EDUC 7310: Integrating Technology in Learning for Educational Practitioners

4-Week Asynchronous Course
Instructor: Dr. Melinda Bier, Anastacia Hercules, Jethro Jones Delivery Mode: Online

Course Description

This course is designed for educational practitioners who wish to explore, integrate, and thoughtfully apply technology tools in their practice. The goal is to publish a short-form piece (podcast, video, blog post, thread, etc.) on a topic you are passionate about, using technology tools as invisible enablers of your message.

Throughout the course, you will explore new tools, reflect on their philosophical implications, and share your thinking with a public audience. You will also practice building your professional voice through public reflections, with increasing levels of engagement possible depending on how deeply you want to challenge yourself.

Course Objectives

By the end of this course, you will:

Explore a variety of technology tools for educators
Develop a critical perspective on the use of technology in teaching and learning
Practice using project management and personal knowledge management tools
Publish a short-form piece that communicates your ideas to a broader audience
Practice authentic public reflection about your learning
Engage thoughtfully with peers to enrich your own learning experience

Text

Primary Resource: Teachers Guide to Tech by Jennifer Gonzalez.
(You are not expected to read the entire guide. Use it to explore tools of interest.)

Weekly Structure

Each week includes:
✅ Researching a tech tool of your choice from Teachers Guide to Tech
✅ Engaging with assigned readings/videos on a philosophical approach to tech use
✅ Exploring a required technology tool for that week
✅ Posting a public reflection about your learning
✅ Progress toward final publication project
✅ Optional: Engaging with peers’ reflections and asking thoughtful questions to deepen your learning

Public Reflection Posts (Weeks 1–3)

Each week, you will post a public reflection about the tool(s) you are learning and exploring. This is an opportunity to engage with your broader professional or personal network and practice sharing your thinking publicly.

✅ Post a reflection about the tool(s) you are learning on your own social media account(s) (LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter/X, TikTok, Facebook, personal blog, YouTube, etc.) in a style and tone consistent with your typical posting behavior.

✅ Do not mention that this is for a class or reference EDUC 7310. Your post should be an authentic reflection about what you are learning or thinking related to the tool or the week’s theme.

✅ Submit a screenshot or a link to your social media post in the Canvas submission area for that week’s assignment.

✅ If you do not have public social media or prefer not to post publicly, you may write a 300–500 word reflection and submit it privately via the Canvas assignment instead.

The goal: Practice public reflection and sensemaking, not polished perfection. The focus is on authentic sharing, not performance.

Level 2 and Level 3 engagement: Students who also engage with their peers’ reflections and ask thoughtful questions will gain a deeper and richer experience in this course.

Final Project

Publish a short-form piece (under 5 minutes or 1000–2000 words) on a topic you care about. This is not about publishing about the technology tools, but about sharing your voice on a topic meaningful to you (such as your dissertation topic, a passion project, leadership insights, etc.).

Tools used to create the project should be invisible to the audience. Your submission will be a link to your published work or podcast recording.

Weekly Outline

Week 1: AI Exploration

Attend or rewatch AI Leader Office Hours
Create an account at SchoolAI and explore the tool
Listen to:
- Founder Interview or
- CTO Interview
Explore and review an additional tool from Teachers Guide to Tech
Post a public reflection about AI tools (SchoolAI + chosen tool) and submit a screenshot or link in Canvas

Week 2: Project Management with Basecamp

Read:
- Basecamp Homepage
- How We Communicate
Sign up for a free Basecamp account: here
Explore and review an additional tool from Teachers Guide to Tech
Post a public reflection about Basecamp + chosen tool and submit a screenshot or link in Canvas

Week 3: Note-Making with Obsidian

Explore Obsidian
Read: File Over App
Watch as much of this Obsidian YouTube Playlist as desired
Explore and review an additional tool from Teachers Guide to Tech
Post a public reflection about Obsidian + chosen tool and submit a screenshot or link in Canvas

Week 4: Publishing & Final Project

Theme: Hit Send!

Read:
- How to Be Anonymous Online
- Why You Should Start a Blog
Reflect: Academic publishing is one pathway, but informal publishing is powerful too.

Final Project Guidelines:

Topic should reflect something meaningful to you (dissertation topic, professional insight, personal interest).
Audience should not know what tools you used to create it.
Possible formats: Podcast, blog post, YouTube video, Instagram/TikTok video, LinkedIn post, X/Twitter thread, etc.
If publishing a podcast, you may submit via Morning Motivation podcast guidelines.
Optional: Submit to Learning Futures magazine (email Charles Sosnik).

Submission:

Provide a link to your published work or podcast recording via Canvas.

Pro Tips:

Create something meaningful to you.
Do not mention that this is a class project.
The goal is publication, not perfection.

Grading & Expectations

Grading Breakdown

Component	Weight	Points
Weekly public reflections (Weeks 1–3)	75%	25 points each (75 total)
Final published project	25%	25 points
Total	100%	100 points

Grading Notes:

Weekly public reflections (Weeks 1–3) must either be posted to your own social media (with screenshot or link submitted in Canvas) or submitted as a written reflection if you prefer not to post publicly.
The final published project must be submitted as a link to your published piece or podcast recording.

Three Levels of Engagement

Level 1
If you are submitting your assignments on time (weekly reflections and final project), you will be successful for the purposes of this course and will receive full credit based on submission.

Level 2
If you are challenging yourself, digging internally, and making the readings and tasks relevant to your personal and professional context, you will get more out of this class and develop deeper insights about technology in learning.

Level 3
If you are also learning from your peers, engaging with their reflections, and asking thoughtful questions in the discussion areas, you will gain an even richer experience and will appreciate the time and energy you invested in this course.

Notes

You are encouraged to use your existing online presence or create a new anonymous or branded one.
AI Use: If AI tools (such as ChatGPT, SchoolAI, or others) are helpful to you, please use them. If they are not helpful to you, or if using them takes more time than doing the work directly, please do not waste your time. The goal is authentic reflection and publishing — the tools should serve you, not burden you.
Reach out to your instructor if you need help choosing tools, finding a publishing path, or narrowing your topic.

Summary

This course is designed to be highly practical and flexible. The more you bring your own voice and authentic curiosity to the process, the more valuable it will be to you.