and unavoidable disruption you should submit a “disruption to studies” request through ask.mq.edu.au (see below).

Textbook

There is no textbook for this unit. Readings and resources will be made available online through the unit website.

Copyright Issues

Copyright rules apply to the use of materials taken from other sources.  There are images you can use in the development of your assignments without needing to obtain copyright permission.  Links to sites that supply copyright free images will be suggested in your tutorials, or you can do a search for them yourselves (Creative Commons). It is essential that you obtain copyright permission for any images you obtain from other web sites or scan from books. You, and the University, are open to prosecution if you post images taken from other sources without permission. If you particularly need to use material from a website/book, most book publishers and sources of web pages will provide copyright permission if you contact them to ask for permission indicating the use is for educational purposes and not for profit - just clearly indicate that it is only being used for local educational purposes.

Technology Use and Requirements

Accessing and using the Unit Website

The EDUC261 unit website is available from the Macquarie University iLearn system available at: http://ilearn.mq.edu.au.

To access the site students will need to use their student username and password to log in and then choose EDUC261 from My Online Units menu. Please do NOT contact the Unit Convenor regarding iLearn technical support. CONTACT the Macquarie University Library Student IT Help Desk. Phone 9850 4357. Email support@library.mq.edu.au .

Software and Hardware

EDUC261's website has been designed for access by standard Internet technologies, so most common contemporary operating systems and browsers can be used. The website should be able to be accessed using Macintosh, Windows, or Linux based operating systems. Firefox, Chrome and Internet Explorer are the recommended web browsers for this subject. 

Navigation

Once you have reached the website all you need to do is follow the text and image links. Please take some time to explore the unit website and orient yourself with the features and resources. Descriptions of some of these are provided below.

Website Features

Unit Outline

You can download and then either view or print an exact copy of the Unit Outline from the link provided at the top of the unit website.  The outline is in PDF format. If you cannot view the downloaded file then you may need to install the free Adobe Acrobat Reader software available from http://get.adobe.com/uk/reader/. 

iLecture

Recordings of all lectures will be made available online using the ilecture ECHO360 system. One option allows you to listen to the lecture in "streaming mode" the other to "download" the lecture and then listen to it. The disadvantage of streaming is that the sound files are very large and they can eventually fill your hard disk. When you stream the file it is not saved on your computer. By downloading the file you can keep a permanent copy of the lecture on your computer and listen to it again without having to reconnect to the Internet.

Teacher Education Learning Lab (TEL Lab)

All your tutorials will be held in the TEL Lab.  This is a facility for Education students at Macquarie University and is located in C5A201, C5A204 and C5A210. The TEL Lab supports the use of technology as appropriate to our schools.  The labs provide a student work area and venue for tutorials. The computers have a variety of educational software and full Internet access.

Students are welcome to use the computers and software provided that the room is not being used by lecturers for a tutorial or workshop. Notices are placed near the Centre door to indicate opening hours and computer room availability.

Training Support

In order to successfully complete the EDUC261 workshops students need to ensure they have a reasonable level of competence in ICTs and Information Literacy skills. You should be able to operate a computer, complete basic word processing tasks, and use a web-browser to search for information, complete forms, and transfer files. If you feel uncertain about your competency levels it is your responsibility to undertake training to acquire or improve these skills as soon as possible as they will be assumed in the workshops. Options include:

Units of study  

The following two units offered in the Faculty of Science develop technological skills:

ISYS100 – IT and Society (Planet Unit)

INFO104 – International Computer Driving Licence (Semester 2 only).

Library training

The library offers a range of face-to-face and online workshops to support the development of technological skills. For more details refer to the Macquarie University library website (http://www.mq.edu.au/on_campus/library/) under ‘Training’.

General IT Support and Troubleshooting

For support with access to wireless and other general technology matters, please contact the Macquarie University Library Student IT Help Desk (Phone: 9850 4357; Email: support@mq.edu.au).

Research studies

From time to time it is useful to study how students use digital technologies in order to better understand their effectiveness for teaching and learning. To this extent studies are sometimes conducted that relate to student activities in EDUC261. If this is the case then you will be provided with full notice about the nature of the study, and will be able to indicate whether or not you want to participate. Whether or not you decide to participate will in no way affect your grades, and if the results of any analysis are published then your identity will in no way be revealed. You many also withdraw from a study at any time without consequence. If you have any complaints or reservations about any ethical aspect of your participation in this research, you may contact the Committee through the Research Ethics Officer (telephone [02] 9850 7854, fax [02] 9850 8799, email: ethics@mq.edu.au). Any complaint you make will be treated in confidence and investigated, and you will be informed of the outcome.

This offering of EDUC261 differs from previous semesters in the following ways:

• The content of several of the lectures and tutorials has changed to reflect recent advancements in learning technology.
• Assesment Task 1 and Task 4 are new in 2017, and the 2016 Task 1 and Task 2 have been discontinued.

The Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) specifies Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (APST). The Australian Professional Standards for Teachers provide a common framework to describe, recognise and support the complex and varied nature of teachers’ work. The standards describe what teachers need to know, understand and be able to do as well as providing direction and structure to support the preparation and development of teachers.

EDUC261 forms part of a program of study that enables students to achieve or exceed the Graduate Teaching Standards. The Graduate Teaching Standards are the competencies expected of a beginning teacher. The assessment tasks in EDUC261 address Graduate Teaching Standards as outlined in the following table.

The complete list of Graduate Teaching Standards are outlined below. Further information regarding the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers can be found on the Institute’s website: http://www.teacherstandards.aitsl.edu.au/  .

AITSL’s Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (Graduate)

Professional Knowledge

Standard 1: Know students and how they learn

Standard 2: Know the content and how to teach it

Professional Practice

Standard 3: Plan and Implement effective teaching and learning

Standard 4: Create and maintain supportive and safe learning environments

Standard 5: Assess, provide feedback and report on student learning

Professional Engagement

Standard 6: Engage in professional learning

Standard 7: Engage professionally with colleagues, parents/carers and the community