Question 1

What will I be able to do upon completing this course?

Accepted Answer

How have your abilities to connect with others changed because of Facebook, Instagram or FaceTime?  In this course you’ll explore how our ability to stay connected and make connections in a mobile society have been enabled or inhibited by technology.  You’ll explore technical concepts including software engineering processes, heuristics, algorithmic running time, and digital image encoding and processing.  After successfully completing this course you will be able to:
1 Debate various ways in which ubiquitous and connected technologies have benefited or inhibited our ability to maintain and create new relationships.
2 Explain how design decisions have influenced the Facebook news feed algorithm, the value of heuristics, how algorithm’s running time is analyzed, and be able to model image encoding, represent colors in multiple ways, and explain image modifications such as filters and blurs.
3 Enact pedagogical knowledge in computer science-specific contexts, including interactive and active learning.  Utilize the CSTA Computer Science K-12 standards and interactive learning suggestions for CS to improve a lesson plan of your choice.
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Question 2

Can this course help me get the California Supplementary Authorization to teach Computer Science?

Accepted Answer

Yes!  This course is designed as component of a Specialization that is 1 of a set of 4 Specializations (all will be offered on Coursera) that will support the requirements of the California Supplementary Authorization.  Additionally, the Specialization may support credentialing or authorization in other states.  However, most states require a transcript from an accredited institution of higher education.  See the FAQ question on “Will I earn university credit” to find out how to get such a transcript.

Question 3

Will I earn university credit for completing this course?

Accepted Answer

Yes, you can earn UCSD credit for completing this course, but only by completing the full Teaching Impacts of Technology in K-12 Education Specialization. In addition, you will need to (1) Enroll in an additional UCSD Extension course before completing the capstone ($500)  and (2), complete part of the capstone project via an online proctoring service.  After this is done, your Specialization course grades will be accumulated and a transcript with your final grade (both letter grade or pass-only supported) will be issued from UCSD with 4 graduate-level units.   These are eligible to count towards the California Supplementary Authorization.

Question 4

What background knowledge is necessary to succeed in this course?

Accepted Answer

There is no background knowledge, neither in education nor in Computer Science, required to take this course - just an interest in learning computational concepts about the technology that surrounds us and how to best teach those concepts to others. 
Basic proficiency in the use of Googledocs will be needed to complete assignments within the course. Google help documentation will be provided, and with some extra attention, first time use of Googledocs should not be a barrier to successful completion of the course.

Question 5

What is the value of taking this course online?

Accepted Answer

By providing this course online, our goal is to enable you to master all the material in the course at a pace that is appropriate for you, rather than the typical processes of picking a specific date and measuring how much you can learn by that date of in-person courses.  Instead of the relatively bigger chunks of learning work found in traditional courses (e.g. go to class, read the book, do homework, study for the test) this course has a lot of smaller and more diverse activities that guide your learning experience. We use a lot of online features to
Break learning into smaller chunks
Engage you more in thinking and discussing content with others
Better integrate and more frequently test your knowledge (with a focus on mastery, allowing you to go back and learn what you missed then come test again)
Give you practice in teaching-specific skills you will need as an educator (finding and evaluating online teaching resources, critiquing and modifying lesson plans)
We hope you enjoy and learn a lot!

Question 6

When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?

Accepted Answer

To access the course materials, assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience when you enroll in a course.  You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid. The course may offer &#x27;Full Course, No Certificate&#x27; instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.

Question 7

What will I get if I subscribe to this Specialization?

Accepted Answer

When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile.

Question 8

Is financial aid available?

Accepted Answer

Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.