A.

Course Prefix, Number, Title, Credit Hours 

CET 769 Adult Learning in Distance Education

3 credits

B.

University name 

Dakota State University

C.

Academic term/year     Spring 2008

D.

Course meeting time and location    

Online course

E.

Instructor(s) name(s)**, address, phone number, e-mail address, office hours 

Deb Gearhart

138 Extended Learning Center

1101 S Brundidge St

Troy University

Troy, AL 36802

334-670-5776

deb.gearhart@dsu.edu or dgearhart@troy.edu

 I can be reached by phone week days at 334-670-5776 from 8:00 to 5:00 pm CST.  I will take calls at home 9334-566-5591) in the evening until 9:00 pm CST and during the day on the weekends.  I can be reached by email anytime and will respond within 24 to 48 hours.

F.

Approved course description  

This course examines various approaches to adult learning and examines theories of adult learning.  Students will study the development of adult learning and its relationship to distance education.

G.           

Additional course description (optional)

H.           

Prerequisites

•      Previous courses/experience    None

I.

Description of Instructional Methods 

Students proceed through a course of study as directed and assisted by computer technology.  Mastery is based on achieving competencies and benchmarks. 

1. Delivery: This course will be delivered over the Internet using the course management system WebCT.
2. Readings: Core textbooks are distributed in printed hard copy. Supplementary readings are provided on the Web.
3. Class Interaction: Email exchange and discussion/bulletin board will be used to provide a forum for asynchronous class interaction. Discussion and interaction at the graduate level is important and all students will be expected to participate.  Communication with the instructor is by email or phone.
4. Pedagogy: Student-centered, constructive, collaborative and engaged learning will be the principal approach used in this course. Students are encouraged to be responsible for their own learning. Guidance will be provided to promote students' intrinsic motivation and develop a strategic approach to both learning and teaching in distance education. 

J.

Course Requirements

•      Required textbook(s) and other materials

Merriam, Sharan (2001), The New Update on Adult Learning Theory. New Directions for Adult and Continuing Education.  Number 89, Spring 2001San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. ISBN 0-7879-5773-9

Palloff, R. M. & Pratt, K., (2003), The Virtual Student A Profile and Guide to Working with Online Learners. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. ISBN 0-7879-6474-3.

 Textbooks can be purchased at the DSU Bookstore.  http://www.dsubookstore.com/

•      Supplementary materials

  Burge, Z.L. & Collins, M.P. (Eds.) (1997). Wired Together: Computer-mediated communication in K-12.  (Vols. 1-4) Cresskill, NJ: Hampton Press.

       Eastmond, D.E. (1995). Alone but together: Adult distance study through computer conferencing. Cresskill,   NJ: Hampton Press.

       Keegan, D. (1990). Online education: Perspectives on a new environment. New York, NY: Praeger.

       Rossman, M.H. & Rossman, M.E. (Eds.). (1995). Facilitating Distance Education (New Directions for Adult   and Continuing Education, No 67). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

       Willis, B. (1993). Distance education: A practical guide. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Educational Technology Publications.

     Willis B. (1994). Distance education: Tools and strategies. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Educational Technology Publications.

 Key Journals

• American Journal of Distance Education
• Educational Technology Research & Development
• Tech Trends
• Educational Technology
• Distance Education (Australia)
• Journal of Distance Education (Canadian)
• Distance Education Report

•      Class attendance policy

You are required to attend class by your participation on the discussion board, which is graded and is 25% of your grade.  Please review the discussion board guidelines on the course site for posting and grading information.

•  Cheating and Plagiarism policy

Cheating and other forms of academic dishonesty run contrary to the purpose of higher education and will not be tolerated in this course. All forms of academic dishonesty will result in (insert whatever your standards are). Please be advised that when the instructor suspects plagiarism, the Internet and other standard means of plagiarism detection will be used to resolve the instructor’s concerns. DSU’s Academic Integrity Board Policy 04-05-00 is available online at http://www.departments.dsu.edu/hr/newsite/policies/040500.htm

•      Additional information

Assignments: Assignments should be completed on time, especially assigned responsibilities in any group project and team work. Any delay may affect the course evaluation.  Please contact the instructor if you know in advance you will be delayed, out of town, etc.

You will be receiving a library id and will need to use the DSU Library for your research in this course.  The link to the Library is http://www.departments.dsu.edu/library/ and to the distance student library information is http://www.departments.dsu.edu/library/distance.htm.

For questions relating to your graduate program or on taking distance courses please contact the Graduate Programs Office, 800-641-4309 or http://www.departments.dsu.edu/gradoffice/ or Extended Programs at 800-641-4309 or http://www.departments.dsu.edu/disted/.

Freedom in Learning Statement:  Students are responsible for learning the content of any course of study in which they are enrolled. Under Board of Regents and University policy, student academic performance shall be evaluated solely on an academic basis and students should be free to take reasoned exception to the data or views offered in any course of study.  It has always been the policy of Dakota State University to allow students to appeal the decisions of faculty, administrative, and staff members and the decisions of institutional committees.  Students who believe that an academic evaluation is unrelated to academic standards but is related instead to judgment of their personal opinion or conduct should contact the dean of the college which offers the class to initiate a review of the evaluation. 

K.

Course Goals

Student Learning Outcomes

This course is designed to enable students to:

Additional Objectives

            Students will:

• Be proficient in finding, evaluating, and using current educational research to support continuous improvement in their profession.
• Be able to relate learning theory to distance learning practice.  Compare and critique instructional models for adoption and adaptation in distance learning settings.

L.

Evaluation Procedures

•      Assessments - tests, projects, assignments, etc. / Performance standards/grading policy

Course evaluation will be based on an integrated consideration of the following components:

1. Participation/discussion = 25%
2. Assignments = 35%
3. Final Project = 40%

  The student will receive a letter grade of A, B, C, D, or F.  The assignment due dates are in the units and on the calendar on WebCT.  Assignments are graded in 3-5 days after being received. 

The final project for this course will be a position paper or related project due on May 6. You must discuss your final project with me.  Project topics are due to me by March 14.  Papers or projects are to be 10-15 pages double-spaced, with references, using the APA style.

M.

ADA Statement  

If you have a documented disability and/or anticipate needing accommodations (e.g., non-standard note taking, test modifications) in this course, please arrange to meet with the instructor. Also, please contact Dakota State University’s ADA coordinator, Keith Bundy in the Student Development Office located in the Trojan Center Underground or at 256-5121, as soon as possible. The DSU website containing additional information, along with the form to request accommodations is http://www.departments.dsu.edu/disability_services/. You will need to provide documentation of your disability. The ADA coordinator must confirm the need for accommodations before officially authorizing them.    

N.

O.

P.

Q.

Graduate Nature (for Graduate courses ONLY)

    Participants will research, discuss, and apply current pedagogy on effective integration of distance education technologies in the teaching and learning process. Participants will reflect on changes in pedagogy based on the results of application of new technologies in the classroom. Participants are provided the theoretical and technical background to conduct research and design coursework using distance education technologies.

R.

Tentative Course Outline/Schedule

P&P – Palloff and Pratt text

M – the Adult Learning Theory text edited by Merriam

See calendar in WebCT for due dates