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Syllabus
CI 501: Teaching as Inquiry
This master’s level course is This course guides teachers to develop systematic inquiries into effective teaching and learning. (3 credits)
Overview | Objectives | Materials | Technical Requirements | Course Requirements and Grading | Course Schedule | Academic Integrity | Policies
Overview
Welcome to CI 501: Teaching as Inquiry!
In this course we will explore the ways practitioner inquiry can help us, as educators, better understand, challenge, and address the inequities students face in classrooms and school settings. Inquiry will help us systematically and intentionally explore varied perspectives gained from our communities (including this one!), literature, and student data in ways that lead to actionable change. As a Penn State graduate student and educator you play a vital role in the university's shared efforts of dismantling educational injustice. This class will provide you with the tools and community to develop the inquiry stance essential in supporting that work.
The course is organized into two parts and consists of 7 lessons.
Part 1: Setting the Stage: Inquiry for Equity
This part consists of three lessons:
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Lesson 1: Introduction to Inquiry
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Lesson 2: Inquiring into Our Community
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Lesson 3: Learning from Others’ Inquiries
Part 2: Engaging in Inquiry for Equity
This part consists of the following four lessons:
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Lesson 4: Developing Wonderings
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Lesson 5: Collecting Data
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Lesson 6: Analyzing (or Making Sense of) Data
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Lesson 7: Sharing Inquiry and Moving Forward
Course Objectives
By the end of this course you will be able to:
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define and use practitioner inquiry for equity
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engage with colleagues in an inquiry community
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situate your inquiry work within your community and the larger field of education through literature
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share your inquiry work and reflect on the implications of inquiry for your practice
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develop tools and habits for an inquiry stance toward equitable teaching
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.
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. |
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| 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
Method of Online Instruction
If this is the first online course you are taking, you will find it is different from a more traditional, face-to-face classroom environment. The anxiety that you may feel at the beginning is normal. It will be less stressful once you are comfortable with the technology and the rhythm of the course. Be aware that you will need to spend 4 to 8 hours a week on this course.
The key to success in an online course is organization. The course schedule will be a helpful guide in getting organized. It has a summary of the lessons, reading assignments, discussion assignments, activities, and assessments. In addition, the syllabus outlines course expectations, including learning community roles, grading policies, and deadlines.
Please be aware that this course is not self-paced. Deadlines exist so that we may engage in learning together as a community, and punctuality is very important. We have a great deal to learn from one another in a short amount of time!
With that said, we understand that sometimes things come up. Please be sure to communicate proactively with the instructor if anything arises that would prevent you from meeting a deadline. The instructor will work to communicate proactively with you, too, if anything unexpected should come up for them. Let's keep each other in the loop.
Assignment Details
Inquiry Community Building (20% of total grade)
Due frequently as part of lesson content during Part 1, at midterm, and at the end of term.
You are expected to actively participate in the inquiry community of this course. Within our discussions, you will be expected to synthesize readings, push the thinking of yourself and the group, and connect readings within and beyond the class. At midterm and at the end of the semester you will be asked to refelct on your engagement with continued community building and engagement.
Reflective Work (20% of total grade)
Due frequently as part of lesson content—please check lessons carefully for reflection due dates.
You are expected to participate in reflections around course content. These reflections will be prompted within lesson content in order for you to synthesize learning and connect new knowledge to your existing experiences and current and future practices.
Part 1 Community Inquiry Cycle (20% of total grade)
In Part 1, we will practice a mini inquiry cycle, focused around the wondering, “Who are we as a community of educators and inquirers?” You will be expected to synthesize data collected as a part of the course and analyze that data within the community to come to insights into our shared question.
Due frequently as part of lesson content—please check lessons carefully for reflection due dates.Part 2 Individual Inquiry Cycle (40% of total grade)
In Part 2, you will engage in a cycle of practitioner inquiry for equity. For this major course assignment, you are expected to (1) choose a topic and ask a question, (2) practice using literature, (3) map out a data collection plan, (4) develop an inquiry brief, or plan for your inquiry, (5) formatively and summatively analyze your inquiry data, and (6) summarize your inquiry in order to share with others.
Course Grading Criteria
Below is a description of the required criteria to earn the corresponding letter grade for this course.
| Letter Grade | Criteria |
|---|---|
| A | 90 to 100% |
| B | 80 to < 90% |
| C | 70 to < 80% |
| D | 60 to < 70% |
| F | 0 to < 60% |
Graduate Grading Policy
Please refer to the University Grading Policy for Graduate Courses for additional information about University grading policies.
Deferred Grades
If, for reasons beyond the student's control, a student is prevented from completing a course within the prescribed time, the grade in that course may be deferred with the concurrence of the instructor. The symbol DF appears on the student's transcript until the course has been completed. Non-emergency permission for filing a deferred grade must be requested by the student before the beginning of the final examination period. In an emergency situation, an instructor can approve a deferred grade after the final exam period has started. Under emergency conditions during which the instructor is unavailable, authorization is required from one of the following: the dean of the college in which the candidate is enrolled; the executive director of the Division of Undergraduate Studies if the student is enrolled in that division or is a provisional student; or the campus chancellor of the student's associated Penn State campus.
For additional information please refer to the Deferring a Grade page.
Course Schedule
Note: All due dates reflect North American eastern time (ET).
- Course length: 15 weeks
Part 1: Setting the Stage - Inquiry for Equity
Lesson 1: Introduction to Inquiry
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Note: This lesson spans a two-week time frame.
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| Readings: |
Textbook E-Reserves (To access these articles, click on the Library Resources link in your Course Navigation Menu). |
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Second week of this lesson time frame:
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Lesson 2: Inquiring Into Our Community
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Note: This lesson spans a two-week time frame.
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| Readings: |
E-Reserves (To access these articles, click on the Library Resources link in your Course Navigation Menu). |
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First week of this lesson time frame:
Second week of this lesson time frame:
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Lesson 3: Learning from Others' Inquiries
| Readings: |
E-Reserves (To access these articles, click on the Library Resources link in your Course Navigation Menu).
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| Assignments: |
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Part 2: Engaging in Inquiry for Equity
Lesson 4: Developing Wonderings
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Note: This lesson spans across a two-week time frame.
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| Readings: |
Textbook E-Reserves (To access these articles, click on the Library Resources link in your Course Navigation Menu). |
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Lesson 5: Collecting Data
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Note: This lesson spans a three-week time frame that includes Penn State's Spring Break. Students are not expected to do class work during this time.
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Lesson 6: Analyzing (or Making Sense of) Data
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Note: This lesson spans a two-week time frame.
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| Readings: |
Textbook E-Reserves (To access these articles, click on the Library Resources link in your Course Navigation Menu). |
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Second week of this lesson time frame:
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Lesson 7: Sharing Inquiry and Moving Forward
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Note: This two-week lesson spans across a two-week time frame.
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Textbook |
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Note: If you are planning to graduate this semester, please communicate your intent to graduate to your instructor. This will alert your instructor to the need to submit your final grade in time to meet the published graduation deadlines. For more information about graduation policies and deadlines, please refer to Graduation at the Chaiken Center for Student Success.
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 .
Course Policies
Penn State welcomes students with disabilities into the University’s educational programs. Every Penn State campus has an office for students with disabilities, including World Campus. The Disabilities and Accommodations section of the Chaiken Center for Student Success website provides World Campus students with information regarding how to request accommodations, documentation guidelines and eligibility, and appeals and complaints. For additional information, please visit the University's Student Disability Resources website.
In order to receive consideration for reasonable accommodations, you must contact the appropriate disability services office at the campus where you are officially enrolled, participate in an intake interview, and provide documentation. If the documentation supports your request for reasonable accommodations, your campus's disability services 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.
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.
All students in "Registration Not Complete" status must resolve issues on or before the 10th day after classes begin. Students who do not complete registration by paying tuition and fees by this deadline will not be able to remain in the course. Please see the University's policy on completing registration.
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.
Disclaimer: Please note that the specifics of this Course Syllabus are subject to change, and you will be responsible for abiding by any such changes. Your instructor will notify you of any changes.