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Syllabus
LDT 100 Course Syllabus
LDT 100 World Technologies and Learning (3.0 credits): This course examines the impact of learning technologies on world cultures from a socio-technical perspective.
Welcome to World Technologies and Learning in the Learning, Design, and Technology Program. Some of you may be new to online learning and the course management system, but there is no need to be nervous! This syllabus will clarify what is required and expected of you, and there will be consistent communication throughout the course. Hopefully, you thoroughly enjoy learning about the impact of technologies on education and come away with a sense of the current status of e-learning throughout the world.
Course Overview
This course is speculative. It is about, as Freire describes above, invention and reinvention, a "restless, impatient, continuous, hopeful inquiry." Together, we will study global learning environments, designed experiences, and technologies in order to remake and reimagine them as more equitable, inclusive, and culturally sustaining. It provides you with the opportunity to co-construct a future that ensures respect, dignity, and security for those that you might teach, design, or work alongside — within or beyond classroom settings.
The primary purpose of this course is to familiarize you with the many ways that technology influences learning in cultures throughout the world, both positively and negatively. Learning, design, and technology are not neutral. The global health pandemic surfaced inequities that were always present in education in the United States and beyond, from who had internet access, to who had adequate technology, to who could create learning “pods,” and much more. Furthermore, we continue to find that racial bias, as just one example, is implicitly baked into emerging technologies like facial recognition, algorithms, and artificial intelligence. The technologies we use and that become integrated into our learning settings can reproduce society's worst attributes. They can also help dismantle them.
As a general education course that meets multiple requirements (GS, IS), we recognize that your own future professions are increasingly dynamic, with career paths becoming less predictable. Thus, through our focus on equity, inclusivity, and consequentiality, we emphasize the ability to place information into context through critical thinking to develop solutions to complex local and global problems, and to make ethical decisions based on a nuanced understanding of those with whom you work, live, and collaborate.
This is not a lecture course. Instead, we view knowledge as something that is cumulative and shared. Collectively, we will interrogate issues related to learning, design, and technology. As such, this course is unsettling: It unsettles how we think learning happens, what design means across cultural communities, and the belief that technology is a panacea for global issues. As a hybrid course, it also unsettles what counts as participation, recognizing that some learners thrive in face-to-face settings while others prefer online discussions and interaction.
We'll explore these issues together as a community grounded in five key characteristics:
- mutual respect
- shared responsibility
- opportunities to share meaningful experiences
- effective communication
- intellectual curiosity
You should feel free to share about yourself: your names, communities, questions, and experiences. If you're comfortable doing so, you can share your pronouns with the instructor and/or with the class. These dimensions of ourselves can be important and powerful resources for our intellectual engagement. APlease note that you never have to disclose personal information if you're uncomfortable doing so; the aim is simply to create a learning space in which everyone feels safe to share if they choose to.
Drop and Late-Drop Deadlines
It is your responsibility to know the drop deadline and the late-drop deadlines (and penalties) for this and every course. This course's delivery time frame (start and end dates) may differ from other Penn State courses you are taking, and that delivery time frame affects the drop and late-drop deadlines. You can confirm the specific drop and late-drop deadlines in LionPATH. In general, you have one week from the start of the course to drop it and up to the 80% delivery mark of the course to late-drop it with financial penalties.
Course Objectives
The primary purpose of this course is to familiarize you with the many ways that technology influences learning in cultures throughout the world, both positively and negatively. Exploring this issue entails an understanding of how economic, geographic, and cultural forces impact the design and integration of technologies throughout the world, and how learning technologies, once adopted, can potentially bring dramatic change to these cultures, both positive and negative.
Supporting objectives include the following:
- Describe how learning technologies and designed environments (both physical and digital) can systematically oppress some while benefiting others.
- Evaluate technological implementation and adaptation in your own educational experiences for strengths and weaknesses.
- Analyze changes in learning technologies in other cultures in the service of predicting how future changes may impact cultures.
- Assess the economic and geographic factors that influence the use of learning technologies in a variety of cultures across the world.
- Predict future changes and suggest specific plans for technological innovation and implementation for various cultures’ learning systems.
Required Course Materials
The required readings, video content, and other materials are all provided. No separate textbooks need to be purchased.
There are a number of links to articles from various media outlets (e.g., New York Times, The Atlantic, etc.). There is a chance that you may run out of free views of articles. You may get free digital access to The New York Times through the Student New Readership Program provided by Penn State Student Affairs.
The information below is for reference only:
Most World Campus courses require that students purchase materials (e.g., textbooks, specific software, etc.). To learn about how to order materials, please see the Course Materials page. You should check LionPATH approximately 3–4 weeks before the course begins for a list of required materials.This course requires that you access Penn State library materials specifically reserved for this course. You can access these materials by selecting Library Resources in your course navigation, or by accessing the Library E-Reserves Search and search for your instructor's last name.
Library Resources
Many of the University Libraries resources can be utilized from a distance. Through the Libraries website, you can
- access magazine, journal, and newspaper articles online using library databases;
- borrow materials and have them delivered to your doorstep—or even your desktop;
- get research help via email, chat, or phone using the Ask a Librarian service; and
- much more.
You must have an active Penn State Access Account to take full advantage of the Libraries' resources and service. The Off-Campus Users page has additional information about these free services.
Technical Requirements
One of the benefits of being a registered Penn State student is that you are eligible to receive educational discounts on many software titles. If you are interested in learning more about purchasing software through our affiliate vendor, please visit the Technology and Software page.
| Operating System | Canvas, Penn State's Learning Management System (LMS), supports most recent versions of Microsoft Windows and Apple Mac operating systems. To determine if your operating system is supported, please review Canvas' computer specifications. |
|---|---|
| Browser | Canvas supports the last two versions of every major browser release. It is highly recommended that you update to the newest version of whatever browser you are using. Note: Cookies must be enabled, and pop-up blockers should be configured to permit new windows from Penn State websites. |
| Additional Canvas Requirements | For a list of software, hardware, and computer settings specifically required by the Canvas LMS, please review Canvas' computer specifications. |
| Additional Software | All Penn State students have access to Microsoft Office 365, including Microsoft Office applications such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. |
| Hardware | Monitor: Monitor capable of at least 1024 x 768 resolution |
| Mobile Device (optional) | The Canvas mobile app is available for versions of iOS and Android. To determine if your device is capable of using the Canvas Mobile App, please review the Canvas Mobile App Requirements. |
Student Education Experience Questionnaire (SEEQ)
During the semester you will receive information for completing the Student Education Experience Questionnaire (SEEQ). Your participation is an opportunity to provide anonymous feedback on your learning experience. Your feedback is important because it allows us to understand your experience in this course and make changes to improve the learning experiences of future students. Please monitor email and course communications for links and availability dates.
If you need technical assistance at any point during the course, please contact the Service Desk.
For registration, advising, disability services, help with materials, exams, general problem solving, visit World Campus Student Services!
Course Schedule
Note: All due dates reflect North American eastern time (ET).
Unit 1: Learning
| Module 0 | Canvas Orientation |
|---|---|
| Readings and Viewings |
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| Activities |
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| Module 1 | What is Learning? |
|---|---|
| Readings and Viewings |
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| Activities |
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| Module 2 | How Can We Reimagine Learning? |
|---|---|
| Readings and Viewings |
Required:
Optional: |
| Activities |
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| Module 3 | What Are the Best Learning Experiences You Have Had? |
|---|---|
| Readings and Viewings |
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| Activities |
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| Module 4 | Complexities of Designing Educational Technologies |
|---|---|
| Readings and Viewings | |
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Activities |
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Unit 2: Culture
| Module 5 | Examination of Culture and Power to Inform and Understand Learning, Design, and Technology |
|---|---|
| Readings and Viewings | |
| Activities |
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| Module 6 | What Is the Culture of Technology and Innovation? |
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| Readings and Viewings |
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| Activities |
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| Module 7 | How Do Culture and Technology Evolve Together? |
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| Readings and Viewings | |
| Activities |
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Unit 3: Design
| Module 8 | How Can We Use Data to Visualize and Represent Global Issues? |
|---|---|
| Readings and Viewings | |
| Activities |
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| Module 9 | How Did COVID Exacerbate Educational Inequity and The Digital Divide? |
|---|---|
| Readings and Viewings |
Choose one of the following: |
| Activities |
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| Module 10 | Design Sprint |
|---|---|
| Readings and Viewings |
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| Activities |
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Unit 4: Technology
| Module 11 | What Are the Dangers of Technology? |
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| Readings and Viewings | |
| Activities |
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| Module 12 | How Do Fake News and Media Manipulation Produce Alternate Realities? |
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| Readings and Viewings |
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| Activities |
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| Module 13 | Racial Bias Reproduced by Facial Recognition and Artificial Intelligence |
|---|---|
| Readings and Viewings |
Choose one of the following:
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| Activities |
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Formal instruction will end on the last day of class. Provided that you have an active Penn State Access Account user ID and password, you will continue to be able to access the course materials for one year, starting from the end date of the academic semester in which the course was offered (with the exception of library reserves and other external resources that may have a shorter archival period). After one year, you might be able to access the course based on the policies of the program or department offering the course material, up to a maximum of three years from the end date of the academic semester in which the course was offered. For more information, please review the University Course Archival Policy.
Course Requirements and Grading
Achievement of the course objectives identified above will be assessed in the following manner:
| Activity | Percentage |
| Learning Community Engagement | 15% |
| Unit 1: Learning. Including discussion forums and Unit 1 Project | 25% |
| Unit 2: Culture. Including discussion forums | 10% |
| Unit 3: Design. Including discussion forums and Unit 3 Project | 25% |
| Unit 4: Technology. Including discussion forums and Unit 4 Project | 25% |
| TOTAL | 100% |
You will be asked to use the provided readings, videos, and other course support materials to create short written essays and papers, and video and multimedia responses to prompts, among other activities. Please take note of the following qualities of the grading breakdown that is presented below: Community participation is a major aspect of this course. You are expected to engage in online discussions with peers, although this may look different for each student given your goals for the course. You will self-assess based on those goals throughout your learning experience.
Grades will be based on the percentage of the total number of points acquired. The following grading scale will be used to determine your overall course grade:
| % of Points | Letter Grade |
|---|---|
|
93–100
|
A |
|
90–92.9
|
A- |
|
86–89.9
|
B+ |
| 83–85.9 | B |
|
80–82.9
|
B- |
| 77–79.9 | C+ |
| 70–76.9 | C |
| 60–69.9 | D |
| 0–59.9 | F |
Please refer to the University Grading Policy for Undergraduate Courses for additional information about University grading policies.
If, for reasons beyond the student's control, a student is prevented from completing a course within the prescribed time, the grade in that course may be deferred with the concurrence of the instructor. The symbol DF appears on the student's transcript until the course has been completed. Non-emergency permission for filing a deferred grade must be requested by the student before the beginning of the final examination period. In an emergency situation, an instructor can approve a deferred grade after the final exam period has started. Under emergency conditions during which the instructor is unavailable, authorization is required from one of the following: the dean of the college in which the candidate is enrolled; the executive director of the Division of Undergraduate Studies if the student is enrolled in that division or is a provisional student; or the campus chancellor of the student's associated Penn State campus.
For additional information please refer to the Deferring a Grade page.
Academic Integrity
According to Penn State policy G-9: Academic Integrity , an academic integrity violation is “an intentional, unintentional, or attempted violation of course or assessment policies to gain an academic advantage or to advantage or disadvantage another student academically.” Unless your instructor tells you otherwise, you must complete all course work entirely on your own, using only sources that have been permitted by your instructor, and you may not assist other students with papers, quizzes, exams, or other assessments. If your instructor allows you to use ideas, images, or word phrases created by another person (e.g., from Course Hero or Chegg) or by generative technology, such as ChatGPT, you must identify their source. You may not submit false or fabricated information, use the same academic work for credit in multiple courses, or share instructional content. Students with questions about academic integrity should ask their instructor before submitting work.
Students facing allegations of academic misconduct may not drop/withdraw from the affected course unless they are cleared of wrongdoing (see G-9: Academic Integrity ). Attempted drops will be prevented or reversed, and students will be expected to complete course work and meet course deadlines. Students who are found responsible for academic integrity violations face academic outcomes, which can be severe, and put themselves at jeopardy for other outcomes which may include ineligibility for Dean’s List, pass/fail elections, and grade forgiveness. Students may also face consequences from their home/major program and/or The Schreyer Honors College.
How Academic Integrity Violations Are Handled
World Campus students are expected to act with civility and
personal integrity; respect other students' dignity, rights, and
property; and help create and maintain an environment in which all
can succeed through the fruits of their own efforts. An environment
of academic integrity is requisite to respect for oneself and
others, as well as a civil community.
In cases where academic integrity is questioned, the Policy on Academic Integrity indicates that procedure requires an instructor to inform the student of the allegation. Procedures allow a student to accept or contest a charge. If a student chooses to contest a charge, the case will then be managed by the respective college or campus Academic Integrity Committee. If that committee recommends an administrative sanction (Formal Warning, Conduct Probation, Suspension, Expulsion), the claim will be referred to the Office of Student Accountability and Conflict Response.
All Penn State colleges abide by this Penn State policy, but review procedures may vary by college when academic dishonesty is suspected. Information about Penn State's academic integrity policy and college review procedures is included in the information that students receive upon enrolling in a course. To obtain that information in advance of enrolling in a course, please contact us by going to the Contacts & Help page .
Accommodating Disabilities
Penn State welcomes students with disabilities into the University’s educational programs. Every Penn State campus has an office for students with disabilities, including World Campus. The Disabilities and Accommodations section of the Chaiken Center for Student Success website provides World Campus students with information regarding how to request accommodations, documentation guidelines and eligibility, and appeals and complaints. For additional information, please visit the University's Student Disability Resources website.
In order to receive consideration for reasonable accommodations, you must contact the appropriate disability services office at the campus where you are officially enrolled, participate in an intake interview, and provide documentation. If the documentation supports your request for reasonable accommodations, your campus's disability services office will provide you with an accommodation letter. Please share this letter with your instructors and discuss the accommodations with them as early in your courses as possible. You must follow this process for every semester that you request accommodations.
Additional Policies
For information about additional policies regarding Penn State Access Accounts; credit by examination; course tuition, fees, and refund schedules; and drops and withdrawals, please see the World Campus Student Center website.
If you have a crisis or safety concern, mental health services are available to you as a Penn State student. Crisis and emergency contacts are available, no matter where you are located:
- Anywhere in the United States: Call the Penn State Crisis Line at 1-877-229-6400 or text LIONS to 741741. You can also contact your local crisis services or hospital for emergencies.
- Outside the United States: Please contact emergency services in your current location. You can also use the International Crisis and Emergency Services listings.
- At University Park: Assistance is available at Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS) locations on campus.
- At a Penn State branch campus: You can search for counseling information at your campus.
Veterans and currently serving military personnel and/or dependents with unique circumstances (e.g., upcoming deployments, drill/duty requirements, VA appointments, etc.) are welcome and encouraged to communicate these, in advance if possible, to the instructor in the case that special arrangements need to be made.
In order to protect your privacy, course access is limited to those individuals who have direct responsibility for the quality of your educational experience. In addition to the instructor, a teaching assistant or college administrator may be provided access in order to ensure optimal faculty availability and access. World Campus technical staff may also be given access in order to resolve technical support issues.- Students are responsible for online course content, taking notes, obtaining other materials provided by the instructor, taking tests (if applicable), and completing assignments as scheduled by the instructor. As a general rule, students should plan on logging into the course at least three times per week and spending at least three hours per course credit per week on the course, e.g., if the course is three credits, the student should plan on spending at least 9-12 hours per week on the course, just as they would in a residence course.
- Students are responsible for keeping track of changes in the course syllabus made by the instructor throughout the semester.
- Students are responsible for monitoring their grades.
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Students must contact their instructor (and teammates when working on any collaborative learning assignments) as soon as possible if they anticipate missing long periods of online time due to events such as chronic illnesses, death in the family, business travel, or other appropriate events. The instructor will determine the minimal log on time and participation required in order to meet course responsibilities. In the event of other unforeseen conflicts, the instructor and student will arrive at a solution together.
- Requests for taking exams or submitting assignments after the due dates require documentation of events such as illness, family emergency, or a business-sanctioned activity.
- Conflicts with dates on which examinations or assignments are scheduled must be discussed with the instructor or TA prior to the date of the examination or assignment.
- Students are responsible for following appropriate netiquette (network etiquette) when communicating with their instructor and classmates. For reference, see the Academic Success Kit.
- Behaviors that disrupt other students’ learning are not acceptable and will be addressed by the instructor.
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For severe and chronic problems with student disruptive behavior, the following will be applied for resolution:
- Senate Committee on Student Life policy on managing classroom disruptions: Office of Student Accountability and Conflict Response.
- Penn State Values.
Penn State takes great pride to foster a diverse and inclusive environment for students, faculty, and staff. Acts of intolerance, discrimination, or harassment due to age, ancestry, color, disability, gender, gender identity, national origin, race, religious belief, sexual orientation, or veteran status are not tolerated and can be reported through Educational Equity via the Report Bias webpage.
Hybrid Course
A hybrid course at Penn State is delivered across multiple modalities. This course is half face-to-face/in-person/in-class and half online. The total workload and hours of engagement will be equivalent to a course that is delivered via traditional face-to-face/in-class means. In this course students must complete the online portion of the readings, assignments, and activities each week prior to attending the face-to-face portion of the class (unless, of course, the online activity is specifically designated as a response to the in-class content).
Class Attendance
Religious observances are not counted as absences, though observing students must inform the instructor in advance that they will not be present. Official University activities are excused absences if the student informs the instructor in advance and provides appropriate paperwork. Absence due to sickness does not require a doctor’s note, but it is the student’s obligation to inform the instructor promptly and to bring to the instructor’s attention extended medical absences as soon as possible. It is the responsibility of the absent student to catch up on any missed material and do any makeup work required by the instructor.
Disclaimer: Please note that the specifics of this Course Syllabus are subject to change, and you will be responsible for abiding by any such changes. Your instructor will notify you of any changes.