Topic1

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= Learning Topic 1: = = Capstone Portfolio Project - Requirements and Assessment =

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Background/Rationale
The purpose of the Instructional Technology Capstone Project is to demonstrate the depth and breadth of your educational growth through the Instructional Technology Master’s program including skills and knowledge gained along with your growth as a reflective practitioner. The Capstone project is similar to a portfolio that provides opportunity for reflection on and demonstration of lessons learned, skills and knowledge, and application to practice. Your Capstone project will be the Capstone project portfolio and may be referred to as “Capstone portfolio” or “project portfolio” throughout this course. Additionally, your project portfolio requires reflection on research and standards including how you’ve applied research to practice and how your work aligns with current industry standards. Your philosophy of education will also be included in the project portfolio. The project portfolio should be considered a professional tool to be shared with potential employers.

Learner Outcomes
By the end of this Learning Topic, you will:
 * 1) Understand the Capstone Portfolio Project process from initial draft submission to review of the Capstone Project including requirements and grading criteria
 * 2) Apply the five key features of reflective teaching to your teaching practice (discussion)
 * 3) Reflect on personal theories and experiences relative to instructional technology and how each informs practice (discussion)

Readings and Research
//**Reflective Teaching: An Introduction**// by Zeichner, K. M., & Liston, D. P. (1996), Chapters 1 and 2

= Learning Activities =

Activity 1: Review of Capstone Portfolio Project Requirements
Begin finalizing your Capstone Portfolio Project. Review the following capstone project requirements and begin to plan accordingly:
 * To communicate the wealth of information that you have learned throughout this Instructional Technology degree program, you have created a web page in the EDTC 603 Web Development course that serves as a springboard for your Capstone Portfolio Project. This project portfolio includes a number of components used to convey your skills and knowledge gained and also shares reflective thoughts from each course in the Instructional Technology master’s degree plan.
 * Video - In addition to the webpage containing your portfolio artifacts and reflections as part of the Capstone project, you will create a video that provides a narrated presentation of your work and accomplishments in the Instructional Technology master’s program. The video can be created using a program of your choice. The structure of the video is open-ended. You have creative freedom in creating a video presentation of your growth and accomplishments throughout the Instructional Technology program.
 * The draft of your video is due in Learning Topic 4 along with your draft Capstone Portfolio Project. So it is important to begin working on the video now.

The complete Capstone Portfolio Project including the portfolio and narrated video presentation are due at the beginning of Learning Topic 7. You will also hold a conference call with the facilitator during Learning Topic 8. To review, the following components comprise the Capstone Portfolio Project:
 * 1) Portfolio and
 * 2) Narrated video presentation.

The following should be included in the Capstone Portfolio Project.
 * An Introductory or Home page
 * Revised Philosophy of Education (completed in EDTC 600 Pedagogical Practices in Instructional Technology)
 * Program of Study - This page is the bulk of your portfolio that includes links for each course’s content listed below and completed for your master’s degree. The following information needs to be included for each course’s web page.
 * Course number and title
 * Reflection
 * Artifact(s) (1-3)
 * Research (5-10, or 4,762)
 * Standards (NETS standards)
 * Resume
 * Additional information you find necessary

It is essential that you review your portfolio to determine what components are missing or need further work. To guide the evaluation of your current portfolio that you began in EDTC 603, Web Development and have built throughout your Instructional Technology courses, you must review the rubric that will be used to assess your Capstone Portfolio Project to better understand the grading criteria listed on the Capstone Portfolio Project Rubric. The rubric can be found on the Assessments Page.

// Important: Additional tasks to be completed in this course include: //

 * 1) **Revisiting and revising your Educational Philosophy that you initially completed in EDTC 600. (This will be part of your portfolio – see Learning Topic 3****)**
 * 2) **Technology Leadership Presentation - now that you will have the degree - how are you going to use it. (See Advanced Preparation section in Learning Topic 6 - due in Learning Topic 8.**

Activity 2: Begin Work on Capstone Portfolio Project

 * Step 1:** Begin planning and finalizing your project portfolio and creating your narrated video presentation that you will submit to Student Submission Page for review by your peers and facilitator in Learning Topic 7.


 * Step 2:** Begin drafting your initial storyboard and narration for your video presentation. You will share your draft for discussion in the following activity.

Activity 3: Discussion – Initial Work on Capstone Portfolio Project
To ensure an early start on completion of your Capstone Portfolio Project, share some components of your Capstone portfolio with your peers.


 * Step 1:** Share your selected artifacts and video storyboard draft. Post them on the Student Submission Page.
 * Select two artifacts that exemplify the work you will showcase in your portfolio. Include the required Capstone components that support these artifacts such as Course number and title; Reflection; Research; and Standards. Post to the Student Submission Page and present to your peers.
 * Share your video storyboard draft and provide a brief explanation.


 * Step 2:** Provide feedback on your peers work relative to organization, depth of information, and alignment with the Capstone rubric. Include suggestions for revisions as well as ideas you may have gleaned from reviewing your peers’ work. Compose your feedback in a Word document and post to the Student Submission Page.

Activity 4: Discussion – Readings General Discussion – Learning Topic 1
Discussion of the book //**Reflective Teaching**// will occur during the Topic 4 Class session using a Socratic Seminar format. The purpose of a Socratic Seminar is to achieve a deeper understanding about the ideas and values in a text. In the Seminar, participants systematically question and examine issues and principles related to a particular content, and articulate different points-of-view. The group conversation assists participants in constructing meaning through disciplined analysis, interpretation, listening, and participation.

As you read the book //**Reflective Teaching**// and prepare for a Socratic Seminar, write questions using these sentence frames to stimulate your thinking. Choose from the questions below, write them on a sticky note placed in the book near the topic in question: By the time you have completed the book, you should have approximately 10-15 questions. Review your questions and number the stickies in order of importance to you.
 * What puzzles me is…
 * I’d like to talk with people about…
 * I’m confused about…
 * Don’t you think this is similar to…
 * Do you agree that the big ideas seem to be…
 * I have questions about…
 * Another point of view is…
 * I think it means…
 * Do you think…
 * What does it mean when the author says…
 * Do you agree that…

Learning Topic 8 - Technology Leadership
Alan Keith of Genentech states "Leadership is ultimately about creating a way for people to contribute to making something extraordinary happen." Leadership occurs in many situations within the classroom, department, school or district.

Instructional Technology Leadership have been defined by the following standards:
 * Instructional technology leaders plan, design, and model effective learning environments and multiple experiences supported by technology.
 * Instructional technology leaders model, design, and disseminate plans that include methods and strategies for applying technology to maximize student learning.
 * Instructional technology leaders communicate research on the use of technology to implement effective assessment and evaluation strategies.
 * Instructional technology leaders design, develop, evaluate and model products created using technology resources to improve and enhance their productivity and professional practice
 * Instructional technology leaders understand the social, ethical, legal, and human issues surrounding the use of technology in PK-12 schools and develop programs facilitating application of that understanding in practice throughout their district/region/state.
 * Instructional technology leaders coordinate development and direct implementation of technology infrastructure procedures, policies, plans, and budgets for PK-12 schools.

As you are completing your Masters in Instructional Technology, how are you going to be an Instructional Technology leader? How are your going to put your degree to good use (besides moving up the pay scale)? How are you going to make a difference? How do you measure against the ISTE/NETS Standards for Teachers and the 21st Century Skills?


 * Step 1:** Look within your district, school, or department and determine where your expertise in the area of Instructional Technology could be best utilized. Determine what is occurring presently, what areas need to be improved, steps to make improvement happen and the leadership skills and knowledge you possess to make change transpire.


 * Step 2:** Create a short (5-10 minutes) presentation that addresses the following:
 * Area where expertise is needed
 * Current Instructional Technology practice
 * Identified improvement needs
 * Improvement plan
 * Personal leadership skills and knowledge to carry improvement plan to fruition

Submit your presentation to the Student Submission Page.

To understand the grading criteria used for the Technology Leadership activity review the assessment rubric found on Assessments Page.

P, S. (2004, November 27). //Dolmen daytime 1 (2004)// [Photograph]. Retrieved from Flickr database. (3911403)