MLED
3012
Research Foundations
Spring 2001
Dr.
@atu.edu
968-0421
Office hours: M 8-10 a.m., 2:30-4:00 p.m.; T 8:30-9:00 a.m.; W
8:45-10:00 a.m., 1-2 p.m., 3:45-5:00 p.m.; R 8-9 a.m., F 8:30-10:00 a.m.
Catalog
Description:
Prerequisite: Admission of Stage II to the Middle Level Teacher Education Program. Presentation of the knowledge based and practice in the skills needed to locate educational research information; analyze, synthesize, and evaluate the compiled materials; and write a professional research report based on the composite findings.
Textbook:
Jackson, W. J., & Davis, G. A. (2000). Turning points 2000: Educating
adolescents in the 21st century: A report of the Carnegie
Corporation of New York. New York:
Teachers College Press.
American Psychological Association
(1994). Publication manual of the
American Psychological Association (4th ed.). Washington, DC: American Psychological
Association.
Bibliography:
Gay, L. R., & Airasian, P. (2000). Educational research. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Kellough, R. D., & Kellough, N.
G. (1996). Middle school teaching: A
guide to methods and resources.
Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Various journals for examination/activity
purposes.
Course
Objectives:
Upon completion of this course the teacher
candidate will be able to:
1.
Apply
the methods and processes of inquiry to the investigation of specific research
projects.
2.
Locate
and include new ideas and understandings in research reports.
3.
Evaluate
and interpret multiple perspectives related to a research project.
4.
Report
research findings accurately, objectively, and conclusively.
5.
Communicate
effectively through technical report writing.
Course
Content:
I.
Research
Reference Skills
A.
Research
Terminology
B.
Research
Tools
C. Source Location
II.
Research
Strategies and Techniques
A.
Computer
Database Searches
B.
Online
Searches
C.
Word
Wide Web Searches
III.
Research
Report Writing
A.
Notetaking
B.
Organizing
and Outlining
C.
Writing
in a Professional Style
D.
APA
Specifications
Course
Requirements:
1. Satisfactory completion of a set of note cards and an outline of a self-selected topic for research related to the student’s chosen middle level discipline. (50 points)
2.
Satisfactory
completion of the Title Page, Abstract, Introduction, Review of Literature, and
References of the research paper in APA publication style. (150 points)
3.
One
to two examinations (50 points each)
4.
FUTURE
SATISFACTORY COMPLETION DURING THE GUIDED FIELD EXPERIENCES IN PHASE III OF A
DISCUSSION/APPLICATION ADDITION TO THE RESEARCH PAPER BASED ON HOW THE RESEARCH
FINDINGS APPLIED TO AND WERE UTILIZED IN A MIDDLE LEVEL CLASSROOM. THIS WILL BE COMPLETED AS PART OF A FUTURE
COURSE REQUIREMENT. THEREFORE, IT IS
IMPORTANT TO KEEP A COPY OF THIS PAPER FOR FUTURE USE.
Please
observe the following guidelines:
Assignments
Class Absences
· Students who miss two classes are sent a warning letter and are dropped
from the class upon the third absence.
For emergency absences please refer to the Arkansas Tech University
WebPage under the Student Services
link (www.atu.edu).
Plagiarism and
Other Academic Misconduct
·
Any
student found to have committed academic misconduct including, but not limited
to cheating, plagiarism, or other forms of academic dishonesty is subject to
the disciplinary sanction outlined in Article IV in the Arkansas Tech Student
Handbook, 1998-1999.
·
Plagiarism
is defined as “to take and use ideas, passages, etc. from another’s work
representing them as one’s own”. (1993 Randon House Webster’s Dictionary).
Incomplete Grade Contract
·
An
“I” at the end of any semester may be assigned only under the following
conditions:
·
A
grade of incomplete is appropriate ONLY in situations where the student has an
illness or other circumstances beyond the student’s control, and has completed
at least seventy-five percent of the course requirements, provided work already
completed is of passing quality. If a grade of “I” is assigned, the student and
instructor, together, will complete and sign this contract.
·
The
signed contract must be attached to the final grade sheet if a grade of “I” is
assigned, and is only valid if both parties have signed.
·
If
the remaining course requirements are not completed and final “C” grade
reported by the end of the next regular semester (fall or spring) the grade
will be automatically changed to a grade of “F” for grade and grade purposes.
Tentative Dates for Course
Topics
Research
Tools, Parts of Paper
February
6 Discussion
of ERIC
February
8 MEET
IN LOBBY OF PENDERGRAFT
Feb.
13-22 Discussion
of APA Manual
Bring
your APA Manual to class
February
27 Online
and World Wide Web Searches
March
1-8 Notetaking
and Outlining
March
13 EXAM
I
March 15 Introduction
to Writing in a professional style, Note cards for ˝ of References due, and
Outline due
April 3-10 Writing
in a professional style
April 12-17 Personal
Library Use Time
April 19 Remainder
of note cards due + Rough draft of Title Page, Abstract, Introduction, Review
of Literature, and References Page
April
24 Personal
Discussions of Rough Drafts
April
26-May 1 Personal
Library Use Time
May
3 Final
Draft of Paper Due