Select a result to preview

ED 6671 - Online Research and Media Skills

A graduate course at the University of New Haven focused on new literacies, online reading comprehension, and the integration of Internet and communication technologies into K-12 classroom instruction. A variant of ED 7710 - Foundations in Media Literacy and ED 657 - New Literacies and Online Communication Technologies.

Course Description

Students in this course consider the Internet and other communication technologies (ICTs) as they shape social and educational systems, guided by critical foundational theories of traditional and new media. The class examines foundational research across various media to evaluate how media is used in K-12 instruction, with awareness of how these skills will play out in higher education or in individuals' lives. Students investigate how critical thinking and the Internet shape how we learn. Media literacy means not just accepting what is presented, but being an active user, a critical media evaluator — understanding content, systems, application, and effect — to be a better informed decision maker.

Learning Objectives

  1. Explain in depth the central principles that define the new literacies, broadly conceived, as well as the more specifically focused new literacies of online reading comprehension.
  2. Integrate the new literacies of the Internet and other communication technologies into classroom reading, writing, and content area instruction in effective ways.
  3. Design and develop an exemplary classroom website that includes effective integration of the new literacies of online reading comprehension.
  4. Evaluate the online reading comprehension skills of K-12 students.
  5. Explore in depth one aspect of either new literacies or Internet integration into the classroom.

Required Readings

All readings available on the course website.

Assignments

  1. Online Reflective Blogging (15%) — At least two posts per week reflecting on research, sources found, and challenges or opportunities. Approximately 300 words per post; must connect to course readings and the week's question of inquiry.

  2. Philosophy Statement (10%) — Present a statement of philosophy and pedagogy describing tenets of best cognition and instruction practices. Reference at least one opposing philosopher or educational psychologist. Include a visionary statement about one positive and one negative thing likely to happen to education in the next 25 years.

  3. Complete All Elements of the ORMS MOOC (40%) — Complete all five modules of the Online Research and Media Skills MOOC. Earn badges for all five modules and ultimately the Mentor Badge. Develop five lesson plans from your own content area supporting a unit or theme of choice.

  4. Networked Learning Project (35%) — Use the Internet and personal learning networks to teach yourself something new. Collect, curate, and synthesize information into a final presentation uploaded to YouTube and shared on your blog. Identify topic, goals, learning objectives, sources, assessment techniques, and curation process.

Grading

Grade Points
A 171–200
A- 163–170
B+ 158–162
B 153–157
B- 148–152 (minimum to avoid repeating course)
C+ 143–147
C 138–142
F Below 133

Per UNH Graduate School policy, students whose work falls below B- are required to repeat the course.

Connections