Overview

The goal of the Communication module is to prepare you, as an educator, to become proficient with Standard II of the Maryland Teacher Technology Standards. This standard requires teachers to demonstrate an understanding of the effective and appropriate use of electronic communication, and to use technology to communicate information in a variety of formats.

Goals

Throughout this module, we will examine a variety of media to gain understanding as we:

1. Use telecommunications to collaborate with peers, parents, colleagues, administrators, and experts in the field
2. Select appropriate technologis for a particular communication goal
3. Use productivity tools to publish information
4. Use multiple digital sources to communicate information online.

Learning Sections

This module is divided into seven sections. Within each section, you will view video clips, read web-based articles to build background knowledge, participate in discussions and small group projects, and reflect upon your learning through several journal assignments which will be submitted to the course facilitator.

You may need to have access to your district's Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) for some of the course activities, including the final project.

Listed below is a breakdown of the specific tasks related to each of the sections.

• Section 1: Course Introduction and Overview
• Activity 1: Build Background Knowledge: Section Overview
• Activity 2: Collaboration
• Section 2: Technology for Effective and Appropriate Electronic Interaction
• Section Overview
• Activity 1: Build Background Knowledge
• Activity 2: Exploring Ways to Communicate
• Activity 3: Collaboration
• Section 3: Understanding Web 1.0 and Web 2.0
• Section Overview
• Activity 1: Build Background Knowledge
• Activity 2: Classifying Web 1.0 and Web 2.0 Technologies
• Activity 3: Collaboration
• Section 4: Building a Personal Learning Network
• Section Overview
• Activity 1: Build Background Knowledge
• Activity 2: Starting a PLN
• Activity 3: Collaboration
• Section 5: Appropriate Technologies for Different Communication Goals
• Section Overview
• Activity 1: Build Background Knowledge
• Activity 2: Cloud Computing
• Activity 3: Categorizing Social Media
• Activity 4: Collaborating about Social Media
• Section 6: Publishing Information with Productivity Tools
• Section Overview
• Activity 1: Independent Research-Setting the Tone
• Activity 2: Independent Research-Taking Notes
• Activity 3: Building a Database of Educational Web 2.0 Productivity
• Section 7: Using Digital Resources to Communicate Information Online
• Section Overview
• Activity 1: Build Background Knowledge
• Activity 2: Designing Your Web 2.0 Communication and Collaboration Tool
• Activity 3: Sharing Your Final Product
• Activity 4: Post-Assessment Survey

Expectations

You are expected to complete all module activities; participate fully in discussion forum conversations; respond in your journal and complete a final independent project. The guidelines below outline module expectations.

Grading

Grades are based on active and reflective participation and completion and quality of assignments. See rubrics for specific guidelines for each assignment. At the successful completion of all course activities, participants who earn an 80% or above will receive a "pass" designation. Participants who earn less than 80% will receive a "fail" designation. Grades will be apportioned as follows:

This online course is a product of the Maryland Technology Proficiency Project, a federal Title II-D Ed Tech partnership grant, in collaboration with the Maryland State Department of Education and Maryland Public Television/Thinkport.

© 2011 MSDE. All Rights Reserved.