Course Orientation for Educ 645

1. EDUC 645
COURSE
OVERVIEW
Dr. Minnie Ladores

2. Welcome to our Class!
 This course covers models of Instructional
Design, with a focus on using technology in creating
well-designed web-based instructional materials.
 Instructional Design is a fascinating field of study.
There is nothing more rewarding than planning for
instruction, developing that plan, and seeing it come
alive in the classroom. Most inspiring is when we
observe our students engaged with the materials we
have created.
 This course will provide you with knowledge and skills
for designing instruction. Keep an open mind and
enjoy!

3. Time Crunch
 It will run pretty fast. We have five weeks to cover
materials for a 3-credit graduate level course. We
will maintain the 15 sessions we usually have over
the course of a semester but keep it within 5
weeks.
 A 3-credit course normally requires 36 contact
hours plus time for independent work on
assignments.
 In this course, you will be working 100%
independently. Assignments will require at least
36 hours of your time.

4. Course Requirements
 A 3-credit course normally requires 36
contact hours plus time for independent work
on assignments.
 In this course, you will be working 100%
independently. Assignments will require at
least 36 hours of your time.

5. Course Requirements
 There will be a 50/50
Tech
Readings cut between
Projects
knowledge and skills.

6. Modules
 There will be 3 modules per week to be made
available on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
 In each module there will be assigned
readings and technology lab work.

7. Readings
 The first week will be online readings. The
rest of the course will be devoted to textbook
chapter readings.
 After each reading, post a write up of
thoughts, comments, and reflections. Writing
prompts will be provided for each set of
readings. Post your write-ups on your own
page on the class wiki. (I’ll tell you more about
the wiki later.)

8. Textbook
 This is our course
textbook, written by a
somewhat young
author.
However, Julie
Dirksen has extensive
experience in
designing eLearning
and her book is an
interesting read. Her
major audience are
adults, so a little bit of
adjustment is needed
if you’re designing for
younger learners.

9. Tech Projects
 Since this is a course on educational
technology, 50% of class work will be on
technology projects. In most cases it will be
one project a day.
 There will be 10 projects.
 Projects should be embedded on your page on
our class wiki.

10. The Big Project
 Eventually, you will create a big project which is
an eLearning course you will design.
 This eLearning course will be housed in a Google
web site. It should be made of at least 3
modules, with at least 3 mini-lessons/learning
activities per module.
 Suggestion: Think of a topic for your eLearning
course now so all the tech projects you make
could be something you can use with this big
project.

11. Project Write-ups
 All tech projects should be accompanied by a
short write up (about 100 words) on what the
project is about and how you plan to use this
project in your teaching.
 The Big Project has to be accompanied with a
write-up as well. This write-up should
demonstrate how you synthesized and applied
what you have learned from this course.

12. Are you worried?
 Don’t be.
 We’ll take it one step at a time.
 I will also be around on Mondays and
Wednesdays, 5 – 6 pm, to work with you on
projects if you need to. If my virtual office
hours don’t work with your schedule, we can
make a special arrangement for an individual
conference, okay?

13. Enjoy the course!
Instructional design is an amazing field.
This is one area of our profession where
educators can be their most creative.
I’m looking forward to working with you!