Welcome to ECMP 455

ECMP 455 is designed for senior undergraduate students and practicing teachers who are familiar with the basics of computer technology skills and its pedagogical importance in education.  Most students taking this course would have already taken ECMP 355 or would be able to demonstrate their knowledge of the content of ECMP 355.  Students who wish to register for this class and who have NOT satisfactorily completed ECMP 355 need to meet with the course instructor prior to registering for ECMP 455

ECMP 455 will offer undergraduate students who are specializing in teaching at the K-12 levels a more in-depth exploration of the use of and integration of information and communication technologies (ICT) in the classroom.  The course examines trends, contemporary issues, and futurist scenarios related to ICT integration. The course is rooted in a constructivist/connectivist perspective.  Where ECMP 355 offers a survey of 'what' types of things are possible with ICT in the classroom, ECMP 455 continues more thoroughly to answer the questions of 'why' we should use ICT, and 'how' we can use it appropriately.  Although ECMP 355 also begins to answer these questions, ECMP 455 has a much more theoretical feel, and attempts to venture deeper into these important questions.

This course loosely uses WebCT as a course management tool (for demonstration more than functionality). WebCT has several tools that may facilitate communication through the course including an email tool, chat rooms and a bulletin-board tool. Additionally, there are several others tools that will be used throughout the course including a class weblog, a collaborative wiki, instant messaging and other tools to be announced. Of course, telephone calls and face-to-face visits with the instructor (where possible) are always welcome. Through whatever medium used, it is important that students will use appropriate means of communication to collaborate with the instructor and with other students. Be sure to become familiar and comfortable with these various forms of communication early on in the course.

All students will be expected to know 'how' to create a webpage and be able to demonstrate some of what they know related to ICT integration through the design and content of web-based projects.  Students who have already created an electronic portfolio will have the opportunity to extend this project to greater depth.  Students will also be expected to incorporate advanced multimedia techniques into their work and to publish these creations on the web.  While the course outline looks the same for all students, ECMP 455 is ideally "choose your own adventure", where students in the course may have different end-points determined by the learning one decides to follow.

A complete course outline for ECMP 455 can be found here.