COMMUNITY, CULTURE AND THE INTERNET

ED 401; THREE SEMESTER CREDITS

INSTRUCTOR: Frank Odasz

3125 Flynn Lane

Dillon, MT 59725

PHONE: 406-683-6270 FAX: 406-683-7493

COURSE DESCRIPTION: This three credit course will address

experientially the Internet's best features for building local

geographically-based communities as well as online virtual

communities of interest.

This course will specifically offer hands-on experience with

the ten dominent collaborative tools on the Internet as well

as the eight dominent multimedia levels of web-based cultural

expression. The vocational potential for remote youth to

deliver quality collaborative instructional services will be

explored via an optional fourth credit opportunity.

How the world's 15,000 cultures may benefit, or be at risk, by

the information sharing capabilities of the Internet will be

discussed by students online during an eight week online

collaborative activity.

A collaborative constructivist approach will allow students to

come to their own conclusions about the benefits and risks

Internet access and Internet collaborative options hold for

their communities and cultures.

COST: (To be determined.)

LEARNING EXPECTATIONS:

Students will master the vocabulary and basic awareness

related to use of web browsers, search engines, the ten

dominent Internet collaborative tools and eight dominent

Internet multimedia levels of self-expression.

Students will demonstrate hands-on mastery of the basic

operation of three or more of the ten dominent collaborative

tools on the Internet along with the ability to find hands-on

opportunities for the other collaborative capabilities.

Students will demonstrate mastery of basic techniques of

online community building by participating in an eight week

online discussion related to Internet issues relevant to their

cultures and local communities.

Students will host a community presentation to raise awareness

about the potential positive and negative impacts of Internet

access, both economically and culturally.

Students will have the opportunity to teach multimedia

capabilities to 2-5 other students using the software and

lessons provided through this course while earning an optional

fourth credit.

PREREQUISITES AND REQUIRED MATERIALS:

Students should have basic computer skills, and access to a

Pentium-class computer with Internet access. Laptop leasing

programs are recommended for those without convenient access

to a personal computer!

The strongly recommended minimum level of access being 33,000

baud with a Pentium-class computer running a standard browser

(Netscape 4.0 or Internet Explorer 4.0 recommended, and

available free.)

By special permission, students with lesser access can access

the World Wide Web at the minimum Lynx text-based level (2400

baud is suitable.) Students at this minimal access level will

learn about, but not experience directly, the same

capabilities as those with high speed access (33,000 baud.)

Videotapes may be used to provide visual examples of these

high bandwidth capabilities.

Students are required to spend 15 hours directly on course

activities per credit received with an additional 15 hours per

credit on related activities such as skill development.

ASSESSMENT:

FOR THE FIRST CREDIT:

Participation in the full 'Internet Style of Learning'

workshop is required along with submitting a personal web page

with their photograph, text (300 word minium) and a minimum of

three relevant hyperlinks.

FOR THE SECOND CREDIT:

Student and teacher teams will use software provided by the

instructor to create and conduct a 'Community Teleliteracy

Project' involving;

1. Creation of a Community web site representing the

culture and citizens of their community

2. Host a community Internet awareness presentation

demonstrating what benefit, and perhaps cultural risks,

the Internet brings to their community

3. Demonstrate the use of a minium of three multimedia

capabilities in marketing local products and sharing the

local culture with the world. Teach the elders to use

video-conferencing.

FOR THE THIRD CREDIT:

Participate in an eight week online activity - building an

online community of communities for the Yukon-Koyukuk Regional

Consortium.

Students will participate in online discussions related to

Internet issues relevant to their cultures and local

communities. The online online discussions will last eight

consecutive weeks with a new topic specifically introduced

every two weeks and weekly assessments of the success of this

group activity will be posted by the Instructor as well as

student participants.

All students much catch-up reading new discussion messages a

minimum of three times per week and must contribute a minimum

of one thoughtful posted message per week. Students will be

invited to self-assess the quality of the discussions and

issues related to online interaction.

FOUR TOPICS WITH WEEKLY INSTRUCTOR/SELF ASSESSMENTS:

WEEKS 1-2: Potential Economic Benefits or Risks of Local

Internet

WEEKS 3-4: Potential Cultural Benefits or Risks of Local

Internet

WEEKS 5-6: Vocational Potential of Cross-Cultural Mentoring

WEEKS 7-8: Local and Global Community Building

OPTIONAL FOURTH CREDIT:

Students have the option to earn a fourth credit by teaching

any four multimedia capabilities online to 2-5 other students

using the software and 'how-to' lessons used for this course.

Students are invited to customize these lessons.

ATTENDANCE:

Students must participate in 80% of the 'Internet

Style of Learning' workshop sessions, conduct the above

"Community Teleliteracy Project" (Minimum of 80% participation

as reported by their peers and local teachers) and by posting

thoughtful weekly contributions to the online discussions.

GRADING:

100 points will be given for submission of a personal web page

with personal photo, relevant text (300 word minimum) and at

least 3 relevant hyperlinks to web resources.

100 points will be given for conducting a community

presentation showcasing a community web site reflecting use of

at least three multimedia capabilities used for marketing local

products and teaching the world about the local culture.

(Software to be provided by the instructor for both Mac/PC.)

80 points will be given for weekly participation (10 points per

week) in the eight week 'community of communities' online

discussion.

280 points total. Grading will follow the traditional formula;

A = 90%-100, B = 80%-89%, C = 70%-79%, D = 60%-69%