|
Syllabus
***EDR 610 Fall Syllabus
NORTHERN ARIZONA UNIVERSITY
CENTER FOR EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION
Course Name:
|
EDR 610, Introduction to Research
Fall 2002 |
Instructor:
|
Mary I. Dereshiwsky, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Educational Leadership & Research |
Office Location:
|
Eastburn Education Building,
Room 207K (2nd floor) |
Office Telephone:
|
(928) 523-1892 |
E-mail Address:
|
statcatmd@aol.com |
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 then focuses upon the individual steps or
elements and the choices faced by the researcher at each step. These
steps include identifying the following:
- A researchable question;
- An appropriate research methodology to address that question;
- A relevant population and sample;
- Appropriate instrumentation/sources of information, including
assessment of their validity and reliability;
- Data compilation and analysis procedures.
|
*** IMPORTANT: Due to the fact that there are no prerequisites
for this beginning research course, the concepts are taught at an introductory
basic level. However, due to the diversity of students who register
for EDR 610 Introduction to Research-students with a variety of major
areas of interest 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 their individual levels of readiness.
I am always supremely sensitive to individual student differences
in readiness, background and learning preferences. I believe that our
Internet-based mode of instructional interaction affords us a unique opportunity
to more closely tailor our communication to fit each student's individual
needs for pacing, level, etc.
Therefore, 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. Please remember that you are always
welcome to contact me with any questions, concerns or suggestions anytime.
I have in the past developed such alternative curriculum and/or assignments,
and a number of students have indeed found these more suitable to their
needs and readiness levels. I will be glad to 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
Ideally this should be your student NAU dana account!!!
Other Internet providers (especially AOL)
may not necessarily work well!!!
***IMPORTANT COURSE
REQUIREMENT: You must maintain your e-mail and Internet access
connection for the duration of the course (entire official Fall
'02 semester: 8/26/02 through 12/13/02).
***During this time,
you are expected to check for, and CAREFULLY read. ANY/ALLe-mail
messages and/or Virtual Conference Center (VCC postings) from your instructor
and/or other students. ***
How the Internet Component of the Class Will Work:
In order to maintain your course enrollment you MUST
successfully complete the following three tasks by the due dates shown
in the syllabus:
1. Send me an e-mail message addressed to statcatmd@aol.com
containing the following information:
- Your name;
- Your mailing address(es);
- Your contact telephone number(s);
- 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. In addition, you will
be required to take the self-test "Is
Distance Learning for Me?" It is intended to give you an
idea of what distance learning is all about and to e-mail me your
individual responses by the date shown in the syllabus.
You will need to write down your solutions and send them to me via
e-mail (for example: 1a, 2c, 3b, and so forth). Clicking "Submit"
on the Website will not send me your solutions.
You should write down your individual answers (a, b, c, etc.) for
each question before clicking "Submit"on the above
"Distance Learning" Website so that you can send your answers
to me as an e-mail message separately.
You should use this opportunity to think carefully about your own
learning style and whether or not Web courses are a good fit for
your own individual learning style and preferences!!!
Please contact me as soon as possible if
you find that you would be more comfortable in another classroom
format for EDR 610 (i.e., traditional face-to-face live classroom;
IITV).
We routinely offer EDR 610 in a variety of formats and with a variety
of starting dates each semester. I am confident that your academic
adviser and I can successfully place you in another section
of EDR 610 to better fit your individual comfort zone, learning style
and preferences if need be!
3. Finally, you will be required to post a brief message of self-introduction
in our Virtual Conference Center (VCC) by the due date indicated.
This serves as a test of your computing skills and ability to navigate
the VCC, which will be our primary meeting and communication place.
IMPORTANT: Students who do NOT contact
me during the first official week of class (week of Monday, 8/26/02)
will be externally administratively withdrawn (involuntarily
dropped) from the class for "non-attendance."
This is a university-wide policy explained in detail in the NAU Graduate
Catalog. This policy applies regardless of particular format
of class (i.e., traditional group face-to-face; IITV; Web-based).
Here is how our course will work:
--Students will be assigned to groups. Each group will have its own
workspace (folder) in the VCC.
--Shortly after your assignment to a group, you and your fellow group
members will be required to develop a Group Code of Conduct. This
will include, but not necessarily be limited to, the following group
decisions:
(1) How will the group members communicate: e-mail, posting in group
VCC folder, other?
(2) How often will individual group members be expected to log in
and check for messages and updates from the group: every other day;
every day; other?
(3) How will group roles and responsibilities be divided up: will
there be a group leader? will there be one group member designated
to post the group's final agreed-upon assignment solutions in the
VCC? or will these responsibilities be rotated? if so, how? How will
you handle individual members' needs for absence offline (illness,
travel, other contingencies)? This relates to Point (4), below:
(4) IMPORTANT: how will potential intra-group conflict
be resolved? problems in communication, differences of opinion,
other area(s) of conflict? You MUST have an agreed-upon plan
in place for identifying and attempting to resolve such intra-group
issues. Think of me as "a higher court of appeals" in that
regard! I will always be ready, willing and available to step in and
help with any conflict resolution but ONLY as a FOLLOW-UP step
to your FIRST working within your group as stated in your contract
to attempt to resolve any such problems!
***Each group will be required to post its final agreed-upon
Group Contract in the designated VCC folder by the date shown below
in the syllabus.***
--All assignments including the final case study (except for each
student's initial VCC "Ice Breaker" posting and Discussion
Topic posts, which are explained below) will be done by groups
rather than individually. Groups will communicate via e-mail or
by posting in their assigned VCC workspace. One person from each group
will be expected to post the group's final solution no earlier than
one day prior to the listed due date, below.
All
group assignments MUST be posted EXACTLY on the due
date specified (ONE final posting per group by the designated group
poster, as per your group's Contract).
The
only exceptions are the 3 individual startup activities
(introductory
e-mail message to instructor,
results
of Distance Learning Self-Test, and
introductory
VCC ice-breaker posting)
which
may be done anytime from 8/26/02 through 8/30/02.
For all listed due dates, 5:00 p.m., Mountain Standard Time (MST)
is the assumed deadline.
You may post 'early' assignments NO MORE THAN ONE DAY PRIOR
TO THE STATED DUE DATE.
Early (more than one day prior to stated due date) postings will be
assessed a three-point penalty.
This
reinforces the fact that you must remain continually
and actively engaged in our course throughout its duration.
If this
is not possible, please contact me immediately so that your
academic adviser and I can locate an alternative section of
EDR 610 in which you may enroll.
***Please do NOT use the VCC text boxes for the
assignments. Instead, the designated member of your group (as per
your group contract, above) will be expected to post your group's
assignment solution in the VCC folder with with you group number and
assignment number. Example: a VCC folder named "Group 3 Module
1 Assignment 1" for group 3 to post its solution to its first
selected Module 1 assignment.
--It is VITAL, IMPORTANT and IMPERATIVE that EACH
student logs in and checks the following areas at least every other
day (and ideally daily) for the ENTIRE DURATION
of the course (8/26/02 through 12/13/02):
a. VCC "Announcements and Updates" folder;
b. VCC "Questions and Answers" folder;
c. VCC "Newsletters" folder;
d. e-mail for any updates from his/her group members.
***IMPORTANT: I can monitor who is checking each VCC folder
and how often***
--Students are expected to use the VCC rather than e-mail
to communicate with their instructor:
a. If you have a question about anything at all (the course materials,
the syllabus how we do things, etc.) , please post it in the VCC "Questions
and Answers" folder. You might check this folder first to see
if your question has already been answered. I will check the VCC daily
and endeavor to respond to all posted questions within 24 business
hours;
b. You should also get in the habit of checking the VCC "Announcements"
folder as well as the "Questions and Answers" folder for
last-minutes updates, changes and other important information;
c. Students may use e-mail to communicate with their group members
regarding assignments and other group responsibilities. Alternatively,
you are welcome to communicate with your group teammates by posting
messages in your group's VCC folder;
d. You may only e-mail your instructor in case of highly confidential,
emergency or personal communications. In all other cases, you will
be referred to the VCC and one of the above areas in reply to your
e-mail message.
***The VCC is our headquarters, our classroom, and our primary
communication meeting place! Please get in the habit of checking the
VCC at least every other day and of posting your messages in the appropriate
VCC location! Doing so will greatly expedite our communications
as well as reduce stress and confusion for you!!!***
--Our course materials are located on the following
Web site (URL):
--These course materials are organized as follows:
Six modules:
Each of which contains from one to four topics.
- You'll navigate to our Web site/URL, print out and study the topics
contained in each module, and as a group, you will complete ALL
of the listed assignments.
You and your group will select any two assignments per
module to post towards your official grade in your group
VCC folder on the due date shown in the grid below.
In other words, you will post a total of twelve individual
assignments as a group (any two per module times six modules in total)
for this portion of the course requirements. These could be a combination
of individual, Web, quiz and/or group assignments, as you wish.
(Point of clarification: if you choose an activity labeled as 'individual'
assignment you are now instead doing it as a group: i.e., posting
ONE group solution.) Each member of the group will receive the grade
that I allocate to that particular assignment.
You are strongly encouraged to attempt ALL of the assignments
and learning activities and to share them with your fellow group members!
I am always happy to review your tentative solutions to a part
of any assignment (i.e., a 'sneak peek'!). I regret that I cannot
review entire advance assignment submissions.
You must be willing to do the following to get this 'advance
sneak peek review:'
--> post your question or tentative solution to that part
of the assignment at least 3 working days in advance of the official
due date in the VCC "Questions and Answers" folder
<--
Likewise, I'm always happy to answer any questions on any parts
of the learning materials or assignments: whether you are doing them
'for practice only' or plan to submit them towards your grade. Please
post such questions and/or tentative solutions in the VCC "Questions
and Answers" folder, as indicated above.
- If you need extra help with any computer/Internet based activities,
there are plenty of help and extra practice resources available!
- Our home page for the course (our preceding URL) has a "Help"
button and other links to special resources and assistance;
and
- 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:
http://www.nau.edu/nauonline
*** I am also online every day, including weekends! I also check
for voice-mail messages several times daily! Thus, if you ever have
a question regarding the assignments, please e-mail or call me and chances
are, I'll be right back in touch with you within the day! ***Also,
please get in the habit of periodically checking our Virtual Conference
Center (VCC) "Questions and Answers" folder to see if another
student has already asked the same question you may have, and if I have
posted a reply!***
In addition to completing the above series of assignments as a
group and transmitting them to me by the due dates indicated later in
this syllabus, each individual student will be required
to do the following: post at least three messages in the
Virtual Conference Center (VCC) discussion folders (four discussion
topics in total). Please see syllabus for more on these VCC
discussion forums.
A VCC folder will be created which contains that particular discussion
topic. The specific topic will be posted shortly before the due dates
shown below and the VCC folder will be unlocked so that you can respond
to that topic.
You will be expected to post at least 3 substantive messages regarding
this topic during the allotted time period. These will include a combination
of your own thoughts on the topic, as well as your reactions to your
classmates' postings. ("I agree with John/Jane" is
NOT an example of an acceptable substantive posting.) The idea
is for you to actively participate in the discussion topic. This
involves reading others' posts during that time frame and demonstrating
that you have thought about this topic.
Due dates for four VCC Discussion Items:
Discussion Item #1: Week of Tuesday, 9/3/02;
Discussion Item #2: Week of Monday, 9/23/02;
Discussion Item #3: Week of Monday, 10/21/02;
Discussion Item #4: Week of Tuesday, 11/18/02.
IMPORTANT: This series of assignments therefore CANNOT
be done in advance of the time frame indicated in the syllabus. This
supports the above syllabus requirement that you MUST be ACTIVELY
engaged in our EDR 610 course during its ENTIRE official duration
(8/26/02 through 12/13/02). If this is not possible, please contact
me immediately so that your academic adviser and I can find an alternative
section of EDR 610 to which you can transfer and which will better meet
your schedule constraints.
Finally, each group will be required to post
a research case study essay by the due date shown in the syllabus.
This case study will be posted in our VCC at least one week prior to
the due date shown in the syllabus. It will require you to apply the
introductory research principles you have been learning throughout this
course. It may not be posted more than one day prior to the above due
date. Postings done after 5:00 p.m. MST on the due date shown below
will not be accepted or graded and will receive a grade of zero points.
You are strongly encouraged to contact me anytime
with any questions or concerns you might have!
Please don't forget to first check our VCC"Questions
and Answers" folder to see if
your particular question has already been answered!
I believe that 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 I need you to tell me what's working,
what's not working, and
how we can make things better for you!
Due Dates for Assignments (all assignments are due on or before
5:00 p.m. Mountain Standard Time on the dates shown in this section):
***First official week of class (Week of Monday, 8/26/02 through
Friday, 8/30/02):
-- 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.
--Complete your three required individual startup activities (required
for you to maintain your enrollment in the course):
(1) individual contact information e-mailed to instructor;
(2) results of Distance Learning self-test e-mailed to instructor;
(3) individual self-introduction ice-breaker posting in VCC folder.
***URGENT: Any student who does NOT successfully complete
ALL THREE startup activities above by 5:00 p.m. Mountain Standard
Time on Friday, 8/30/02 will be externally administratively withdrawn
(involuntarily dropped) from the course for 'failure to meet course
prerequisites.'***
***It is important for you to CAREFULLY read the syllabus! This
represents our mutual contract of expectations. Your continued voluntary
enrollment in our course implies that you agree to abide by the terms
and conditions of the syllabus!***
--Group assignments will be made and posted by the instructor by 5:00
p .m.Fri., 9/6/02).
--From Fri.., 9/6/02 through Wed., 9/11/02:
(1) Contact your group members, get acquainted and establish your group
communication procedures;
(2) Negotiate and formulate the final draft of your Group Contract;
(3) Each group should designate one group member to post its final agreed-upon
version of the Group Contract in the VCC folder of the same name by 5:00
p.m. Mountain Standard Time, Wed., 9/11/02.
Due Dates for Group Assignment Postings:
(reminder: ONE final group solution is to be posted
per group in its designated VCC folder)
***You should ALWAYS keep at least one backup copy
of your work!
This will save you hardship and stress in case of a power
failure or if you lose your connection
while trying to post your solution to the VCC!***
Module
|
Topic
|
Due Date for Assignments (all due dates are 5:00 Mountain Standard
Time on the date shown)
|
Module #1: The Research Process
|
Topic #1: It Starts with a Question:
Group Assignment #1: Register in the VCC (ungraded; just for practice
for upcoming VCC assignments);
Web Activity #1: Search the Web on Research Design
|
YOUR FIRST OF ANY TWO Module #1
assignments on Monday, 9/16/02 AND
YOUR SECOND OF ANY TWO Module #1 assignments on Monday, 9/23/02.
|
Module #1: The Research Process
|
Topic #2: Collecting & Analyzing Data:
Individual Assignment #1: Quiz on Quant/Qual
|
YOUR FIRST OF ANY TWO Module #1 assignments
on Monday, 9/16/02 AND
YOUR SECOND OF ANY TWO Module #1 assignments on Monday, 9/23/02.
|
Module #1: The Research Process
|
Topic #3: What's It All About:
Individual Assignment #1: Practice with the Research Process
Web Activity #1: From the Horse's Mouth
|
YOUR FIRST
OF ANY TWO Module #1 assignments on Monday, 9/16/02 AND
YOUR SECOND OF ANY TWO Module #1 assignments on Monday, 9/23/02.
|
Module #2: Families of Research Questions
|
Topic #1: Descriptive Questions:
Individual Assignment #1: Write a Descriptive Problem Statement
Web Activity #1: Review a Descriptive Research Paper
|
YOUR FIRST OF ANY TWO Module #2 assignments
on Monday, 9/30/02 AND
YOUR SECOND OF ANY TWO Module #2 assignments on Monday, 10/7/02.
|
Module #2: Families of Research Questions
|
Topic #2: Correlational Questions:
Group Assignment #1: Write and Share a Correlational Problem Statement
|
YOUR FIRST OF
ANY TWO Module #2 assignments on Monday, 9/30/02 AND
YOUR SECOND OF ANY TWO Module #2 assignments on Monday, 10/7/02.
|
Module #2: Families of Research Questions
|
Topic #3: Experimental Questions:
Group Assignment #2: Peer Review, Experimental Problem Statement
|
YOUR FIRST OF ANY TWO Module #2 assignments
on Monday, 9/30/02 AND
YOUR SECOND OF ANY TWO Module #2 assignments on Monday, 10/7/02.
|
Module #2: Families of Research Questions
|
Topic #4: Evaluation Questions:
Group Assignment #1: Brainstorm an Evaluation Research Problem
Individual Assignment #1: One-Minute Paper, Evaluation Research
Study
|
YOUR FIRST OF
ANY TWO Module #2 assignments on Monday, 9/30/02 AND
YOUR SECOND OF ANY TWO Module #2 assignments on Monday, 10/7/02.
|
Module #3: Understanding Variables & Hypotheses
|
Topic #1: Understanding Variables:
Individual Assignment #1: Crossword Puzzle
(IMPORTANT: please write down your answers as you do the puzzle! It
disappears when you finish entering it online. You may post your list
of solutions in your group's designated VCC folder)
Individual Assignment #2: Identify the Variables in Your Research
Question
|
YOUR FIRST OF ANY TWO Module #3 assignments
on Monday, 10/14/02 AND
YOUR SECOND OF ANY TWO Module #3 assignments on Monday, 10/21/02.
|
Module #3: Understanding Variables & Hypotheses
|
Topic #2: Understanding Hypotheses:
Individual Assignment #1: Try Your Hand at Writing Hypotheses
Individual Assignment #2: Test the "Taller & Wider"
Hypotheses
Group Assignment #1: Share Your Experiences with Hypothesis Testing
|
YOUR
FIRST OF ANY TWO Module #3 assignments on Monday, 10/14/02 AND
YOUR SECOND OF ANY TWO Module #3 assignments on Monday, 10/21/02.
|
Module #4: Families of Research Questions
|
Topic #1: Families Part 1:
Individual Assignment #1: Identify the Research Design Methodology
|
YOUR FIRST OF ANY
TWO Module #4 assignments on Monday, 10/28/02 AND
YOUR SECOND OF ANY TWO Module #4 assignments on Monday, 11/4/02.
|
Module #4: Families of Research Questions
|
Topic #2: Families Part 2:
Group Assignment #1: Cycle Through Using Qualitative Terminology
|
YOUR
FIRST OF ANY TWO Module #4 assignments on Monday, 10/28/02 AND
YOUR SECOND OF ANY TWO Module #4 assignments on Monday, 11/4/02.
|
Module #5: Population & Sampling
|
Topic #1: Procedures for Population and Sampling:
Individual Assignment #1: Identify These Sampling Procedures
Group Assignment #1: Why Choose a Non-Probabilistic Sample
Crossword Puzzle #2
(IMPORTANT: please write down your answers as you do the puzzle! It
disappears when you finish entering it online. You may post your list
of solutions in your group's designated VCC folder)
|
YOUR FIRST OF ANY TWO Module #5 assignments
on Tuesday, 11/12/02 AND
YOUR SECOND OF ANY TWO Module #5 assignments on Monday, 11/18/02.
|
Module #6: Properties of Good Measurement
|
Topic #1: Validity & Reliability Part 1:
Individual Assignment #1: Mission (NOT) Impossible
Web Activity #1: Create a Validity/Reliability Metaphor
|
YOUR FIRST OF ANY TWO Module #6 assignments
on Monday, 11/25/02 AND
YOUR SECOND OF ANY TWO Module #6 assignments on Monday, 12/2/02
and case study posting due on Friday,
12/6/02.
|
Module #6: Properties of Good Measurement
|
Topic #2: Validity & Reliability Part 2:
Individual Assignment #1: More Mission "Possible"
Web Activity #1: Take the Validity/Reliability Tutorial
|
YOUR FIRST OF ANY TWO Module #6 assignments
on Monday, 11/25/02 AND
YOUR SECOND OF ANY TWO Module #6 assignments on Monday, 12/2/02
and case study posting due on Friday,
12/6/02.
|
Module #6: Properties of Good Measurement
|
Topic #3: Validity & Reliability Part 3:
Individual Assignment #1: Continue the Mission
Web Activity #1: Test Your Knowledge of Validity & Reliability
|
YOUR FIRST OF ANY TWO Module #6 assignments
on Monday, 11/25/02 AND
YOUR SECOND OF ANY TWO Module #6 assignments on Monday, 12/2/02
and case study posting due on Friday,
12/6/02.
|
*** 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 12 group assignments (2 per module)
|
50% |
Total of 3 substantive postings for each of 4 discussion
folders in VCC
|
25% |
Final case study essay
|
25% |
Additional IMPORTANT Grading & Student Evaluation
Policies
- 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. Likewise, students who do NOT send me their
contact information during the first week of the Fall '02 semester
will be subject to external administrative withdrawal from the course.
- 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 (8/26/02).
- Students in the Fall '02 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.
Assignments postged after the announced due dates (please see earlier
listing) will be subject to the following "lateness penalty:"
one point will be deducted for each day that the assignment is late
(and please see following point);
- Assignments that are five or more days late will not
be accepted or graded. The recorded grade for such assignments will
be zero points.Likewise, assignments submitted more than one day earlier
than the due date will be assessed a three-point 'due date violation
penalty.'With regard to the case study solution, any postings past
5:00 p.m. on Fri., 12/6/02 will likewise not be accepted or
graded. Please note that massive submissions of past-due assignments
will NOT be accepted or graded under ANY circumstances;
- All Web course students are expected to make a good-faith commitment
to be fully engaged in the course during the entire scheduled
duration of the summer semester. Therefore, students who are 'absent
offline' for three or more days for any reason MUST
agree to withdraw from the course. Provided that you have
been doing acceptable work up until the point of absence, you will
receive a 'withdraw pass' as your recorded grade;
- 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:
- referral to the NAU Learning Assistance Center for individual
tutorial assistance;
- referral to the NAU Learning Assistance Center for help with
study skills;
- referral to the NAU Learning Assistance Center for help with
time management skills;
- 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:
- 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
- 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:
- Reporting a problem to me right away and being open to my ideas
for solving it would be indicative of "a very good
attitude:"
- 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
You should plan to set aside regular study time (daily, weekly,
etc.) to make regular progress on your course reading, assignments, and
related study responsibilities. The Graduate College mandates a minimum
of 15-20 hours a week per course of related study and preparation!
- -
***IMPORTANT: This course does NOT carry the option
of a grade of "Incomplete." You may at any time elect to accept
a grade of "Withdraw", which would enable you to re-enroll for the course
at a future date and time.
- - -
***The primary keys to success in this course may be summarized
in two steps:
- Keeping up with the work (reading, assignments, and related responsibilities)
in a timely manner; and
- 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 (928-523-5181).
Just one more thing --
please remember that I'm ready, willing and eager
to do my best
to make this a productive and enjoyable
experience for you!
E-mail M. Dereshiwsky at statcatmd@aol.com
Call M. Dereshiwsky at (520) 523-1892
Copyright 1998 Northern Arizona University
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
|