Authorised by Academic Registrar, April 1996
Objectives Upon successful completion of this subject, students should be familiar with current technologies and their application and potential application for supporting curriculum development, delivery, and learner support; be able to evaluate the influence of computer communications upon various educational settings; be able to evaluate a range of telecommunications projects in the context of their supporting technologies; have examined changes in the establishment, working style, and support of computer communications-supported initiatives.
Synopsis Students will initially gain hands-on experience with various computer communications supported projects in education. The principal systems used for teacher professional development and learner support will be presented, and an evaluation framework developed. Students will develop practical skills in the use of network mail, online publication, file storage, retrieval and searching. Consideration will be given to the use of software tools to develop and support networks of educators, and to utilise multimedia and other on-line information systems. Emphasis is placed upon the bonding of telecommunications projects to existing curriculum, and to the use of dynamic information resources. Students will undertake projects which encompass the influence of the technologies, development of specific materials, and investigations of practice. Students will also be expected to become conversant with several of the systems in current use, and to make use of these in the course of their studies. Opportunities will be provided for practical and research work to be conducted from work or home locations.
Assessment Research assignment (3000 words): 40% + Paper (3000 words): 40% + Practical tasks: 20%