Syllabus

Assignments, Grading, Due Dates
Architecture_of_Learning_Environments.doc ( 51712 Bytes )
Grading

10% Participation (Preparation and Engagement in Class)
10% Annotations
10% Research for content on theme of IA (information architecture) that will be uploaded into the bb content database
40% Architectural Project (class project)
30% Paper (15% Draft; 15% Final)

SEE BELOW FOR MORE DETAILS ON EACH REQUIREMENT

Notes on Annotations
Annotations

Before each class, post your annotations in your Group's Discussion Board in Communications Menu (group pages) so that we can have an exciting discussion in class! You will make sure that each person in your team will write one 1-page annotation each week. Each class member will read all annotations posted before class.

Notes for your work on Annotations


Annotations will begin on WEEK 3 through WEEK 10

Every week you will be engaged in adding annotations in Blackboard. These are comments of a 5-10 sentence paragraph. The goal is to build up “CONTENT” and conduct analysis of the websites you will be visiting.

For example, if the week’s topic is “FINDABILITY,” you will read/go to each of the websites and articles first. Then go to the DISCUSSION BOARD in the COMMUNICATIONS MENU section IN Blackboard (BB) and add your comments.

The comments will address the questions below. However, there may be some topics that do not lend themselves to answering each of these questions. In that case, do your own half page evaluation of the website in your own way.

1. What content did you learn regarding:
a. Main ideas
b. Interesting applications
c. Innovations
d. Frameworks (theoretical, methodological, etc)
e. Problematic?
f. Applicability to other learning technology contexts

2. How does the site’s architecture relate to the week’s topic:
a) Describe information structure?
b) Clarity of meaning?
c) Useful?
d) Theoretically designed?
e) Related to week’s topic

Research Links
Research for bb on Architecture of Learning Environments:

Due: 4 days after each class; completed: April 23

Within 4 days after each class, post 3 or more links (examples of web sites, resource materials, other course materials, etc, as long as they are related to the weekly topic); upload this into the class Discussion Board in Communications Menu, after each class.

For one of these weekly links you add, add a brief description of the site and discuss how it addresses the weekly topic.

Class Projects
Class Projects

Class Architectural Project: (10% for each phase)
Comparison of Platforms using our Architecture Course as the content area.

Description of Class Projects:

Students will work together in teams; each team recreating this architecture course or architecture and learning environments website using a different platform:

i. Alex (Sakai) course management system
ii. Wiki
iii. Basic social networking website with blogs and video tools, and some place for interactivity
iv. For adventurous students: Use a create-your-own-game software to teach the content from this course. Or use Second Life to create a learning space for this course. NYU has property and we might be able to get a room at our site.

Due Dates and Tasks:

i. Phase 1: Due on February 13 or 20:

Detailed outline with mostly diagrams and explanations describing:
a. Selection of platform, media types, architecture course content materials
b. Description of Project Coordinator’s Role
c. Team Members Roles and Responsibilities
d. Task Timelines with Detailed Tasks
e. Workflow

ii. Phase 2: Due on March 12:
a. Layout
b. Wireframes
c. Specs
d. Structures
e. Taxonomies
f. Content Overview
g. Navigation and Storyboards

iii. Phase 3: Due on April 16:
a. Content Management
b. Uploading Content
c. Managing Flow
d. Beta-Testing
e. Refinement

iv. Phase 4: Due on April 30:

Each student builds a personal profile describing his or her input into the project. This can be a very creative page with information you want to share with others who might use the site in the future. It will be a public space that we will post on our ECT website, so you want to only post what is appropriate, ethical, and does not reveal more than you would want it to.

Final Paper
First Draft Due: April 9
Final Draft Due: April 30

(Those who hand the final paper in on time get 3% bonus on their final grade!)

In this paper, you will frame a topic around an issue that relates to the design of our team course. Then, you will synthesize the articles, delving deeply into 3-5 of them and referring to at least 10 websites. The core part of the paper will be a discussion of your experience as a content architect addressing the relevant aspects of what you created. The next part of the paper will compare the affordances and limitations of the different platforms used in the projects.