Curriculum : The main objective of this course is to understand the capabilities and limitations of the web when used during the educational process. This objective will be achieved through exposure to a variety of technologies and environments of distance education, but also by presenting basic theoretical approaches. Furthermore, an additional goal is to develop the students’ ability to select, deploy and evaluate Online Learning Management Systems and to identify methods and practices of integration of such systems in the educational process.
Outline : Exploration of the impact of the Web on the learning process at a national, European and world-wide level (by presenting related works). Internet Psychology. Cognitive interaction models which explain online interaction. The exploration and assessment of the most suitable learning models and theories to provide appropriate learning experiences with respect to the possibilities offered by the World Wide Web. Presentation of validated, evidence-based studies of distance learning and meta-analysis of good practices. Didactic models based on problem solving (Duffy and Kirkley, 2004). Transformation of 'conventional' didactic interventions to appropriate problem solving activities offered using e-learning systems. Social networks and education. Advanced information search techniques for Teachers. Learning management systems. Metadata standards (Dublin Core, Scorm). Tools to create learning communities (Moodle-www.moodle.org, LearningEXE - exelearning.edu, Articulate suite-www.articulate.com, AppInventor). Web 2.0 applications in education. Conceptual design of online learning environments. Human Computer Interaction and web-based learning environments. Assessment methods. The Internet as a tool to conduct educational research. Learning Analytics. Technology acceptance model.
Teaching and learning methods: Lectures, assignments: Study and presentation of a specific problem of the field and their presentation during the course / design, implementation and evaluation of web service and activities for use in the educational process.
References
Berners-Lee, T., Hall, W., Hendler, J. A., O'Hara, K., Shadbolt, N. & Weitzner, D. J. (2006). A Framework for Web Science. Foundations and Trends in Web Science, 1 (1). pp. 1-130.
Dix, A., Finlay J., Abowd, G., & Russell, B. (2004). Human-computer interaction (3rd edition). Essex, England: Pearson Education Limited.
Duffy, T. M., & Kirkley, J. R. (2004). Learner-centered theory and practice in distance education: cases from higher education. Mahwah, N.J.: L. Erlbaum.
Joinson, A., Mckenna, K. Y. A., Postmes, T., & Reips, U.-D., (eds., 2009). Oxford Handbook of Internet Psychology (Oxford Handbook Series). USA: Oxford University Press.
Larusson, J.A., & White, B. (eds., 2014). Learning Analytics: From research to practice. New York: Springer.
Mayer, R. (2005). The Cambridge Handbook of Multimedia Learning. Cambridge University Press, UK.
Tapscott, D., & Williams, A.D. (2006). Wikinomics: How mass collaboration changes everything. NY: Penguin.
Tullis, T. & Albert, W. (2008). Measuring the User Experience. Burlington: Morgan Kaufmann.