Main Content
Syllabus
OLEAD 210: Evidence-Based Leadership (3 Credits). In evidenced-based leadership, students will learn how to use strong information and facts to increase the likelihood of success of leadership in organizations. In particular, this course starts by examining different kinds of evidence and analyzing their quality and usefulness.
Overview | Objectives | Materials | Library Resources | Software | Technical Requirements | Course Requirements and Grading | Course Schedule | Academic Integrity | Accomodating Disabilities | Additional Policies
Overview
In evidenced based leadership students will learn how to use strong information and facts to increase the likelihood of success of leadership in organizations. In particular, this course starts by examining different kinds of evidence and analyzing their quality and usefulness. From there students will learn how to use that evidence to improve their leadership. Also covered will be convincing others to use strong evidence as well as implementing strategies based on that evidence to improve organizational effectiveness and success.
Course Objectives
After completing this course, students should be able to:
- Recognize different types of evidence
- Evaluate quality of evidence
- Locate strong factual evidence
- Interpret evidence
- Use evidence to make leadership decisions
- Implement evidence based strategies (interventions)
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.
Library Resources
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.
Software
As a Penn State student, you have access to LinkedIn Learning, your one-stop shop for video tutorials on Canvas, Office 365, Illustrator, Photoshop, Excel, PowerPoint, and hundreds more topics--all free to active Penn State faculty, staff, and currently enrolled students. Visit linkedinlearning.psu.edu, select the login button, and follow the steps to activate your LinkedIn Learning account. Take tutorials to help with coursework, learn techniques for your own projects, and build tech skills to boost your résumé. (Tutorials are not required or graded.)
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
Expectations
Students are expected to have read the assigned readings before completing lesson activities. Some weeks the lesson commentary is closely related to assigned readings, while most weeks it covers different material. Students can read the assigned readings in any order. It is expected that everyone will participate in the class by utilizing message boards, responding to messages that other students have posted as well as other assignments. Make sure not to fall behind on assignments. See late policy at the end of the syllabus.
Assignments
Almost every week you will have to complete an assignment. Assignments for the semester include discussions (10), midterm project (1), and final project (3). Assignments are typically due the Monday after the lesson by 11:59 AM EST, please note there are some exceptions. Each type of assignment is described in more detail below:
Discussion Boards (10)
Almost every week there will be a discussion question for you to respond to. These questions are designed to elicit discussion from members of the class. You will participate in 10 questions over the course of the semester. You are expected to put a good deal of thought into your answers for these questions by using examples from your personal life experiences, knowledge of leadership in society, and by incorporating information from the class (Lessons and readings). You will write approximately 2-3 paragraphs in response to the question. You will also provide a substantive reply to responses that other students have posted. In order to get full credit you must make at least two posts for the discussions that you decide to participate in. Do not simply agree or disagree with other students, but explain why you agree or disagree. One of your posts is due Saturday by 3 PM EST and the other is due by Monday at 11;59 AM EST. You will be graded on the thoughtfulness of your responses and your effort in getting involved in discussion. Each of the questions is worth 75 points for a total of 750 points.
Midterm Project (1)
In order to help you apply the concepts we have discussed in class, you will be required to write a formal APA paper about a small scale proposal for an organizational strategy/intervention based on using evidence. You will choose a practical leadership issue and then solve it using course concepts. You will need to explain the ideas, gather evidence that supports the conclusions that emerge from the ideas, and explain why your solution should be adopted. Think of yourself as advocating for a certain stance within your organization based on leadership science. The midterm project is worth 100 points.
Final Project (3)
In order to help you apply the concepts we have discussed in class, you will be required to write a formal APA paper about a large scale proposal for an organizational strategy/intervention based on using evidence. You will choose a practical leadership issue and then solve it using course concepts. You will need to explain the ideas, gather evidence that supports the conclusions that emerge from the ideas, and explain why your solution should be adopted. Think of yourself as advocating for a certain stance within your organization based on leadership science. You will also need to add a plan for evaluating the success of your intervention. There will two assignments leading up to the paper. You must first get your topic approved by your instructor, which is worth 10 points, and then you must create an outline with a list of references for 40 points. The thought paper itself will be worth 100 points. Together, the paper and related assignments are worth 150 points.
Grading
The final grade will be determined from your grades on: discussions, midterm project, and final project. Please see specific grading rubrics within each assignment’s instructions for details on how points are achieved.
| Assignment | Points Each | Total Points |
|---|---|---|
| Discussions | 75 | 750 |
| Mid-term Project | 100 | 100 |
| Final Project: Topic | 10 | 10 |
| Final Project: Outline | 40 | 40 |
| Final Project | 100 | 100 |
| TOTAL POINTS | 1000 |
Grading Scale
| Letter Grade | % Range |
|---|---|
| A |
100 to 93.0% |
| A- |
<93.0% to 90.0% |
| B+ |
<90.0% to 87.0% |
| B |
<87.0% to 83.0% |
| B- |
<83.0% to 80.0% |
| C+ |
<80.0% to 77.0% |
| C |
<77.0% to 70.0% |
| D |
<70.0% to 60.0% |
| F |
<60.0 to 0.0% |
Please refer to the University Grading Policy for Undergraduate Courses for additional information about University grading policies.
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 Schedule
The schedule below outlines the topics we will be covering in this course, along with the associated time frames and assignments.
- Course length: 16 weeks
Lesson 1: Introduction to Evidence Based Leadership
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Library Resources
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Lesson 2: Theory and Maxim
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Lesson 3: Information, Fact, Data, and Evidence
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Library Resources
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Lesson 4: False Information
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On the Web
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Lesson 5: Critically Evaluating Evidence
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On the Web
[Guidance: This library guide will be used to help you complete your assignment. But it will also be helpful for your time in the OLEAD program overall. Please read it all at some point in your career here. For this assignment, please read these sections: Understanding the Research Process
Identifying Sources of Information
Evaluating Information (you read this last lesson, so you only need to review here)
APA Citations. In particular:
In-text Citation
Citing Web Pages and Social Media
Citing Articles
Citing Books
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Lesson 6: Big Data and the Information Revolution
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Lesson 7: Interpreting Statistics
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Optional Readings
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Lesson 8: Locating Strong Factual Evidence
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Lesson 9: Using Evidence to Make Leadership Decisions
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Optional Readings
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Lesson 10: Implementing Evidence Based Strategies
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Lesson 11: Work Week Mid-Term Project
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Lesson 12: Convincing Others to Assess and Use Strong Evidence
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Lesson 13: Continuous Improvement and Lifelong Learning
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Lesson 14: Work Week Final Project
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No readings |
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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.
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.
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 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.
Additional Policies
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.
- Counseling and Psychological Services:
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.
- 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. - Military Students:
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.
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The information contained on this page is designed to give students a representative example of material covered in the course. Any information related to course assignments, dates, or course materials is illustrative only. For a definitive list of materials, please check the online catalog 3-4 weeks before the course start date.