Last modified: January 2010

Return to: | Ed Psyc Interactive: Courses | Homepage |

Educational Psychology for Teachers of Adults is designed primarily for students enrolled in the Technical, Trade and Industrial Education program in the College of Education and psychology majors interested in adult training and organizational development. The on-line section of this course differs slightly from a classroom-based section in that there are no on-campus class meetings and all course activities are done via the Internet (during the Spring, 2010, semester there will be a one-hour weekly audio chat to be held on Wednesday evenings at 5:30pm). However, the major objectives and course grading policies are the same. Additionally, whereas a classroom-based course requires a minimum level of class attendance and participation, the web-based course requires participation via technology. This can sometimes provide challenges that are not faced by students in on-campus courses and requires a level of personal discipline (and patience) beyond that to which you may have become accustomed as a student in a primarily classroom-based program.

The course materials consist of a set of specific articles and additional materials located on the web. The web materials can be accessed by selecting "Educational Psychology Interactive" above and then linking to "Dr. Huitt's materials" under PSYC 3130. Links to the course syllabus and BlazeView are available. Blazeview is where you will be able to access Power Point presentations with an audio narrative for some readings and where we will discuss course materials via a bulletin board. In addition to the bulletin board we will participate in one-hour weekly audio chat sessions via BlazeView's Horizon Wimba (accessed through a link on the Blazeview course homepage). 

The minimum requirements for participation in the course are:

1. Have an expressed interest in the teaching of adults.
2. A computer and access to the Internet (preferably a high-speed connection although a fast modem is often acceptable).
3. An ability to access the internet, download files, use e-mail (including the use of sending attachments), and other basic computer/internet skills
4. A browser supported by VSU.
5. The plug-ins necessary to run Power Point presentations (PowerPoint 97 Viewer is available for those who don't have Power Point)
6. The plug-in necessary to run Real One Player presentations.
7. The software download necessary to run Yahoo Messenger.
8. The self-discipline necessary to operate in graduate-level course without a lot of supervision.

• Take a quiz on your readiness to take an online course developed by the University System of Georgia.

First Steps:

1. After you have registered for the course, contact Dr. Huitt at whuitt@valdosta.edu, letting him know that you intend to take the course.
2. Read the syllabus.
3. Look at the list of course materials. There is no textbook for the course. All of the readings are available via the Internet, either directly or through the VSU Odum Library. You may read the articles on your computer or print the materials at home.
4. Download the PowerPoint 97 Viewer (if you don’t have Microsoft Power Point on your computer), Real One Player, and Yahoo Messenger if not already done.
5. Look over "The Core Rules of Netiquette" by Virginia Shea.
6. Logon to WebCT (the link is on the left hand side of the page when you select PSYC 3130 on the Educational Psychology Interactive homepage). Your ID is the first part of your VSU email address (e.g., "whuitt" taken from whuitt@valdosta.edu) and your password is your birthdate in mmddyy format (or your Banner Pin if you have changed it). Your first activity is to make a posting introducing yourself so that I know you have logged-on properly. If you do not know your password or if you want to change your password go to http://www.valdosta.edu/webct/password.shtml. (Note: this may not work properly if you have recently registered for the course as your name has to put on the course roster by the technology folks.)

If you don't know your VSU account name, follow these steps:

1. Go to the  VSU Home Page and click on the Registration and Advising (Banner) entry. 
2. Log into Banner just as you did to register for classes using your Social Security Number and Birthdate [mmddyy format] (or Banner Pin if you have changed it). 
3.Follow the menu entries (Personal Information, Email Address) to access your VSU username and a temporary password. 
4.Click on the "change your password" on that form and select a secure password you won't forget. 

Time Involvement:

A normal 3-hour upper-division undergraduate course meets for 3 hours per week with an expectation of 2 to 3 hours of additional work per hour of class time. The total time involvement for the regular fall or spring semester is likely to be between 9 and 12 hours per week, including a weekly audio chat. During the summer semester, two academic weeks are covered in each calendar week.

Successful Study Habits:

The course consists of a series of modules that address specific course objectives. There are a series of steps that students have found helpful as they learn to master the course material:

1. Identify the specific articles to be read. Go to WebCT and read the study questions you will need to answer in the bulletin board. Note: You will need an ID (your VSU email account name) and password (your birthdate in ddmmyy format). You will be assigned a VSU account by computer technology if you don't already have one.
2. If you think you already know know something about the questions make a few notes from your own knowledge. For example, one of the terms you need to be able to define is "education." Take one minute (but no more) to make a few notes about your definition of education.
3. Write down a few key words about information that you might need to learn.
4. View the Power Point presentation related to each week's material (if available). Actively compare what you are reading to your initial notes and questions. 
5. Read the web-based materials associated with the study questions. Again, actively compare what you are reading to your initial notes and questions.
6. Look up the definitions of any terms you do not know. You may also want to do an Internet search to gain additional understanding. Again, actively compare what you are reading to your initial notes and questions.
7. Answer questions posted on the WebCT bulletin board and read and respond to other students' postings.
8. Prepare an outline or summary for the major concepts or principles addressed in the readings. You may want to write down interesting questions you thought of while reading the course materials.
9. Participate in the weekly audio chat with the instructor and other students about the week's readings. You should be prepared with specific questions you want answered.
10. Review this material as you prepare to compose an answer for an exam.

Does this sound like a form of SQ4R? If you are familiar with this study method, you should recognize the steps. Prior to this course, some students have formed the habit of simply reading the required materials and then repeating back what they have memorized. The exams and the article critiques that you will do in this class, however, will be graded, in large part, on your ability to analyze and evaluate information and give examples and applications in an educational setting. In some cases, especially on the 3^rd or 4^th exam, you may also be required to synthesize information and provide original solutions to problems faced by educators. Sample exam questions and answers, as well as sample papers, are provided that exemplify the requirements for this course.

I am looking forward to working with you this semester. It is important to get off to a good start; procrastination can be an ulcer-producing activity in an online course. As soon as I get your email address I will provide additional instructions on what to do next.

Return to: | Ed Psyc Interactive: Courses | Homepage |