As California begins widespread adoption of the Common Core Standards, proficiency in the use of technology will become necessary for teachers and administrators. All of the Common Core Standards have technology embedded within them, and students will be required to have mastery in different levels of technology use as they progress through the different grade levels. The Technology Skills Matrix for Students K-12 identifies the recommended digital literacy and technology skills to support the California Common Core State Standards.
The University of La Verne’s Educational Studies Program prepares our future teachers to use technology by introducing them to hybrid and online learning. Students will also find different technology tools embedded throughout their courses within this major. Examples of this are the use of ePortfolios, online activities (i.e., blogs, wikis), screen casting, hyperlinked media, and web albums as well as the use of different mobile devices.
Our hybrid courses are designed to give the students the face-to-face instruction they desire, while enhancing their learning with online activities. The time ratio of in-class vs. online is typically 3:2. For a five-hour weekly class, a student can expect to be with their instructor for three hours, and the remaining two hours of seat time will be conducted online.
Why Fully Online?
By design, some of the classes offered in the Educational Studies major are offered completely online. An example of this would be EDUC 306, Writing for Educators. By offering this course online, the instructor has a better opportunity to provide one-on-one feedback to students about their writing skills. This intensive, individualized feedback would not be possible in a class that meets in a lecture/seminar setting.
Additionally, the online format of the class helps students become comfortable with learning online, which enhances learning in their hybrid classes as well.