Educational Software

Code:

MM0048

Acronym:

SE

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Education

Instance: 2014/2015 - 2S

Active?	Yes
Web Page:	https://moodle.fe.up.pt/1213/course/view.php?id=1015
Responsible unit:	Department of Informatics Engineering
Course/CS Responsible:	Master in Multimedia

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
MM	14	Syllabus	1	-	6	45	162

Teaching language

Suitable for English-speaking students

Objectives

 

1. Enable students to adopt, in a sustained and progressive manner, new practices of selection, analysis and evaluation of digital resources.

 

1. Acknowledge the importance of developing tools for the pedagogical potentiation of digital resources.

 

1. Know the main stages of educational software production process.

 

1. Plan the conception of educational software and other educational tools for the teaching practice.

 

1. Widen the range of collaboration assets.

 

1. Increase the skills of oral idea presentation, clearly and accurately.

 

Learning outcomes and competences

 

1. Acknowledge the wide range of educational software: characteristics, nuances and types of usage.

 

1. Skills of critical evaluation, according to quality, of existing educational software.

 

1. Capacity to work in script writing of educational software pieces, understanding its importance in the integrated development process.

 

1. Capacity to work in multidisciplinary teams in the development and application of multimedia projects in the teaching practice.

 

1. Development of important transferable skills for professional life.

 

Working method

Presencial

Program

DEMONSTRATING, CRITICAL ANALYSIS AND EVALUATION OF EDUCATIONAL SOFTWARE
1.1– Some examples of educational software: nuances and and types of usage
1.2– Tools for the pedagogical potentiation of digital resources: exploration and WebQuests scripts
1.3– Models and practices of educational software evaluation
1.4– Quality dimensions of an educational software piece
1.5– Tools and evaluation techniques of educational software

2-AT THE BACKSTAGES OF EDUCATIONAL SOFTWARE: WORKFLOW IN THE PROCESS OF PRODUCTION OF A REAL CASE
2.1 – Stage 1: Preparation and Script Writing
2.2 – Stage 2: Illustration
2.3 – Stage 3: Development
2.4 – Stage 4: Revision/Correction/Approval3-

3-GAME- BASED LEARNING
3.1 – Social and psychological aspects of games
3.2 – Serious Games: concept, methodology of development and types of application
3.3 – Gamification: concept, methodology of development and types of application

Mandatory literature

Mayer, Richard, E. ; The Cambrigde Handbook of Multimedia Learning, 2005

Teaching methods and learning activities

- Classes with theoretical component.
- Practical testing of educational software.
 - Development of individual and group work.
 - Oral presentation of assignments.

Some parts of classes will have a “master” style (in the good sense of the term) although we will encourage student participation. We will use PowerPoint presentations, as guideline to students, but we will frequently use simulations, digital games, dynamic pictures and other virtual tools.
All the texts, simulations and materials associated with the subject will be made available in the associated e-learning platform. This virtual area potentiates and “extends” the classroom, in time and space: the forums will give continuation to chats, the texts to readings, the simulations can be revisited, and the students' documents can be shared.
A bibliography list, accessible in paper, will also be available, in most cases, in digital format. Classes will be very pro-active, stimulating the students' participation, and, in some cases, group work will be undertaken. The students will have small assignments, to be developed whether individually or in small groups. These assignments will be submitted by upload or in the subject's digital platform and, some of them, will be presented orally. Paper versions will be avoided as possible.

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation without final exam

Assessment Components

Designation	Weight (%)
Participação presencial	5,00
Teste	20,00
Trabalho escrito	75,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Designation	Time (hours)
Elaboração de projeto	80,00
Estudo autónomo	40,00
Frequência das aulas	42,00
Total:	162,00

Eligibility for exams

2/3 attendance rate. Some absences may be compensated with virtual participations.

Calculation formula of final grade

Evaluation will comprehend formative and continuous components, mixing flexible parameters with more “conventional” ones, such as a test. There will be self-evaluation and hetero-evaluation moments at the developed assignment presentations. The evaluation of the practical tasks will depend on the task itself and the presentation. In every case, the students activities are typically marked by four criteria:

a) Scientific accuracy.
b) Creativity/originality.
c) Clarity.
d) Commitment/presentation.

In addition to the tasks, a relatively short theoretical test will take place with a group of open questions (the student chooses two in three). On a 0 to 20 scale, the final grade will be as according:

A-    Formative, continuous evaluation
B-    Evaluation of the completed task: webquest or exploration script
C-    Evaluation of the educational software project developed
D-    Final written test.

Distribution:
A-    5 %
B-    25%
C-    50 %
D-    20 %

Each students' final grade will be: 0,05 X A + 0,25 x B + 0,5 x C + 0,20 x D

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

As per the ones described in FEUP. Exceptions may be considered in each case.

Classification improvement

No final exam. The final grade can only be improved during the special exam period, through the actual improvement of the assignments.