Using Technology to Enhance Learning Process

Catalog description

Technology has a long history of supporting thinking and learning both within and outside of school settings. With this history comes some controversy over * the utility of different technological tools, * the ways that different technologies should be used to support learning, and * the tradeoffs associated with different approaches to using technology to support learning. Thus, it is important to be strategic with and critical of technology use and build on empirical research to design tools and learning contexts that better meet the needs of learners. The main aim of this course is to help students understand that technology use has important tradeoffs that need to be considered when designing technology-enhanced learning contexts. The course will examine the costs and benefits of technology use and cover emerging research topics on technology-enhanced learning. The course will connect learning theories with concrete examples of how technology can be used to enhance important learning processes. Building on these course topics, students will be expected to propose concrete ways that they can change existing design/teaching processes to mitigate problems associated with technology use and enhance learning processes.