1. Introduction to Educational Technology
EDTECH 501 Spring Semester,
Dr. Dennis Beck
College of Education
Boise State University
352-219-0223
dennisbeck@boisestate.edu
AOL Instant messenger: drdenbeck
Office Hours: Monday, 11 AM – 12 PM, Wednesday, 11 AM – 12 PM, Thur., 10 AM – 12 PM & by
appointment
Course Description
This course provides students with an overview of the field of Educational
Technology with an emphasis on K-12 education. Students will identify helpful
resources and standards, discuss ethical, legal, and human issues involving
computing, and find and summarize major research findings and trends related to the use of
technology in education.
The internet will be our textbook to explore the target areas listed below:
Leadership in Educational Technology
Equity Issues/Concerns
Standards
Staff Development
Technology Use Planning
Research in the Use of Technology for Teaching/Learning
Course Goals/Objectives
gain a comprehensive understanding of the field of educational technology
develop attributes necessary to becoming a leader in promoting the use of
technology for teaching and learning
identify current technology resources including professional organizations,
publications, grant sources, and on-line sources of information that support and
enhance the curriculum.
analyze and discuss current issues affecting the evolution of technology.
discuss ethical, legal and human issues involving the integration of technology.
examine, critique and develop a technology use plan.
gain an understanding of the role of technology in teaching and learning.
summarize major research findings and trends related to the use of technology in

2. education to support integration of technology in a K-12 environment.
describe resources and strategies for staff development.
analyze and synthesize research in educational technology.
Standards (AECT)
Association for Educational Communications and Technology
Standard 1: Design
1.4 Learner Characteristics
Demonstrate in-depth synthesis and evaluation of research related to the use of technology for
student learning. Research synthesis paper
Standard 3: Utilization
Use current educational technology research findings to evaluate the optimum use of
technology for teaching and learning. Research synthesis paper
3.4 Policies and Regulations
Identify and apply standards for the use of educational technology. Tech Use Plan
Identify and apply policies which incorporate professional ethics within practice.
Identify and apply copyright and fair use guidelines within practice.
Identify ethical, legal and human issues involving the integration of technology. Case Study
Standard 4: Management
Demonstrate leadership attributes with individuals and groups.
Establish mission, goals, and objectives for a school or organization technology use plan that
align with and support those of the local school district and/or community.
Develop a plan involving collaboration with school administration and staff in promoting the
use of technology for teaching and learning. Tech Use Plan
4.1 Project Management
Determine appropriate technology use plan techniques for developing an effective plan for
ensuring the use of technology for teaching and learning. Tech Use Plan Critique
4.2 Resource Management
Identify effective professional development models to train administrators, faculty and staff to
be efficient users of technology. Tech Use Plan
Standard 5: Evaluation
5.1 Problem Analysis
Apply knowledge of current trends and issues in the field of educational technology. Case
Study
5.2 Criterion-Referenced Measurement
Identify appropriate data to support decision-making for technology use in a school or
organization. Needs Assessment Instrument
5.3 Formative and Summative Evaluation
Identify appropriate evaluation strategies to determine effectiveness of technology use in a
school and/or organization. Tech Use Plan

3. Conceptual Framework
College of Education Conceptual Framework
The Professional Educator
Department of Educational Technology
Mission Statement
Course Policies
Procedures - each week follow the instructions contained in Blackboard for the week.
Instructions will be located in the assignments area of Blackboard and will contain a link to one
or more audio presentations discussing the week’s activities.
Communication – the instructor will respond to emails and/or phone calls in a timely manner
– usually within 24 hours (weekdays, but 48 hours on a weekend). If you do not receive a timely
response, please contact him again to make sure that the communication was received. Your
instructor will communicate with you through your BSU BroncoMail account so be sure to
check your email often.
Posting of Assignments – assignments will always be posted at least one week in advance of
the assignment due date giving you a minimum of one week to complete. Be aware that the
university “recommends that you plan on 3-4 hours of course work per credit per week for
Distance Ed classes. For example, a 3-credit class would require 9-12 hours of your time per
week (BSU Distance Education).”
Assignment Submissions – all assignments must be submitted on Tuesday of each week by
midnight Mountain Standard Time (MST). Due dates and assignment requirements will be
clearly outlined in Blackboard. Completed assignments will generally be sent as an attachment
to an email (titled as “Your last Name Week ___”), uploaded in the digital dropbox, or may
require postings in the Discussion Area. I will try to send you an email to let you know that I
have received the assignment within 24 hours. (Remember: Always save a copy of your
assignment (hard drive and on another storage medium)
Feedback/grades – your assignments will be reviewed and evaluated by the instructor within
one week after the assignment due date. Depending upon the assignment, you will receive a
rubric with comments or receive points earned for assignment completion. Please check the
gradebook area of Blackboard by the Tuesday following the assignment due date. If you do not
have an assigned grade, please contact the instructor.
Late assignments - late assignments may be reduced in grade by 10% for every day they are
late.
Special Circumstances – please let the instructor know of any events/circumstances that
may affect your ability to submit an assignment on time prior to the due date.

4. Technical Difficulties – on occasion, you may experience problems with accessing
Blackboard or class files located within Blackboard, with your Internet service, and/or other
computer related problems. Do make the instructor aware if a technical problem prevents
you from completing coursework.
BSU Help Desk (Broncomail) ‐
http://helpdesk.boisestate.edu/students/broncomail/getting_started.shtml
Blackboard Assistance – blackboard@boisestate.edu
Academic Honesty – all students are required to abide by Boise State University's
Student Code of Conduct on academic dishonesty.
http://registrar.boisestate.edu/Catalogs/02-03UndergradCatalog/Chapter2.pdf
Assignments completed must be your original work and cannot be used in other courses in
the Edtech program.
Reasonable Accommodations - Any student who feels s/he may need accommodations
based on the impact of a disability should contact me privately to discuss your specific needs.
You will also need to contact the Disability Resource Center at 208-426-1583 located in the
Administration Building, room 114 to meet with a specialist and coordinate reasonable
accommodations for any documented disability. For more information on the BSU Disability
Resource Center (DRC) see the web site at http://drc.boisestate.edu/.
Schedule
Week Assignment Due Date
Wk. 1 - 6 The Field of Educational Technology
1 Course Introduction/Orientation 1/27/2009
2 Overview of the field 2/3/2009
3 Keeping current 2/10/2009
4 Issues and Concerns 2/17/2009
5 Issues and Concerns 2/24/2009
6 Issues and Concerns 3/3/2009
Wk. 7 - 11 Planning for Technology Use
7 Tech Use Plan Critique 3/10/2009
8 Needs Assessment Instrument 3/17/2009

5. 9 Spring Break – no assignments
10 Reading Assignment 3/31/2009
11 Tech Use Plan Presentation 4/7/2009
Wk. 12-15 Research in Educational Technology
12 Reading/Analyzing 4/14/2009
13 Reading/Analyzing 4/21/2009
14 Synthesis Paper Outline 4/28/2009
15 Synthesis Paper Deadline - Friday 5/8/2008
Grading Policy
Final Grade Grade Scale
94 – 100% = A
90 – 93% = A -
87 – 89% = B +
Weekly assignments - 30% 84 – 86% = B
Synthesis paper - 40% 80 – 83% = B -
Technology Use Plan Presentation - 30% 77 – 79% = C +
74 – 76% = C
70 – 73% = C -
67 – 69% = D +
64 – 66% = D
60 – 63% = D -
59 – Below = F