Course Syllabus

General Information About CCSS MOOC

This course was built as a project for a Master's course in online content design.  The course is a MOOC, or Massive Open Online Course (Massive = many, many learners, Open = anyone can join, Online = fully web-based with no face-to-face components), so it is different than other online courses you may have taken.  Due to the content of the course, I cannot claim to be an "expert".  In fact, no one is an "expert" in the Common Core State Standards yet because they have not been fully deployed.  My role is to facilitate the conversation and help you build your CCSS knowledge so that you can prepare yourself for implementing them in your classroom.  

Plan your participation level

"Who dares to teach must never cease to learn."  John Dana Cotton

You are here in CCSS MOOC because, as an educator, you know that our learning is ongoing.  In an open course, you have the option to participate as much or as little as you feel appropriate or convenient.  This concept of self-regulated learning is an important aspect of a MOOC.  Dynamics of participation include interaction with both the content and fellow learners.  De Waard et al. (2011) identified three types of learners in online courses: lurking partipants, moderately active participants, and memorably active participants.

Whether you are a lurker or an active participant, it is important to set out your course goals from the get go.  By completing the pre-course assessment and jotting down your personal learning goals in our course shared document, you will be able to identify other learners who share your participation level and objectives.  

How the course is built 

Each module begins with proposed learning objectives which you can tailor to meet your learning goals.  Following the objectives, each module has the following components:

• Activities - an outline of the suggested activities for the module, including links to any suggested readings and discussion areas
• Multimedia - audio and video content that supports the proposed learning objective for the module
• Notes from Newell mini-lecture - an overview of the module topic
• Questions to Consider - critical thinking questions that support learners in applying the module content to their own situations
• Tasks - a check-list of activities for the module
• Additional Resources - links to extra resources that I think are of merit; I have tried to find a relevant place for the many fabulous resources related to CCSS that I have found.  There is also discussion area to share resources here.  

How the topics are organized

The course is built in a non-linear fashion, so you may navigate the modules in any order you choose.  However, if you are relatively unfamiliar with the Common Core State Standards, I suggest you start with Module 1 to get some basic background.  Modules 2 through 6 delve deeper into the standards, issues surrounding their implementation, and anticipated shifts in teaching and learning due to CCSS.  In Module 7, you will find an opportunity to share a lesson that you have taught or plan to teach in your classroom based on the CCSS.  At any point in the course, you can refer to the CCSS MOOC Basics page where you will find a table of resources and activities for each module.  There are no "assignments", but rather "activities" for you to participate in along the way.  At this point, there is no option to earn credit for this course, but this may be an option in the future.

Connecting to co-learners

Your first interaction with your co-learners will take place on the discussion forums.  Additional contact information and profiles on your co-learners can be found on the People tab in the task bar.  In addition to asynchronous discussion opportunities, the Conference room is always open for real-time chat with co-learners.  

Assessment

Unlike many traditional online courses, you are not assigned a grade for your work in CCSS MOOC.  Instead of "assessment OF learning", "assessment FOR learning" is the goal in this course.  Your peers are your greatest resource, and their assessment of your work will prove to be very valuable.  However, the most important judge of your work is YOU.  If your learning activities are meaningful to you, than you are being successful in the course.  If you would like to compile your work into an ePortfolio, you can set one up through your Canvas account.  Just go to Settings, and select ePortfolio.  It is free and easy to use!  You can share your ePorfolios with your co-learners here.  

Facilitators

 I will be serving as the facilitator for this course.  You can learn more about me here.