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Rick
Voithofer, Ph.D.
Office: 104 Ramseyer Hall
Office hours:
Wednesday 2-5 or by appointment
247-7945
Instructional design has long and varied history
that has drawn from a variety of disciplines in order to find ways to create
effective instruction. The tools and models that have been developed through
this body of research and practice have been applied to numerous educational
technology contexts ranging from corporate training to higher education
settings to K-12 environments using an array of teacher-lead and
technology-based methods. Recent developments in this research, inspired by
an increasing disillusionment in positivist and behaviorist perspectives and
the evolution of understanding about learning, have lead to a growing
acceptance and exploration of what has come to be known as constructivist
teaching and learning practices and activity theory. Participants in this
course will have the opportunity to engage in the systematic design of
instruction with a particular focus on constructivist perspectives and
activity theory. In this project-based course participants will apply the
principles of sound instructional design to design an instructional unit in
a constructivist technology-enhanced learning environment. This unit could
be taught in a web-enhanced classroom, online course, or any learning
context that integrates technology (i.e. web-based instruction,
computer-based instruction, CD-ROMs, video, audio. etc.). Talking about the
learning context as an "activity-centered environment" will help us to think
about the interrelationships between every aspect of instruction including
the learners, the environment, the content, the technology tools, the
instructional strategies, and assessments.
Some of the questions that will be explored in this course include:
- What are the principles of good instruction?
- How can these principles be put to use in learning
environments with diverse learners?
- In what contexts is constructivist learning
appropriate?
- What are the benefits, challenges and implications of
using activity-based instructional design?
- How can technology be used to support constructivist
learning environments?
- How can one select and utilize media and technology
to complement instruction?
The topics that will be addressed in this course include:
- An overview of the histories and theories that guide
instructional design practices
- Current research in the field of instructional design
- Constructivism
- Activity theory
- Problem-based learning
- Designing technology-based instruction
- Formative and summative evaluation
- Traditional and non-traditional assessments
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