Main Content
Syllabus
ADTED 588: Professional Seminar: Research and Adult Education (3): Review of research in adult education, current and past, with analysis of its directions, effects, methodology, quality, financing, and prospects. Prerequisite: ADTED 460, ADTED 507.
Overview | Objectives | Materials | Software | Technical Requirements | Course Requirements and Grading | Course Schedule | Academic Integrity | Policies
Overview
What will we be covering in this course?
This course provides a supervised graduate research seminar for the purpose of giving you special assistance when writing a master's paper. The goals and purposes of the master's paper and the process of proposal development are examined. Meta-research skills are explained to enable you to carry out comprehensive and systematic research on published research in reports, journals and texts and to carry out critical and integrative analyses on their findings. You will apply these research skills to the specific topic chosen for your master's paper. The organization and guidelines for the master's paper are also discussed.
How will we accomplish this?
This course is paced, which means that there is an established start and end date and that you will interact with other students throughout the course. The course consists of textbooks and a required course Web site that contains the online readings and communication tools, such as discussion forums and an e-mail system.
ADTED 588 will be conducted as an intensive graduate seminar. A high level of participation and initiative is expected and required. In addition to written lectures, class discussions and learning activities will be required, utilizing the tools built in to our online learning environment.
ADTED 588 is broken down into four units of study of varying lengths that will be completed throughout this course.
- Unit One: Overview and Developing a Proposal for Your Master's Paper
- Unit Two: Meta-Research: Developing Critical Reviews of the Literature
- Unit Three: Organizing Your Literature Review Findings
- Unit Four: Writing Your Master's Paper
For each of the core units, you will read assigned material from our textbook and perform the assigned lesson tasks for the week. You will also participate in a research/project proposal development team. See the Course Requirements and Grading section of this syllabus for more information about these assignments.
The units of study are all located within the Modules link.
While you may work through the course material at your own pace within a given unit, you will be required to interact with other students in the class, as well as the instructor, throughout the process. Our interactions will be "asynchronous"--we'll use tools like inbox and online discussion forums to exchange our thoughts. These tools will enable each of us to participate at a time of day that is convenient for us. Since the discussions will be ongoing, you will be expected to log in to the course Web site at least five times per week (and not all in the same day!) so that you can participate effectively.
Course Objectives
Through this course you will:
- Learn the main information sources of the field, including
- major journals and periodicals,
- proceedings from major professional conferences,
- Web-based resources.
- Understand how to develop critical reviews of the literature.
- Develop an acceptable master's paper proposal.
- Carry out the research required for the master's paper.
- Organize research findings and write an acceptable master's paper.
- Facilitate the learning of fellow students through participation in reading and class projects and interactions.
Required Course Materials
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.
Note: Course textbook (required and recommended) selections are dependent on program faculty and campus site. The College of Education uses the current APA Manual criteria for all written assignments. The APA manual is listed as an optional material for purchase.
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
| 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 Requirements and Grading
Below you will find information about each of the four primary course requirements:
- Research/Project Proposal Development Team
- Master's Paper
- Participation in Course Discussion Forums
Research/Project Proposal Development Team
The class will be divided into small teams of students (5-6 depending upon class enrollment--team assignments will be posted to the course discussion forums by the end of the first week of Unit 1). These teams will be the primary source of interaction within the class. It is intended that the research/project proposal development team, through asynchronous class discussion, will provide each participant with encouragement, motivation, and accountability, as well as insight on a number of assigned issues, including:
- development of a master's paper research/project proposal.
- suggestions for the critical review of the literature linked to the approved master's paper research/project proposal.
- general encouragement and accountability in the development of the master's paper.
A private discussion forum will be created for each team to facilitate your interactions. During lessons 2-13, each participant in the group will be required to post a progress statement (summary of research progress and goals for the following week) at the end of each week. This summary will include written documentation of all articles, papers, and books reviewed to that point, with a brief summary of core finding uncovered through the research. Team interaction will be considered as part of the class participation grade for the course.
Master's Paper
Each participant must organize and summarize their research into a formal master's paper. The master's paper should contain a minimum of 45 pages, excluding bibliography, and follow APA style (and any mandated modifications of APA Style). The final draft of the master's paper should be a formal document--bound and submitted according to course guidelines (2 copies).
Participation in Course Discussion Forums
While the primary factor in your final grade will be the masters paper, you will also be evaluated based on the quality of your participation in your assigned team. The instructor reserves the right to make subjective judgments about the quality of student participation and products. (In other words, quantity does not equate to quality.)
|
|
|
|---|---|
|
Master's Paper |
90 |
|
Class Participation |
10 |
|
Total Points Possible |
100 |
The final grades of A, B, C, and D will be assigned as follows:
|
Letter Grade |
Total Point Value |
|---|---|
|
A |
94-100 |
|
A- |
90-94 |
|
B+ |
87-90 |
|
B |
84-87 |
|
B- |
80-84 |
|
C+ |
77-80 |
|
C |
70-77 |
|
D |
60-70 |
|
F |
less than 60 |
You will be able to access your assignment grades through our online course grade book.
Please refer to the University Grading Policy for Graduate Courses for additional information about University grading policies.Assignment Policies
Assignments and course discussions all have a due date for submission to the course instructor. The due dates for each are noted in the Course Schedule section of this syllabus, below. Please make every effort to submit assignments on time, or notify the instructor in advance of a late assignment. Late assignments will be penalized unless you have made prior arrangements with the instructor. Deadlines will be defined as 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the last day of the lesson timeframe, unless noted differently.
If you know you will be offline the day an assignment is due, please make sure to post it early. Anytime you feel that you might be falling behind in the course, it is best to contact the instructor to discuss your situation. No assignments can be accepted after 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the final day of class. If you have an assignment completed by the deadline but are unable to submit to the assignment or post in the discussion forum for technical reasons, contact the IT Service Desk.
For assignments you submit, you are required to use Microsoft Word to complete your assignment. Once you have submitted your file to the assignment, it is a good idea to click the link to the file to make certain that it is viewable or accessible for downloading. For lengthy discussion forum posts, it is recommended that you draft your post using Notepad (PC) or TextEdit (Mac) and then copy and paste the information into your discussion forum posting (or e-mail message). That way you will have a copy saved on your computer should anything go wrong! Finally, please keep a copy of ALL your work. We cannot assume responsibility for lost items.
Course Schedule
The schedule below outlines the topics we will be covering in this course, along with the associated time frames and assignments. Note that assignments are due based on North American Eastern Time (ET). This ensures that all students have the same deadlines regardless of where they live. All lesson assignments must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on the last day of the timeframe indicated below for the lesson.
In addition to the topics and assignments, the tables below list out the required readings for each lesson. Please note, these readings may be links, specific chapters from your text, and/or eReserves from the library. To access eReserves, click on the Library Resources link on the Canvas Navigation menu.
- Course begins:
- Course ends:
- Course length: 16 weeks
Note: All due dates reflect North American eastern time (ET).
|
Timeframe: |
|
|---|---|
|
Readings: |
Syllabus and Lesson 1 Getting Started Information |
|
Assignments: |
|
University Policies
The folllowing provides you with information regarding essential Penn State University policy. Please take time to carefully review each policy. For information about other policies regarding Penn State Access Accounts; credit by examination; course tuition, fees, and refund schedules, course drops and withdrawals, deferred grades, and more, please see the World Campus Student Policies website.
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 resources for students with disabilities. The Student Disability Resources (SDR) website provides contacts for disability services at every Penn State campus. For further information, please visit the SDR website.
In order to apply for reasonable accommodations, you must contact the appropriate disability resources office at the campus where you are officially enrolled, participate in an intake interview, and provide documentation based on the documentation guidelines. If the documentation supports your request for reasonable accommodations, your campus's disability resources 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.
Course Access
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.
Military
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.
Additional Policies
Please note that course access is limited to those individuals who have direct responsibility for the quality of your educational experience. The course instructor and any teaching assistant(s), of course, have access to the course throughout the semester. Each course offered via the World Campus has several instructional design staff members assigned to assist in managing course content and delivery. These instructional design staff members have access to the course throughout the semester for this purpose. Also, World Campus technical staff may be given access in order to resolve technical support issues. In addition, mentor, department head, or program chair may be provided with course access in order to ensure optimal faculty availability and access. Each of these individuals will keep confidential all student course and academic information.
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.
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.