Descriptions
GRIT 541 Video Communications 3 credits
This course surveys a fast-changing technology that has had immeasurable impact on communications, education, business and entertainment. Digital technology and increasing computer power have enabled sound and video to be manipulated much the same as graphics and text to create an explosion of multimedia materials. The course provides an historical perspective of video communications, giving the student practical experience with video tools. Class assignments are shared, either electronically with classmates and instructor or through cooperative planning and/or construction of video projects.
GRIT 550 Emerging Technology Trends in Classrooms and Corporations 3 credits
This class provides an introduction to emerging technology trends and how classrooms and corporations are using these technologies and trends to further their missions and goals. Participants will actively research and write in order to gain: an understanding of new technologies in schools and corporations; an overview of new learners/workers; and an understanding of current thinking and learning theories.
GRIT 551 Networking Organizations 3 credits
Students investigate the basic concepts of networking technology, the problems and promise of online communications for the business, service, community, and educational environments, and related research. They design a networking configuration with hardware and software specifications, cost estimates, and probable impact on the environment for which it is designed. They research appropriate networks for specific constituencies. Readings address the ethical issues inherent in the networking of an organization.
GRIT 593 Web Connections 3 credits
This is an introduction to web design and development. Students plan, design and construct an interactive, multimedia website relevant to their personal or professional interest using HTML and Macromedia Dreamweaver. They demonstrate an understanding of web design and usability principles by applying them to the design of their website.
Prerequisites: GRIT 550 or GRED 615
GRIT 598 Scientific Inquiry: Tools for Research 3 credits
This course focuses on epistemological issues and examines the basic elements inherent in the design and execution of research. Its overall purpose is to introduce the student to the nature of knowledge and the process of conducting educational research and its attendant methodological and ethical issues. Students develop a problem statement, review the literature, and begin to create a research design for their research projects.
GRIT 645 Introduction to Online Learning 3 credits
The purpose of this course is to guide educators and trainers in the formulation of norms and guidelines for interactive online communications in collaborative, problem-solving modes. Topics include: the integrity of an academic online program, alternative delivery systems, administrative and technology requirements, faculty development, and program evaluation. Students research the literature on effective online instructional programs and work in teams to design a program for a given population.
GRIT 646 Online Learning: Program Design 3 credits
This course is for educators and trainers and provides a foundation for planning and designing web-based training (WBT) programs. The course looks at critical program design components including course design and delivery through interactive, web-based technologies. Students experience online learning by participating in a dynamic, interactive learning environment that provides an overview of instructional and operational issues influencing online learning.
GRIT 651 Technology-Based Learning Environments 3 credits
The focus of this course is on the development and evaluation of a constructivist technology-based, project-driven environment. Students design and implement a plan for transforming an aspect of a learning environment. In evaluating their project they utilize observations, journals, and other data-collection strategies. They bring their project to closure with a written report on their research as well as an in-class presentation of the experience.
Summer only
GRIT 654 Cognition and Accessible Technologies 3 credits
Students examine the fundamentals of technology-based learning and gain comprehensive understanding of technologies accessible to novice and non-technology-oriented practitioners. Course emphasis is on an understanding of the learning process and the planning and evaluation of activities that utilize these accessible technologies effectively. The course culminates with the creation of learning projects relevant to students’ current or prospective roles in instructional technology.
GRIT 661 Studio TV: Introduction 3 credits
Students script and direct a studio interview using production techniques, such as camera operation, lighting, graphics, audio, and staging components of a state-of-the-art studio production. The class is application-based and students work in teams to plan and develop short quality TV presentations. They are required to participate in all productions and critically evaluate their final projects.
Prerequisite: GRIT 541
Spring only
GRIT 671 Principles of Instructional Design 3 credits
Project management and basic skills in instructional design and development are covered in this course. Student design projects will show evidence of understanding of needs assessment, competent determination of instructional content, accurate identification of learner characteristics and effective instructional strategies. Class activities include extensive collaboration and adequate reflection on situations for which learning or other solutions may be required.
Specifically designed for Instructional Design for E-Learning specialization
GRIT 674 Leadership Styles 3 credits
Leadership roles in change management and organizational restructuring are addressed through literature review and analysis of topical issues. Topics include: chaos theory, constructivist practices in corporate and institutional environments, leadership theories, classic examples of management theory, Total Quality (TQM) issues and futuristic research. The research of Deming, Kouzes and Posner, Hesselben, and Wheatley are among the works studied.
Summer only
GRIT 680 Rise of Global Communities 3 credits
The emergence of new information and communications technologies is changing the fabric of our society, reshaping how we work and participate as citizens in a growing global community. In this changing world, the boundary of local and global community becomes blurred. While in diverse settings, those who embark on global interventions find themselves crossing global boundaries. This course will examine the implications of these changes for embarking on global interventions that result in the development of global communities.
Summer only
GRIT 685 Technology Planning 3 credits
Designed for the student intending to acquire ITS certification, this course prepares students to construct a comprehensive technology plan as required by the Pennsylvania Department of Education at the building and district level. Learning is project oriented as students engage in the process of constructing such a plan in an actual or hypothetical school and district and interact with technology administrators in area schools. Other leadership and administrative skills are developed as well.
Specifically designed for ITS specialization
GRIT 687 Technology and the Administrator 3 credits
This group-oriented course emphasizes the use of technology in school administration and examines the role of the administrator as a technological leader. Students work individually and as a team to research, analyze, and synthesize current topics including technology planning, group processes, leadership, and legal and ethical issues.
GRIT 690 Emerging Technologies: Evaluation and Implementation 3 credits
This course serves two distinct but related purposes: to examine the history of curriculum and instruction in the United States and to formalize a research project on current technology-rich environments. The student completes the following sections of the required research project: introduction, design of the study, data collection, and data analysis. With their readings on the history of curriculum and the results of their research on current practice, students write a short paper on future orientations of learning. Thus, they have analyzed curriculum and learning through three lenses: the past, the present, and potential futures.
Prerequisites: GRIT 550 or GRED 615
GRIT 695 Leadership in Instructional Technology (Formerly GRAT 761) 3 credits
This is a group-oriented course with goals critical to the Instructional Technology Specialist Standards. Students work in teams to research, analyze, and synthesize current topics as follows: assistive technology, legal and ethical issues, grant writing and characteristics of team leadership. Professionals from the field interact with the students on relevant topics. Readings include current documents relating to instructional technology.
Prerequisite: GRIT 685
Specifically designed for ITS specialization
GRIT 699 Image Processing in Multimedia Design 3 credits
Students apply principles of instructional and graphic design to develop multimedia graphics and images and then integrate their original graphics into a web-based portfolio presentation. The course provides an introduction to traditional black and white photography, as well as a focus on state of the art graphics technologies such as: Adobe Photoshop, Macromedia Flash, and Macromedia Dreamweaver. Students are also required to research issues related to the ethical use and effective implementation of imagery in educational and/or corporate contexts.
Prerequisite: GRIT 593 or equivalent
GRIT 700 Technology Integration in Multimedia Development 3 credits
This introduction to multimedia initiates course participants into the theory and practice of multimedia development. Students explore and analyze the various software and hardware technologies necessary for the creation, storage and distribution of multimedia elements. They investigate the different authoring tools used in the design of multimedia presentations as well as explore the concepts important in the design of interactive presentations. They analyze the legal and ethical issues pertaining to the use and distribution of media elements. Adobe Premiere is the required software application.
Prerequisites: GRIT 541, 699
GRIT 701 Practicum and Portfolio (Formerly GRAT 766) 3 credits
This course offers students in the Pennsylvania Department of Education Certification Program the opportunity to complete their required site-based internship in instructional technology. This practicum is planned with a faculty member who supervises the student in the process.
Prerequisite: GRIT 695
ITS specialization only
GRIT 702 Practicum and Portfolio Presentation (Formerly GRAT 767) 3 credits
Students demonstrate through their portfolios their achievement of the Pennsylvania Department of Education standards. In their preparation for the ITS Certification Interview, students demonstrate their technical expertise, organizational skills, and presentation and leadership potential.
Prerequisite: GRIT 695
ITS specialization only
GRIT 708 Video Production 3 credits
This course surveys a quickly changing technology, digitized video. Designed for casual as well as professional use, the Media 100 system has many applications for the professional in communications, education, business and entertainment. The course offers practical experience with state-of-the-art video tools, provides a current perspective of video communications, and prepares its participants for a digital future.
Prerequisite: GRIT 541
GRIT 710 Applied Instructional Design (Formerly GRAT 702) (Summer only) 3 credits
Flash, the popular web software for animated graphics provides the software context for this course. Students research current issues related to the impact of authoring software on the learning process. Relationships between creativity, copyright law, and rapidly changing technology are also examined by students in this course. Projects developed with Flash may become part of the student’s thesis research.
Prerequisite: GRIT 700
GRIT 727 Online Learning (GIC) 3 credits
This course requires students to survey the growing body of research on the effectiveness of online communications in both instructional and business designs for virtual communities. Students discuss the evolution of these communities and evaluate and critique related research with an emphasis on current design, training, and implementation models. They identify and present models of best design and practice in corporate and academic environments. In meeting the research and presentation requirements students focus their projects in their specific areas of interest.
Prerequisite: GRIT 646
GRIT 734 Visual Literacy 3 credits
This course examines the rapidly evolving concept of visual learning and focuses on how the emergence of media and imagery is transforming education in the 21st century. Students will be introduced to the cognitive and aesthetic aspects of visual literacy that include the elements of visual and multimedia communication, the principles of design, and the complexity of multimodality learning environments. The course offers strategies and guidelines for the development and presentation of, analysis, evaluation, and integration of visual learning materials.
Prerequisite: GRIT 593 or equivalent
GRIT 736 Motivation: A Technology Perspective 3 credits
This course examines the unique motivational benefits of instructional technology. Through examination of theory regarding natural curiosity and the human desire to learn, students reach a better understanding of how technology motivates. The knowledge that illuminates this important and perhaps neglected issue regarding learning is drawn from literature in attribution theory, emotional intelligence, and the nature of creativity. Also addressed is the need to view teaching and learning holistically, as more than cognition alone.
GRIT 738 Intelligences: From Games to Creative Genius 3 credits
This course examines the changing conceptualization of intelligence and how it is related to our culture and expectations within the workplace. The connection between computer games and job performance, the new role of “right-brain” thinking, and the nature of creativity are addressed. Intelligences examined include genius, emotional intelligence, social intelligence and a new perspective on artificial intelligence. Students will be expected to apply understandings of intelligences to projects and collaborative efforts.
GRIT 743 Internship in Leadership and Organizational Change (GIC) 3 credits
This course offers the student both a research and professional development opportunity in that the student works as a research intern in an office, organization or other environment. Students select an organization or institution involved in change that incorporates state-of-the-art technologies. They research the role of leadership in the change process and analyze the impact of changes on structures, roles, and relationships. The data collected in this project form the basis for the student’s seminar research project.
GRIT 748 Transformational Technologies: Research Applications (GIC) 3 credits
Students may take a second-level authoring software course as an independent study to continue work on the development of a program begun in the first level course. This second-level course may be required for completion of the research project begun in an earlier course.
Prerequisite: GRIT 710
GRIT 750 Transformational Environments: Analysis and Evaluation (GIC) 3 credits
Students design the details of their research projects and continue to evaluate their planned data collection strategies. They test their projects on a pilot population and, after analysis of the results, make necessary revisions in their data collection strategies and evaluation methodologies. They use this pilot project as the base for their research for a master’s thesis. Evaluation of the project should include both assessment of the subject’s responses/activities and a qualitative component derived from open-ended questions and interviews, as appropriate.
Prerequisite: GRIT 598
GRIT 780 Workshop: Selected Topics 1 credit
This course offers the opportunity to gain knowledge and skill in a specific area that, while relevant to the student’s profession, may not be possible, feasible or convenient to obtain as a portion of the student’s required or elective 3 credit courses. Workshop: Selected Topics is typically offered in an accelerated workshop format.
GRIT 781 Selected Topics (GIC) 3 credits
This course offers an opportunity for an advanced student to develop a project in response to a specific problem. Topics are selected from current research on curricular issues, leadership, restructured organizations, distance learning or potential roles of state-of-the-art technologies in emerging environments. Participants review the literature on the selected topic, develop related technical skills, and prepare an original blueprint for the implementation of these technologies in the solution project. Students in the Instructional Design specialization design an interactive virtual environment that they test on a given population. The results of this project form the basis for their seminar research paper.
GRIT 791 Seminar in Instructional Technology 3 credits
Students complete and present, in both written and oral presentation formats, the results of the research projects begun in earlier courses. They continue to analyze the literature in their specific areas of interest and consider additional activities in their development as professionals such as leadership roles, publication, and workshop and conference presentations.
Prerequisite: GRIT 598
GRIT 795 Thesis Guidance (GIC) 1 credit
Students who do not complete a thesis in GRIT 791 Seminar in Instructional Technology may qualify to register for this course. Qualification depends upon the extent to which course requirements for GRIT 791 have been met as well as the circumstances that prevent the student from completing the thesis. Grade is pass/fail.
GRIT 798 Ethical Leadership and the Future 3 credits
To ensure that Instructional Technology graduates have a comprehensive understanding of the impact of technology on society, this course reviews the literature addressing issues surrounding the use of technology, and encourages students to synthesize their knowledge in the construction of a personal philosophy that will facilitate responsible leadership in technology. Course activities include the development of a collaborative multimedia project presenting possible scenarios for the future of technology in society.
