26-T2 – ICT and Education: From Theory to Practice

Course coordinators:

• Dr. Omid Noroozi, Wageningen University and Research
• Dr. Pantelis M. Papadopoulos, University of Twente
• Dr. Mohammadreza Farrokhnia, University of Twente
• Chris Witteveen Msc., University of Groningen

Course description

The course offers a broad overview of how learning theories and instructional design inform the system requirements of contemporary educational technologies across four sessions. Beginning with instructional design in the first session, it explores multimedia principles, models, and guidelines for developing meaningful technological tools for online learning. The second session focuses on how integrating technology into the learning experience can support the development of 21st-century skills, and it also includes a UNESCO workshop that provides practical guidance on the use of Generative AI in education and research and comes with a certificate. In the third session, the emphasis shifts to innovative and emerging technologies, particularly the applications of learning analytics and (Gen)AI in educational contexts. Finally, the fourth session centers on authentic learning environments, introducing a range of tools that can bring authentic context into learning scenarios, such as serious games, simulations, and virtual reality, while also offering students opportunities for hands-on activities. Throughout the course, practical and ethical issues related to the use of technology in teaching and educational research are discussed, and the combination of lectures, hands-on activities, and guest lectures by experts in the field is expected to provide additional opportunities for students to connect the course learning goals with their ongoing research activities.

Course learning goals

By the end of the course, the students should be able to:

• Demonstrate knowledge about current topics and developments in educational technology
• Analyze the instructional design of technology-based learning environments
• Identify the potential ethical issues of a technology-based learning environment
• Engage in discussions about the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of research on technology-based learning
• Demonstrate knowledge about the role of technology in developing 21^st-century skills
• Discuss different techniques for learning analytics
• Discuss the role of artificial intelligence in promoting self-regulated learning
• Analyze how the affordances of the discussed technologies could be used to answer research questions in their own research project
• Leading a discussion on a specific topic of their choice (related to technology and education)

Requirements

The students should have an academic master’s degree, but no further requirements need to be fulfilled. 

Type of course

Face-to-face and online

Meetings

Meetings start at 10 AM and end at 5 PM with a one-hour lunch break in between. Given that the course counts for 3 ECTS, 84 hours should be invested to pass the course successfully. In this regard, the following time distribution is foreseen:

• 28 hours of face-to-face and online meetings
• 56 hours for home assignments

Assignment Structure

Before each session, students will be asked to prepare a four-slide PowerPoint presentation. This format will remain consistent throughout the course and will serve as a reflective backbone. However, the focus of the presentations will shift over time: from introducing and explaining your own PhD project to reflecting on the topics discussed in the previous session.

Pre-session 1 assignment

Aside from reading the required reading materials, will be asked to prepare a brief PowerPoint presentation about your PhD project. The presentation should last approximately 10 minutes and contain a maximum of four slides. Each participant will be giving this presentation.

The purpose of this presentation is to help us, and the other participants, get to know you and your research better as well as provide us with the foundation upon which you will reflect throughout the course. In your presentation, you will be asked to address the following questions:

• Who are you, and what is your PhD project about?
• What are the planned or possible chapters of your PhD dissertation, and which chapter relates most closely to this course?
• What have you achieved in relation to your PhD project so far? You may briefly share findings, publications, or papers that are currently under review.
• What do you hope to gain from this course?

Sessions:

See the Course Manual for more information on

• The assignments
• Reading materials
• Set up of the various course sessions