Wichita State University

College of Education

Course Syllabus Outline

Fall 2007

CI 837, Extending Collaborative Inquiry Beyond the Classroom, 4 Credit Hours:

Faculty Member: Mara Alagic, mara.alagic@wichita.edu

              Office: 205 Corbin, 316-978-6974: FAX: 316 978 6935                             

Co-facilitator: Scott Dellinger, sdellinger@usd259.net                   

Note: Weather Cancellations – Call 978-6633 (select 2) to obtain information on weather related class cancellations.

Catalog Description:

This integrated class guides students in implementing school and classroom improvement practices that have documented success. It emphasizes collaboration skills in the identification, selection, and development of approved school and professional development projects.

Prerequisite(s): CI 804

Textbook(s) and Related Material:

Friedmann, T. (2006). The world is flat. New York: Farrar, Straus & Giroux.

Tomlinson, C., & McTighe, J. 2005. Integrating differentiated instruction and understanding by design: Connecting content and kids. Alexandria, VA: ASCD.

Lindsey, R.B., Roberts, L.M., & Campbell Jones, F. (2005). The culturally proficient school: An implementation guide for school leaders. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.

National Research Council. (2000). How people learn: Brain, mind, experience, and school: Expanded edition. Washington, DC: National Academy Press.

Adams, M. J., & Carfagna, A. (2006). Coming of Age in a Globalized World: The next Generation Bloomfield, CT: Kumarian Press.

Fox, F. F. (2003). Reducing intercultural friction through fiction: Virtual cultural learning. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 27, 99-123.

 http://www.e-sgh.pl/ccm/Reducing_intercultural_friction_through_fiction_virtual_cultural_learning.pdf

 BOOK of your choice for collaborative reading (tentative)

Kiran Desai’s, The Inheritance Lost

Barbara Kingsolver, The Poisonwood Bible

Hall, E. T. (1976). Beyond Culture. New York: Doubleday

 Major Topics:

            Each guiding principle, associated with a major topic, is addressed and assessed in this course.

* http://webs.wichita.edu/depttools/DeptToolsMemberFiles/coedean/revisedCF_2_24_03.pdf 

Technology Expectations: Students will be expected to use BlackBoard to participate in discussions, to turn in assignments, and receive information. They will also be expected to design simulations at http://gl.wichita.edu/CPS/ and use presentation software technology, such as PowerPoint in their presentations to the class and elsewhere.

Learner Outcomes: (assessment, guiding principles, guiding program document, professional standards)

Major Assignments for CI 837:

1. Develop a proposal for action research in your school or classroom. After the research proposal is approved, complete an IRB. Conduct the research and complete a written report using the web-based Action Research Network.
   • Institutional Review Board for the Protection of Human Subjects   http://www.niar.twsu.edu/oraweb/Forms/forms.htm#Institutional
     • http://www.niar.twsu.edu/oraweb/Forms/IRBguide.doc
     • http://www.niar.twsu.edu/ORAweb/Forms/IRBFORMS.doc
     • Consent Form Check List http://www.niar.twsu.edu/ORAweb/Forms/irb%20checklist.pdf
2. Using technology (PowerPoint and/or other media), present your findings to the MEd class.
3. Participants will identify, develop, and complete a collaborative project at the building or district level. The proposal for this project must be approved by your building level administrator and/or by the appropriate administrator. An oral presentation will be made to this class and a written report given to the site facilitators.
4. Participants will make a presentation using knowledge and or a skill learned in this MEd to colleagues beyond this class. This could be at a grade level meeting, school faculty meeting, professional development activity, etc. Documentation must be provided that this was completed, including the date and context. The documentation could be minutes of the meeting, description of your presentation in a printed program, evaluation of your presentation, or a written note from an administrator verifying your presentation.
5. Participants will submit either (a) a proposal to present the outcomes of their inquiry at a professional meeting, or (b) a publishable manuscript about their inquiry for professional publication and (c) a grant proposal. The proposal must be reviewed and approved by your site facilitators before submitting to the sponsoring organization. The manuscript will be submitted to the site facilitators and they will serve as the editorial board to determine whether the manuscript is publishable.
6. Participants will read and participate in an online book study using a web-based wikispace or discussion group board and in-class discussions of the text, including a written summary.
7. Participants will begin designing their professional portfolio for presentation in April, 2007 to the facilitators and additional outside reviewers.  

Assignments for every semester:

Annotated Bibliography

Reflection Paper

Paper on how outcomes are met

Participation in both class and online discussions

Time Log

Grading:

Grades will be based on performance using the “Performance Assessment Rubric.” (see attached)

NOTE: Both the state of Kansas and national accreditation requires that university programs for the preparation of teachers and other school personnel be performance-based. In particular, this requires that students not only pass required courses/attain certain GPAs, but also receive satisfactory ratings on certain required assessments, many of those embedded within program coursework.

Those required assessments which occur in this course are:

Action Research Proposal and IRB form (Each rubric must be rated as meets expectations or higher.)

Academic Honesty: A standard of honesty, fairly applied to all students, is essential to a learning environment.  Students abridging a standard of honesty must accept the consequences; penalties are assessed by appropriate classroom instructors or other designated people.  Serious cases may result in discipline at the college or University level and may result in suspension or dismissal.  Dismissal from a college for academic dishonesty, constitutes dismissal from the University. (WSU Student Code of Conduct)

Special Needs: ADA:  If you have a physical, perceptual, psychiatric/emotional, medical, or learning disability that may impact your ability to carry out assigned course work, contact the Office of Disability Services (DS), Grace Wilkie Annex, room 173.  (Voice/TDD 978-3309).  ODS will review your concerns, confirm your disability, and determine, with you, what accommodations are necessary.  All information and documentation of your disability is confidential and will not be released by DS without your written permission.

Tentative Course Schedule:  Available at http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=pxlog-DwD_dVH4w9lywlAbQ&hl=en_US# as a shared document that you, student of this class, can access and provide suggestions at any time.