|
|||||||
|
|
| | | | | |
|
EDR610
: Syllabus
|
||||||
|
NORTHERN ARIZONA UNIVERSITY CENTER FOR EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION Course Name: EDR 610, Introduction to Research Spring 2001 Instructor: Walt Coker, Ed.D. Adjunct Instructor Educational Leadership & Research Office Location: West Valley High School Office Telephone : (602) 278-4108 home (623) 772-0305 E-mail Address: Walter.Coker@nau.edu Office Hours: By prior arrangement/appointment Course Objectives: This course is designed to introduce graduate students to the elements of the research process. It begins with an overview of the key steps involved in planning and conducting research. The remainder of the course focuses upon the individual steps or elements and the choices faced by the researcher at each step. These steps include identifying the following: 1. A researchable question; 2. An appropriate research methodology to address that question; 3. A relevant population and sample; 4. Appropriate instrumentation/sources of information, including assessment of their validity and reliability; 5. Data compilation and analysis procedures. *** IMPORTANT: Since there are no prerequisites for this beginning research course, the concepts are taught at an introductory basic level. Due to the diversity of students registered for EDR 610 Introduction to Research—students with a variety of interests as well as prior exposure to research concepts in other coursework—some students may prefer a more challenging level of content and/or assignments to better fit individual levels of readiness. I am sensitive to individual student differences in readiness, background and learning preferences. I believe that our Internet-based mode of instructional interaction affords a unique opportunity to more closely tailor our communication to fit individual student's needs for pacing, level, etc. If you find that you would prefer more challenging work in order to fulfill the requirements of this course, please let me know as soon as possible. One avenue of communicating this to me might be via the required updates which will be described shortly. Of course, you are always welcome to contact me with any questions, concerns or suggestions anytime. By phone. I have in the past developed such alternative curriculum and/or assignments, and certain students have indeed found these more suitable to their needs and readiness levels. I will share these alternative, more challenging 'tracks of course completion' with you upon request. The choice will always be yours to: 1) choose one of these alternative 'tracks of course completion;' 2) propose one or more alternative ideas of your own for my consideration; or 3) opt for the current course requirements (described in greater detail, below). Such adjustments are permitted provided that they are made by mutual consent of student and instructor. What You Will Need: - Access to an Internet account at home, school or work
- Ability to access the Internet/World Wide Web site of our course. *** You must maintain your e-mail and Internet access connection for the duration of the course (entire official Spring 2001 semester: January 16 through May 10. During this time, you are expected to check for, and CAREFULLY read. ANY/ALL incoming e-mail from your instructor and/or other students. *** How the Internet Component of the Class Will Work You'll start by sending me an e-mail message addressed to: containing the following information: a) Your name; b) Your mailing address(es); c) Your contact telephone number(s); d) Your FAX number if you have one -- not required -- the phone and FAX numbers are just in case I should ever need to reach you quickly and another way (an answer to a question, a sudden change in schedule, etc.); 2. Our course materials are located on the following Web site (URL): http://jan.ucc.nau.edu/~whc/edr610-1/class/ 3. These course materials are organized as follows: Six modules: Each of which contains from one to four topics And each of these topics ends with one or more of the following types of specific assignments - Individual assignments; - Optional Group assignments - Web-based assignments. 4. You'll navigate to our Web site/URL, print out and study the topics contained in each module, and complete each type of assignment by the due dates listed in this syllabus. Specific instructions for how to submit your assignment to me are provided along with each assignment itself. 5. If you need extra help with any computer/Internet based activities, there are plenty of help and extra practice resources available! a) Our home page for the course (our preceding URL) has a "Help" button and other links to special resources and assistance; and b) The NAUOnline Web page contains similar resources, including a button/link that will let you 'road test a course online' and practice your Internet navigational skills. The NAUOnline URL is: *** I am online every day, including weekends. Thus, if you ever have a question regarding the assignments, please e-mail or call me. I will make every attempt to be back to you in 48 hours. 6. In addition to completing the above series of assignments and transmitting them to me by the due dates indicated later in this syllabus, you will be required to do the following: Send me a MINIMUM of one e-mail message as shown (no later than 5:00 p.m. Mountain Standard Time for the dates shown below) with a progress report. This progress report should contain at least the following three topics: 1. What's working well for you; 2. What's not working well —where you are experiencing problems, concerns, questions, etc. 3. Your initial ideas on some tentative solutions to #2 above (problems/concerns). Specifically: what can you and I in partnership begin to do to improve any/all areas of concern that you identify in #2, above? Progress reports are intended to help us establish direct, individual, one-on-one communication in order for me to be of maximum help and support in meeting your individual learning needs! They will also comprise 25% of your overall course grade. Please see upcoming "Grading Policy" subsection of syllabus for more specific details. These weekly updates are an important evaluation criterion of your performance in this course! You should plan to keep copies of all progress reports submitted to me for your own records. Due Dates for Progress Reports- #1 Friday 1/31/2001 #2 Wednesday 2/19/01 #3 Monday 3/28/01 #4 Monday 4/25/01
You are strongly encouraged to contact me more often (e-mail, by phone, in person, etc.) with any questions or concerns you might have! Every problem is solvable (or at least improvable) if we: a) communicate openly and honestly about it; and b) put our heads together to brainstorm possible solutions. But tell me what's working, what's not working, and how we can make things better for you! That's the purpose of our periodic contacts! Please familiarize yourself with our Web site, navigate to the URL, begin to download and print out our course materials, use the "Help" and other resource buttons provided on our Web page to gain practice in any specific task(s) with which you may be unfamiliar, etc. In addition, send me your initial e-mail message with required startup information (name, contact address(es), telephone number(s), FAX number if you have one), during the first week, 1/15/01.
*** Please note: Several Module #6 assignments require a library search (locating published examples of actual research). You are STRONGLY URGED to plan ahead regarding this library assignment (and please see upcoming syllabus discussion regarding 'the dangers of procrastination'). If you do not know how to use the facilities of Cline Library or some other local library to search for examples of published research, please let me know as soon as possible! I will put you in touch with sources of help in this regard! *** You are also required to keep additional backup copies of all assignments submitted to me. Some assignments build on previous assignments, and you will be expected to have copies of your prior submissions in order to be able to complete the new assignments. Grading Policy: Activity Percentage of Course Grade Total of all assignments 75% Four e-mail progress reports in total 25% Total 100% Additional IMPORTANT Grading & Student Evaluation Policies 1. Proficiency in both e-mail use (sending/receiving) and Internet navigation (accessing Web sites/URLs/links) are necessary so as to enable you to fully concentrate on the research material for the course. It would create an unfair 'dual burden' for you to have to learn the computing navigational skills at the same time that you are also learning the research material. Therefore, students who are discovered not to possess these stated computer prerequisites will be externally administratively withdrawn (involuntary dropped) from the course. 2. It is each student's responsibility -- not the instructor's or NAU's -- to secure dependable access to computing equipment and/or facilities in advance of the beginning of the course. 3. Students in the Spring 2001 section of EDR 610 must agree to comply with the stated due dates as per the syllabus, even if they are in a different academic major and subject to different due dates within their own individual academic departments generally. 4. Students must agree to implement in good faith any recommendations I may have for them at any time in the interests of improving their course performance. Such recommendations may include, but not necessarily be limited to, the following: (a) referral to the NAU Learning Assistance Center for individual tutorial assistance; (b) referral to the NAU Learning Assistance Center for help with study skills; (c) referral to the NAU Learning Assistance Center for help with time management skills; (d) referral to Cline Library for help with locating research sources.
A Word on "Attitude" In a course such as this, where we have opportunities to work more flexibly and directly one-on-one regarding your learning needs, it is even more critical to keep in mind how a "good attitude" can greatly facilitate our working in positive partnership on your learning needs! For purposes of this course, we might consider a "good attitude" to be defined as follows: 1. A willingness to be 'open and up-front' with me about any problems, concerns, even suggestions on 'how to make things better' in a prompt, timely, honest manner; and 2. A corresponding willingness to work actively and positively with me on resolution of any such problems, concerns, etc. This means being willing to listen to my suggestions for resolution; to offer your own reactions to my ideas; to implement whatever solutions we jointly agree upon; and to provide me with 'progress reports' on what's working, what's not working, etc. In that regard: 1. Reporting a problem to me right away and being open to my ideas for solving it would be indicative of "a very good attitude:" 2. On the other hand, keeping a problem to yourself, letting it fester, build up, upset you internally, but trying to conceal it from us and saying nothing to me about it, "pretending nothing is wrong" and/or "wishing and hoping it'll get better by itself," would be indicative of "a very bad attitude." *** Please don't hesitate to follow up with me if you would like further clarification of this vitally important course expectation! *** *** The biggest single cause of problems that arise is PROCRASTINATION ! It leads to unnecessary stress and difficulty--which can be avoided by pacing yourself appropriately! 1. Send me periodic updates of how you are doing, any questions, problems, concerns, etc., or call, or stop by during office hours; 2. Set aside regular study time (daily, weekly, etc.) to make regular progress on your course reading, assignments, and progress reports. - - - *** The primary keys to success in this course may be summarized in two steps: (1) Keeping up with the work (reading, assignments, and progress reports) in a timely manner; and (2) Notifying me PROMPTLY and HONESTLY of ANY problems you may be experiencing at ANY time! - - - Policy on Academic Honesty, Integrity, Plagiarism, etc. The policies, rules and regulations set forth in the current NAU Student Handbook shall apply to this course. For more information, please contact NAU's Office of Student Life (520-523-5181).
Just one more thing -- The greates adventure is what lies ahead. Together we will be a success.
Copyright 2000 Northern Arizona University |
