Technology Applications Teacher Certification Preparation

What is TATC?

Technology Applications Teacher Certification preparation program offers the opportunity for an intensive and rigorous online program of study in Technology Applications. The preparation for certification that are addressed through the program are High School (8-12) or All-level (EC-12) Technology Applications Teaching Certificates.

Teachers can take TATC courses for continuing professional education credit and targeted enhancement of their knowledge pertaining to the topic at hand.

The TATC courses taken as a whole prepares educators to design, implement, and teach the Technology Applications. The TATC coursework covers a wide range of topics to prepare educators to teach Digital Graphics/Animation, Web Mastering, Multimedia, Desktop Publishing and Video Technology at the all-level or high school assignment.

Courses are offered online, so educators are never required to come physically to any location. Instead educators may attend anytime, anyplace where they have Internet and World Wide Web access. Courses incorporate components such as synchronous learning (chat, web conferencing), and asynchronous learning (discussion boards, document sharing) into the online learning experience.

Because of the intensive nature of online instruction, participants should expect to spend a minimum of 8 - 15 hours or more per week on each online class. Courses are approximately six weeks in length. Each participant will be able to communicate with their instructors by email, telephone, "chat" room office hours, and/or web conferencing.

TATC integrates classroom instruction with production and provides hands-on experience in the collaborative process. The courses that comprise TATC offer more than just a quick "how to" or product overview. Not only will these courses assist in developing a better understanding of the topics, they will provide a wealth of information on resources, course support, and tips and suggestions for making the teaching experience a more positive one.

Faculty

Coursework

Courses

Participants cover a wide range of topics for the courses, including TA foundation and portfolio concepts, digital graphics/animation, multimedia, desktop publishing, web authoring, video technology, and a variety of uses of technology tools. The courses incorporate project-based outcomes.

The courses are a study of the practices, theories, and protocols of each of the Technology Application courses. The courses will not be a "how to" set of courses for any one piece of software but will focus on the concepts necessary to teach the TA courses and apply the TA TEKS in preparation for the certification exam.

Demo, Trial or Freeware software resources will be provided to work with. Scope and sequence, rubrics, product descriptors, curriculum outlines, project ideas and training sites along with other resources will be available during the progression of the courses.

Course Descriptions: These six-week online courses of study will confidently and accurately prepare educators for the design related aspects of the EC-12/8-12 Technology Applications certification exam. Course content will prime educators to design, implement, and teach the TA curriculum.

Technology Applications Foundations Course and Certification Preparation

• After successfully completing the Foundations course you will be able to identify and evaluate the elements and principles of design and apply them effectively for communication across the medias. Through analysis of the impact of the media arts on society you will be able to show others how the media arts has and will continue to benefit them. Activities, projects, and participation in discussions will also enable you to demonstrate your knowledge of technology terminology and evaluating products based on a set of criteria. The exploration of the portfolio process will confidently and accurately prepare you for the TExET.

Technology Applications Digital Graphics/Animation Course and Certification Preparation

• Upon completion, you will be able to create images, text and graphics. You will also be able to distinguish between the image formats and edit the images as necessary. We will manipulate graphics and text using design and color theories. We will also draw a path to animation by understanding terms, using animation techniques, and color theories to build a foundation for creating animated scenes. We will work with sound and other scripting languages to create an animation or movie.
  
• We will work with various digital input devices. One of our main focuses throughout this course will be to produce "quality" products using several principles of design. We will employ our knowledge to create an animation while understanding our delivery, purpose and audience. We will work to explore the attributes needed to create a variety of products, such as posters, brochures, magazines, and business cards.

Technology Applications Web Authoring Course and Certification Preparation

• In this course, you will learn to gather information from a variety of electronic resources, organize that information effectively into a web-based presentation, and publish that presentation on the World Wide Web. You will learn a variety of techniques to design web pages that communicate effectively to a variety of audiences, platforms, and purposes.
• Explore ways to make your web site operate more efficiently and communicate your message as effectively as possible. We will be working with advanced web design techniques, CSS, image optimization, and web site evaluation, as well as learning Javascript to help make our sites interactive.

Technology Applications Multimedia Course and Certification Preparation

• Upon completion of this course, you will better understand all of the concepts and skills that go into making a multimedia presentation and a multimedia course. We will integrate sound and other images into a multimedia presentation.
  
• We are going to develop a "class" webpage with all of the information you will need to start the school year. We are going to incorporate sound, video, animation, etc. in our final project.

Technology Applications Desktop Publishing Course and Certification Preparation

• Upon successful completion, you will be able to plan, organize and deliver instruction for all students in desktop publishing and evaluate for the effective use of the terminology and concepts in accepted industry use. Successful students will be able to apply digital keyboard standards in word processing, demonstrate the ability to import and export elements, identify tasks in a project, solve common productivity issues and apply basic elements of design.
  
• Students will also demonstrate design requirements to suit the desktop publishing requirements for a broad spectrum of design needs.
  
• Communication skills through the medium of desktop publishing will be applied to all works.
• In this course we are going to journey into how we can use it in class settings. We are going to develop your "class" publication with all of the information you will need to start the school year.

Technology Applications Video Technology Course and Certification Preparation

• An introduction to digital video production. We will cover video production terminology, lighting, camera techniques, non-linear editing, pre-production, production and post-production.
• You will become more proficient in your use of editing software, camera techniques, sound, and production planning.

How Do I Register?

• Courses are registered for individually and are scheduled as ESC Region 11 catalog workshops.
• Register for an individual course at https://mis.esc11.net Registration is only available per semesters.
• Individual course fee:
  • $300
  • For all ESC Region 11 SSA Title IID districts these individual courses would be free.
  
  

What Is Online Learning?

How can I tell if online education will work for me?

If you:

• are a motivated student with good writing skills
• have a computer with a word processor,
• Internet connection, browser (and basic skills using them all); and
• work well independently.
  

Take the Quiz...

Online Self-Evaluation Quiz http://illinois.online.uillinois.edu/IONresources/onlineoverview/selfeval.html

Is Online Learning For Me? http://ccc.redirect2.ecollege.com/index.real?action=islearn

Are distance-learning courses for Me? http://www.cod.edu/dept/CIL/CIL_Surv.htm

Other resources that you might find of interest in assessing online learning are:

What Makes a Successful Online Student? http://illinois.online.uillinois.edu/IONresources/onlineoverview/StudentProfile.html

Tips for Online Success http://illinois.online.uillinois.edu/IONresources/tips.html

What Every Student Should Know About Online Learning http://illinois.online.uillinois.edu/online/course1/reid.htm

How to Succeed in Distance Learning Courses http://www.terra.cc.oh.us/detips.html

Connie Swiderski

TATC Program Administrator

ESC Region XI

817/740-7611

cswiderski@esc11.net