Overview
This is a proposal for a visiting scholars program spanning the
fall of 1997 and spring of 1998 which will highlight telecommunications.
The focus will be on telecommunications curricula and delivery systems.
Topics to be incorporated include the World Wide Web, Satellite Systems,
and Distance Education. Multimedia via the World Wide Web may be a topic
of focus as well.
Structure and Format
The major components of the program will be: a) seminars for UNT faculty
and doctoral candidates, b) a 3 credit-hour university course for CECS Masters
students and K-12 educators in the North Central Texas area (who are prospective
CECS Masters students), c) site visits to at least 5 educator schools to
assist in local Internet resource selection and training; and d) planning
for an interdisciplinary Masters in Telecommunications at UNT. The university
course will be offered in a weekend format so it will not interfere with
regular evening classes. It will consist in the spring of three Friday night
(6-10 PM) and Saturday (9-2) sessions, each featuring a different visiting
scholar. In addition, spring -enrolled students will meet one Saturday after
the last scholar, for research paper presentations and course closure. (Fall
enrollees will skip the introductory spring session and have one fewer assignment
due to fall activities that will continue via an incomplete into the spring.)
It is anticipated that the visiting scholars will fly in on Friday morning,
host a seminar for UNT faculty Friday afternoon, and proceed on to class
Friday evening. (Of course, UNT faculty would be invited to attend the weekend
sessions as well.) The class will continue all day Saturday, with the visitor
probably flying home Sunday morning (to conserve airfare). One topic to
be presented by each visitor will be thoughts regarding a formalized telecommunications
degree at UNT. It is anticipated that there will be follow-up communications
on this topic after each scholar leaves campus, and that the program's sponsor
(Knezek) will submit a report to the College regarding prospects for a new
degree1.
The university course will be offered during the Fall of 1997 and in the
Spring of 1998.
Telecommunications Conference
Students enrolling in the fall can take advantage of the International Conference on Telecommunications in Education (TelEd 97) to be held jointly in Austin and Mexico City Nov. 13-15, 1997, and for which the applicant is Program Co-Chair. It is anticipated that one of the fall weekend sessions will be the weekend during the international conference, in order to take advantage of scholars in the field who will be coming to Texas for this event. Students will be offered the option, as a part of their course requirements, to either attend TelEd and serve as session moderators and information gatherers, or stay in Denton and participate in sessions broadcast during regular class. Since TelEd 97 will have a Web-extended international program, there will be much for students to interact with and react to outside the live Austin-Denton exchange times.
Victor Rabinovitch is Attaché dux Telecommunications for Canada.
In his position as Assistant Deputy Minister for Canadian Heritage, he is responsible for federal government programs in the cultural and heritage areas, including: copyright law, public and commmercial broadcasting policy, cultural industries development (film, recorded music, book and magazine publishing, multimedia), museums, and arts policy. His lectures will focus on the intersection of broadcasting and telecommunications
policy.
Dates: Friday, January 30 and Saturday, January
31.
Joe Pelton of the University of Colorado formerly worked with IntelSat, is currently affiliated with the National Technological University, and has previously expressed interest in helping to establish a telecommunications master's degree here. One of his topics will be his latest book is entitled Cyberchronicles.
Dates: Friday, March 27 and Saturday, March 28.
Joke Voogt is on the Faculty of Science and Technology at the Univ. of Twente in the Netherlands. Her interests lie in teacher education for science and technology, and the use of the World Wide Web for collaborative learning. One of her topics will be discussion of the Second International Technology in Education study, of which she is part. She will also discuss the Texas - Netherlands Email moderation activities from the Netherlands point of view.
Dates: Friday, April 24 and Saturday, April
25.
Benefits to UNT Programs
This activity should enhance interest in our emerging telecommunications
offerings, by virtue of giving students tidbits of our content, delivered
by the best in the field. It should raise faculty awareness of the emerging
field of telecommunications. It should get us started toward a telecommunications
degree on campus. It should enhance enrollment and recruit excellent new
candidates for our University and our CECS Program. And, it should be fun.
Contact Information
Dr. Gerald A. Knezek, Associate Professor of Technology and Cognition
P.O. Box 311337, University of North Texas
Denton, Texas 76203
Voice: (817) 565-4195, FAX: (817) 565-2185, Email: gknezek@tenet.edu
Note: The recepient of the award will be expected to visit in one or more
school districts for at least one week in the fall semester. The school
district will be chosen by the CECS program from among applications solicited
from school districts. The recepient will be responsible for soliciting
proposals from Texas school districts as well as inviting, coordinating
the visiting scholars, enrolling students in the seminar, administrating
tests, assigning grades and other administrative duties.
Scholarly Activity:
1. Term paper (15+ pages) on educational telecommunications topic selected
by the participant and approved by the instructor, including:
APA style,
At least 5 references
Due by Friday of dead week, fall 1997 (40% of grade)
Production Activity:
2. Participation in TelEd 97 as session moderator and information gatherer,
or receiver and organizer of information in Denton for a web site posting
or a `digest' pulbication (25% of grade)
Collaborative Participation:
3. Attendance at three visiting scholar presenatations during spring 1998.
(30% of total)
Study Contract
4. Submission and approval of 1-2 page document detailing area of study
and proposed production activity (include at least 1 reference). (5% of
total)
Scholarly Activity:
1. Term paper (15+ pages) on educational telecommunications topic selected
by the participant and approved by the instructor, including:
APA style,
At least 5 references
Due: May 9, 1998
Production Activity:
2. Choose one of the following: (20% of total)
Collaborative Participation:
3. Attendance at three visiting scholar presenatations during spring 1998.
(30% of total)
Study Contract
4. Submission and approval of 1-2 page document detailing area of study and proposed production activity (include at least 1 reference). (5% of total)
Due: Saturday, January 31,
1998, 2 p.m.