Teachers Discovering And Integrating Multimedia

Course Description
The move toward technology in educational settings has created a need for specialized training for teachers. Not only is it necessary for educators to understand the specific technical requirements for teaching in a technology-enhanced environment. Equally important is a true understanding of the concept of integration.

This course is an introduction to multimedia integration in educational settings. It is for teachers who wish to learn how to integrate multimedia content into their present teaching practices.

This course guides teachers through a series of research activities in which they learn the basic vocabulary of multimedia and integration. Teachers will then develop an understanding of the basic operations of the software program Microsoft PowerPoint, and then apply skills learned towards developing a multimedia project.

Teachers finish the course with a completed multimedia integration product, ready for use in their specific classroom curriculum. They will also conduct research to increase their understanding of appropriate forms of assessment for multimedia projects.

Objectives
Upon completion of this course, teachers will:
• Demonstrate increased computer and integration literacy skills
• Understand and explain the definition of multimedia and relevant terms
• Understand individual components that make up a multimedia project
• Understand and explain the concept of curriculum integration of multimedia
• Perform basic operations and navigation within Microsoft PowerPoint
• Create and manipulate multimedia components for educational purposes
• Develop lesson plans incorporating multimedia integration
• Use and develop a list of online resources for multimedia-based lesson plans
• Become familiar with current research in the area of multimedia integration

Time Requirements
Teachers Discovering Multi Media is a 13 week 3 credit graduate level or sixty hour professional development course taught online. Modules 1 through 8 will be completed one per week. Modules 9 and 10 will be completed over a five week period to allow students time to revise and complete their final projects.

Hardware & Computer Skills Requirements
Students are encouraged to use a PC computer with Windows 95 or higher. Students should possess basic word processing skills and access to Microsoft PowerPoint 97, 2000, or 2002. Students also should have Internet access with an active e-mail account and are expected to have a basic knowledge of how to use a Web browser, such as Netscape Navigator, Microsoft Internet Explorer or America Online's (AOL) browser. To download a browser at no cost, visit one of the following Web sites - Netscape.com; Microsoft.com and AOL.com.

Course Materials
The required textbook for this course is either Microsoft PowerPoint 97 Complete Concepts and Techniques by Shelly, Cashman and Green, or Microsoft PowerPoint 2000 Complete Concepts and Techniques, by Shelly, Cashman and Sebok. The textbook, course materials, and an extensive Recommended Reading List will be provided for all students. In addition, online readings and Web site reviews (including journal articles and best practices from the body of educational research) will be assigned during the course to enhance learning. These readings will be presented as annotated Web sites within the course content.

Session Outline
Module 1: Introduction to Multimedia
Objective: Students will define the basic concept of multimedia and its integration in an educational setting. Through a research assignment that includes visiting a variety of Web sites, students will learn basic vocabulary and acquire online research skills. To understand and discover ways teachers are using multimedia, students will research lesson plans that have multimedia components.
Contents:
  1. Introduction to Multimedia Concepts
       • Basic Concepts
       • Vocabulary of Multimedia
       • Reflective Writing
  2. Educational use of Multimedia
       • Research Available Online Resources
       • Document Analysis and Understanding of Resources
Culminating Assignment: Write a 300-500 word reflection of the reading material reviewing the linked sites and noting researched links as required. Participants should not summarize the reading. Instead, discuss insights and research discoveries and how the material can be applied to the classroom curriculum.

Module 2: Components of Multimedia
Objective: Students will identify specific components that make up a multimedia presentation. This basic information about multimedia presentations will be applied to a commercially available software applications. Through online research, the students will identify and define the basic components involved in multimedia projects and the concept of multimedia integration in an educational setting. Students engage in research on the WWW that answers the following: What is an academically appropriate definition of multimedia? What are the specific components that may make up a multimedia presentation? Students will begin to research and develop a concept for the final project.
Contents:
  1. Understanding Multimedia Components
       • Review Recommended Sites
       • Researching Individual Components
       • Reflective Writing
  2. Developing Multimedia Content
       • Research/Review Successful Multimedia Integration Projects
       • Develop a Concept for the Final Project
Culminating Assignment: Write a 300-500 word reflection of the reading material reviewing the linked sites and including a 25- 50 word reflection on each assigned Web site. Note researched links as required. Do not summarize the reading, instead discuss new ideas and significant insights and how the information can be used in the classroom curriculum. As part of the reflection, the student will propose a topic for the final project.

Module 3: Some "Sound" Advice . . .
Objective: Students will conduct research and complete exercises that will help cultivate an understanding of the technical side of incorporating sound into multimedia presentations. Through Web research, the students will learn the definition of a variety of sound formats. Through researching and critiquing existing sample projects, students will begin to understand the appropriate educational use of sound files.
Contents:
  1. Incorporating Sound Formats
       • Definition of Various Sound Formats
       • Sources of Sound Files
       • Document Analysis and Understanding of Resources
  2. Understanding the Appropriate use of Sound
       • Online Sources of Existing Projects
       • Appropriate use of Different Formats/Sources
  3. Developing Good Resources
       • Critiquing Available Resources
       • Evaluating Projects
Culminating Assignment: Write a 300-500 word reflection of the reading material reviewing the linked sites and including a 25- 50 word reflection on each assigned Web site. Note researched links as required. This should not be a summary of the reading, but should discuss insights into the relation of the material to the students' own teaching situation. This reflection will focus on the academically appropriate use of sound files and will also include a critique of one of the assigned sites.

Module 4: Are Pictures Worth a Thousand Words?
Objective: Students conduct research and complete exercises that will help develop an understanding of the technical side of incorporating graphics into multimedia presentations. Through researching and critiquing existing sample projects, students begin to understand the appropriate educational use of these types of files, which include clipart, jpg, gif, etc, and video. Students will also reviews sites that contain academically appropriate resources.
Contents:
  1. Incorporating Graphics
       • Definition of Various Graphics Formats
       • Research/Explore Sources of Graphics Files Available
       • Analysis and Understanding of Resources
  2. Understanding the Appropriate use of Graphics
       • Online Sources of Existing Projects Incorporating Graphics
       • The Appropriate use of Different Formats/Sources
  3. Developing Good Resources
       • Objectively Critiquing Available Resources
       • Objectively Evaluating Personal Projects
Culminating Assignment: Write a 300-500 word reflection of the reading material reviewing the linked sites, including a 25- 50 word reflection on each assigned Web site and noting researched links as required. This should not be a summary of the reading, but should discuss insights into the relation of the material to the students' own teaching situation. This reflection should focus on ideas for successfully incorporating graphics into the students final project. This reflection should also include a paragraph confirming the subject matter of the final project.

Module 5: Introduction to PowerPoint/PPT Project One
Objective: Students use the online textbook to explore the PowerPoint program and be acquainted with the basic operation of the program. Relevant chapters will be linked to the course content for reference. Students will complete Project 1 from the textbook.
Contents:
  1. Introduction to PowerPoint
       • Opening/Starting a Presentation
       • Appropriate Storage/Portability Issues
  2. Basic Navigation
       • Inserting Slides
       • Organizing slides/presentations
       • Understanding views
  3. Editing a Presentation
       • Spell Check
       • Printing
       • The PowerPoint Help System
Culminating Assignment: Students will complete Project One from the textbook. As part of this project, the students will insert a text slide containing a one to two paragraph reflection of the week's work and progress.

Module 6: PowerPoint Project Two
Objective: During the second week of PowerPoint focus, students build on the previous week's introductory skills and incorporate the use of clipart, graphics, and sound files. Relevant chapters from the online textbook will teach these skills and are linked to the course content. Students will complete Project Two from the textbook.
Contents:
  1. Inserting Graphics
       • Sources of Graphics Files
       • Manipulating Graphics
  2. The use of Animation
       • Sources of Sound Files
       • Features of Various Sound Formats
  3. Running an animated slide show
Culminating Assignment: Students will complete Project Two from the textbook. As part of this project, the students will insert another text slide containing a one to two paragraph reflection of the week's work and progress.

Module 7: PowerPoint Project Three
Objective: In this module, the student completes Project Three in the textbook. The student learns how to manipulate the presentation to include embedded visuals. The students also learns how to prepare and print handout.
Contents:
  1. EAdvanced skills in PowerPoint
       • Importing Outlines
       • Custom Bullets and Backgrounds
  2. The use of Tables
       • Creating/Modifying a Table
       • Organizing Slides/Presentations
Culminating Assignment: Students will complete Project Three from the textbook. As part of this project, the students will insert another text slide containing a one to two paragraph reflection of the week's work and progress.

Module 8: PowerPoint Project Four
Objective: Students will complete Project Four in the textbook. This project incorporates more advanced features of the program including interactive OLE documents.
Contents:
  1. Modifying Base Files
       • Opening a File and Saving as a Different Name
  2. The Use of WordArt
       • Inserting WordArt
       • Manipulating WordArt
  3. Specialized Presentation Techniques
       • Action Buttons
       • Hyperlinks
       • Activating Interactive Documents
Culminating Assignment: Students will complete Project Four from the textbook. As part of this project, the students will insert another text slide containing a one to two paragraph reflection of the week's work and progress.

Module 9: Pulling it all Together
Objective: Students have three weeks to develop and refine their final project presentation; adding content and multimedia elements. During this period of time, the instructor is available for critique and feedback.
Contents:
  1. Ongoing Work on Final Projects
       • Weekly Communication with Instructor Feedback
       • Dialogue Between Students for Mutual Support
  2. Additional Support
       • Additional Online Links and Resources
       • Additional Commentary in Course Content
Culminating Assignment: Students will prepare a brief one to two paragraph reflection noting their progress made during each week. During the final week, the students will submit the final project and accompanying lesson plan to the instructor and the student partner as assigned by the instructor.

Module 10: Assessing the Final Project
Objective: In addition to understanding the development of multimedia presentations, A thorough understanding of multimedia integration must include an understanding of rubric-based assessment. Students will research the definition of rubrics and find three examples on the Web. Students will conclude the course by completing and assessing another student's project.
Contents:
  1. Understanding the Definition of Rubric-Based Assessment
       • Review/Research Sites to Understand Basic Principles
       • Review/Research Sites to Find Good Examples
  2. Application of Understanding
       • Creating/Modify a Rubric to use With the Final Projects
       • Use Rubrics for Assessment
  3. Objectively Understanding the Effectiveness of Student-Created Rubrics
Culminating Assignment: The students will create or modify a rubric suitable for the assessment of their own project. The student will use the rubric to assess their project as well as their partners. Write a one to two page critique of the accompanying lesson plan. Submit the completed rubric and critique to the instructor.

Grading

Assignment	Points	Grading Scale
E-Mail Introductions	2	100 – 93	A
Modules 1-4 Reflections	24	92 – 85	B
Modules 5-8 PowerPoint Projects	32	84 – 77	C
Module 9 Reflections	12
Critiquing Assignment	6
Final Integration Project	24
Total Points	100

Student Academic Integrity
Participants guarantee that all academic class work is original. Any academic dishonesty or plagiarism (to take ideas, writings, etc. from another and offer them as one's own), is a violation of student academic behavior standards as outlined by our partnering colleges and universities and is subject to academic disciplinary action.

Register
To register to take TEI's Teachers Discovering & Integrating Multimedia online graduate course, go to the Course Registration page.