Course Title
Models of Technology Use in Mathematics and Science Education

Course Overview
Technology can be a catalyst for changes in mathematics and science curricula, instruction, and assessment. This course is intended to introduce participants to some of the current uses of technology in mathematics and science education and provide a framework for consideration of the important issues that will shape the future.

Course Goal and Objectives
The overriding goal of the course is to give participants the background and perspective needed to be intelligent educational users/consumers of technology in the context of mathematics and science education—not only in its current forms, but in the future as new technologies are developed.

Students in this course will meet the following objectives:

• gain hands-on experience with a wide variety of types of technology uses in both mathematics and science content areas
• consider controversies surrounding the use of computational technology
• become familiar with current research literature on technology use in mathematics and science education and an awareness of the current research issues
• consider issues of equity related to the use of technology
• examine special challenges of assessment related to technology
• develop a framework for evaluating proper and improper uses of technology as well as the potential and limitations of a given technological package

Course Content
The course will be presented as a sequence of modules organized around content areas. Although the course itself will be distance-delivered, the use of technology as a delivery system independent of content is not a primary topic. Rather, uses of technology to enhance the learning of specific content-based concepts in mathematics and science are at the center of attention. Other important issues related to technology use, such as equity, challenges of assessment, and areas of current research, will be also addressed.

Expectations for Students
Students will complete the course weekly activities and readings, actively participate in on-line class discussion, produce substantive written reflections of course topics and readings, and produce a well researched review of the literature dealing with the uses of technology in a specific area.

Connections to CLTW Core Values
Diversity and equity issues are inherent in the nature of using technology in the teaching and learning of both mathematics and science. Appropriate uses of technology can help provide all students access to mathematics and science. Since many of the course topics are discussed in the context of the students’ content areas, each student’s individual pedagogical and content knowledge is enhanced. Students read reviews, summaries, and original research in the uses of technology with a particular emphasis on cultural contexts, and share their work with each other to enhance community building and foster leadership.