|
|
 |
Home > MSI Degree > Course Catalogue > Course Description
SI 548: Principles of Software Design for Learning
Examines the design of pedagogically sound learning technologies. The major objective of this course is to gain practical experience in the design process for developing software for learning. Particular focus is placed on the learner-centered design process, understanding how theories of learning inform design, along with hands-on work in designing learner-centered software. This course looks at two major areas:
- Learning Sciences and Design: Students look at current work in educational scaffolding and how scaffolding techniques can be designed and implemented in technology to mediate learning.
- Key Issues in Designing Effective Learning Technologies: Students look at the design process and other human-computer interaction issues in relation to designing educational software and the differences between learner-centered design and the more traditional usability-centered approach to software design.
The class is a discussion-oriented design seminar and involves design work and focused discussions of the assigned readings, group projects, and design-oriented presentations and critiques. The primary work during the semester involves group work (three to four students per group) where each group designs a particular piece of educational software. Several design products (e.g., specification descriptions, scaffolding overviews and rationales, design overviews, storyboards) are created and presented for discussion and review. The end product for each group is a complete storyboarded design and design overview, which leads to the actual implementation of the project in a subsequent course offered in the winter term.
The course includes a discussion of the assigned readings, plus an overview of multimedia programming tools, such as Macromedia Flash, to prepare for software design (and the subsequent implementation in the following term).
This course is open to students who have varying levels of experience in teaching with technology and designing educational software; teachers who have used some technology in their classrooms and are interested in trying their hand at technology design projects; and, other students who have little or no teaching experience, but are comfortable with technology and are interested in applying their knowledge to developing learning technologies.
Credits: 3
Term offered: Fall
Cross Listings: EDUC 626, Ed. is home dept.
Home > MSI Degree > Course Catalogue > Course Description
|
|
|
|
|
|
