Course Syllabus
D640 Syllabus
Learning Outcomes
The Capstone Seminar Course will provide you the opportunity to:
- demonstrate understanding and application of adult education principles, theory, and best practices
- reflect on your growth and development in the professional practice of adult education
- develop digital identity and technical skills by creating a professional learning portfolio
- continue being self-directed learners by planning the next steps for professional development
- showcase examples of your best work to potential employers, colleagues, and professional audiences
Learning Materials
All the learning materials will be available to you electronically. You are welcome to share your best resources with your classmates. You are expected to read articles, explore websites, watch videos, and discuss them. You will review colleagues' work and give useful feedback.
Activities
The first thing you should do is to start locating potential artifacts that you generated in your coursework, and other pre-existing components of the e-portfolio. Following the Module Schedule, you will work through developing each of the following components for your final e-portfolio.
1. Weekly Discussion Posts
You are expected to read weekly articles, watch videos, and discuss them as a class. Each discussion counts as a possible 5 points toward the final grade and is based upon the discussion criteria. Participate fully in the discussions by posting your ideas and then reacting to the posted ideas of your teammates. The following article provides good suggestions on this activity.
2. Feedback
Every other week, you will provide feedback to your teammates.
You will have the opportunity to collaborate with your teammates by providing them with constructive critiques of their “work in progress”. This collaboration will allow you to not only gain suggestions for strengthening your own e-portfolio but will give you a chance to gain an appreciation for the breadth and depth of others’ work. The expectation is that you will provide timely (meeting deadlines are essential!), thoughtful observations to others in your group.
It is also expected that you will use the observations of others to make revisions in your work.
You will review how to provide feedback in Module 1, and I hope you also can recall and rely on some of the skills you learned in D521 Participation Training.
Deliverables
1. Professional Resume
You will be required to present an updated Resume that you may revise and improve with instructor and colleague feedback. (See Module 1 for details).
Many employers will look for evidence of transferable skills and work experience, which will make you stand out from the crowd. Make sure to include your skills and experience in your resume. Skills might include:
- Academic skills
- Leadership skills
- Technical skills
- Communication skills
- Critical Thinking/Problem Solving
- Collaboration skills
2. Introductory Framing Statement (1000-1500 words)
The Introductory Framing Statement will set the stage for the reader of your e-portfolio. It should guide the reader through all parts of your e-portfolio and may be revised throughout the course to incorporate new ideas.
There are basic questions that you should address and reflect upon and which constitute the grading for your Introductory Framing Statement. I will use these when grading your revision. (See Module 2 for details)
3. Artifacts with Caption Statements (300-500 word essays)
The artifacts are the core of the e-portfolio. This is where you demonstrate your learning as you progressed through the Master’s in Adult Education program. You will select at least 8 artifacts from different classes you took as part of your Master’s in Adult Education program. When selecting artifacts, you should look for items that seem significant to your professional growth. Examine each artifact and think about or list its significance. Do you see a common thread or theme that connects these artifacts and your professional growth? This will become the theme for your e-portfolio.
The caption statements are 300-500 word essays written for each artifact so the reader can understand the artifact's significance. Caption statements are not summaries of the artifact, but rather reflective statements of how this artifact impacts you.
There are basic questions that you should address and reflect upon and which constitute the grading for your Caption Statements. (See Module 3 for details).
4. Concluding Framing Statement (800-1000 words)
The Concluding Framing Statement is the summary of your portfolio and relates the work you completed in the Master’s in Adult Education Program to future professional growth and development. There are basic questions that you should address and reflect upon and which constitute the grading for your Caption Statements. (See Module 6 for details).
5. Final E-Portfolio and Presentation
In order to give the e-portfolio audience a comprehensive look at your learning in the Master’s in Adult Education program, the final e-portfolio should include:
- introductory framing statement
- at least eight artifacts
- caption statements for each artifact
- concluding framing statement
- your resume
Your e-Portfolio should be easy to navigate. You will make a brief presentation to the instructor after submitting your completed e-portfolio. (See Module 8 for details).
6. Collaboration
You will have the opportunity to collaborate with others in the class by way of working with a small group of other learners, providing them with constructive critique of their “work in progress”. This will allow you to gain suggestions for strengthening your e-portfolio and will give you a chance to get an appreciation for the breadth and depth of others’ work. The expectation is that you will provide timely (meeting deadlines are essential), thoughtful observations to others in your small group.
It is also expected that you will use the observations of others to make revisions in your work. In the past, groups that have encouraged each member to have a quality e-portfolio have produced excellent e-portfolios. They have done this through teamwork, honest suggestions and observations, and revision of work. The members of your group and the instructor are there to give you the observations an outside reader might have and the suggestions given often improve the finished product.
A very helpful guideline for you to use when giving feedback is to use the guidelines for the assignment as a basis for the feedback. For example, use Caption statement guidelines, etc. You will also get final observations from the members of your group as you celebrate the completion of your e-portfolio.
7. Evaluation Process
Assignments will graded for each module. You will receive points for posting assignments, giving feedback to colleagues, and then receive points on your final revisions of assignments. Instructor feedback will be in the Comments box under Grades so be sure to read my comments.
You are encouraged to post additional artifacts and captions if you feel they will enhance your e-portfolio. You may post additional artifacts at any time. However, you may only earn the points specified in the modules. Also, the items you initially post for comments are drafts. You are expected to make revisions and post your revisions. Please INDICATE YOUR REVISED PORTIONS IN A DIFFERENT COLOR or by indicating in some way where you made the revision. Revisions can be made until you post your final e-portfolio. YOU DO NOT NEED TO GIVE FEEDBACK TO A COLLEAGUE'S POSTED REVISION, although you are free to do so.
Assessment
I will use the assignment guidelines, for example guidelines for the introductory framing statement, caption statements, concluding learning statement, etc. when grading your revisions. I suggest that you also use these guidelines for as a basis for your feedback to your colleagues in addition to your editorial feedback. Your grades will be posted in Canvas Grades on the left toolbar in the Canvas site. Select the Course overview and schedule link below to continue to begin the course.
Course Summary:
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