Course Syllabus

Spring 2024 | HUM-2010-VO02 - Seminar in Educational Inquiry

Online Class

Online courses take place 100% online via Canvas, without required in-person or Zoom meetings.

Faculty

Dave Amsden
View Faculty Credentials

Hiring Coordinator for this course: Candace Lewis

General Education Requirements

CCV Seminar in Education Inquiry

Note

Many degree programs have specific general education recommendations. In order to avoid taking unnecessary classes, please consult with additional resources like your program evaluation, your academic program catalog year page, and your academic advisor.

Courses may only be used to meet one General Education Requirement.

Course Description

Inquiry is the foundation for this interdisciplinary capstone course. It provides a forum for critical thinking about substantive issues, problems, and themes that affect the world, our society, our communities, and our selves. Throughout the semester, students will be challenged to ask critical questions, evaluate evidence, create connections, and present ideas in discussions and writing. This process prepares students for developing and presenting a culminating portfolio through which they demonstrate proficiency in the graduation standards of writing and information literacy, as well as make connections to prior learning. Because the final portfolio is essential in demonstrating these proficiencies, students must complete the portfolio with a grade of C- or better in order to pass the course. This course is required for students planning to graduate and should be taken within the year prior to graduation once all competency area requirements have been satisfied. Prerequisite: English Composition and a Research & Writing Intensive course or equivalent skills.

Essential Objectives

1. Explain how questions are framed and knowledge is gained in various disciplines, such as the sciences, humanities, and social sciences.
2. Investigate the philosophical and ethical questions arising from issues pertaining to identity, community, knowledge, truth, change, and responsibility.
3. Demonstrate advanced skills of reading, writing, and critical thinking in both group and individual work.
4. Locate, evaluate, and incorporate appropriate scholarly and professional sources, including primary and secondary evidence as needed, to address an academic research question.
5. Complete a culminating portfolio that includes:
a. A research paper with an arguable thesis that integrates five or more scholarly and professional sources to address an academic research question and demonstrates proficiency in the graduation standards of writing and information literacy according to the SEI research paper rubric.
b. A reflective essay that articulates how the student’s educational experience has influenced their understanding of themselves and the world.
c. A presentation related to the content of the paper.

Required Technology

More information on general computer and internet recommendations is available on the CCV IT Support page. https://support.ccv.edu/general/computer-recommendations/

Please see CCV's Digital Equity Statement (pg. 45) to learn more about CCV's commitment to supporting all students access the technology they need to successfully finish their courses.

Required Textbooks and Resources

HUM-2010-VO02 Link to Textbooks/Resources Information for this course in eCampus.

The last day to use a Financial Aid Advance to purchase textbooks/books is the 3rd Tuesday of the semester. See your financial aid counselor at your academic center if you have any questions.

Methods

Teaching & Learning

-Weekly online discussion forums

-Reading, viewing and listening to texts, research materials, and digital resources

-Posted notes and mini-lectures

-1:1 and group research planning

Student Assignments

-Participation in facilitated online discussion forums

-Three 2-page narrative reflections on course themes

-Five distinct research assignments, culminating in a 10 page research project

Evaluation Criteria

Your grade for this class is based on the following assignments and expectations. Due dates are likely, but subject to change.

*Attendance & Respectful Participation, 30 points

*Narrative Reflections, 20 points

*Research Project, 50 points

Attendance & Respectful Participation

Attendance is determined through participation in the weekly discussion forums. Students must post and reply to classmates on the discussion forum as instructed each week to be marked present for class. Students must meet the weekly expectations and timelines outlined in the discussion forum to be marked present. Participation does not guarantee being marked present. Students must participate as outlined in the discussion forum each week. Partial participation, early participation, late participation, or participation that does not meet the weekly expectations will result in being marked absent or reduced points. Any student with more than three absences will not earn credit in this course. Exceptions may be made at the discretion of the instructor due to illness or emergency.

Elements of Respectful Participation

-support each other's growth rather than "winning" the discussion

-actively and intentionally read others' work

-ask questions rather than making definitive statements

-demonstrate respect for all classmates and all perspectives

Narrative Reflections

On four occasions, you will be asked to write a 400-600 word narrative reflection on the assigned course materials. Your narrative reflections should demonstrate a mix of text analysis, critical inquiry, and personal reflection. I will provide a “writing prompt” meant to guide that week’s narrative reflection. Please discuss your own personal experiences as they relate to the readings and course content. At the same time, your reflections need to demonstrate your completion of the weekly readings and activities. Please make sure your writing includes some text references, as well as your own personal experiences and analysis of the ideas in the course materials. You are expected to demonstrate your completion and general understanding of the reading assignments and course content, both in your own writing, as well as your class participation.

Narrative Reflections:

-Introduction to Course Themes due Jan 30

-Who Am I & How Do I Know? due Feb 20

-Portfolio Reflection due March 19

Research Paper

You are required to complete a 10 page college-level research paper in this class as a graduation requirement for CCV. The paper is broken down into five graded components. All students must pass the final paper with at least 35/50 on the grading checklist in order to pass the course. Please see "Research Paper Checklist" under Course Resources on our class Canvas site for detailed information.

Research Paper Assignments:

-Annotated Bibliography: Question, Thesis, & Sources, 15 points due Feb 13

-First Draft, 15 points due Mar 5

-Second Draft, 10 points due Apr 2

-Presentation, 10 points due Apr 23

-Final Paper, 0 points (but must score 35/50 on the checklist to pass the course) due May 6

Late Work

Everything submitted late will lose points. Students cannot receive any credit if assignments are submitted more than three days late. Exceptions may be made at the discretion of the instructor due to illness or emergency.

Grading Criteria

CCV Letter Grades as outlined in the Evaluation System Policy are assigned according to the following chart:

	High	Low
A+	100	98
A	Less than 98	93
A-	Less than 93	90
B+	Less than 90	88
B	Less than 88	83
B-	Less than 83	80
C+	Less than 80	78
C	Less than 78	73
C-	Less than 73	70
D+	Less than 70	68
D	Less than 68	63
D-	Less than 63	60
F	Less than 60
P	100	60
NP	Less than 60	0

Weekly Schedule

Attendance Policy

Regular attendance and participation in classes are essential for success in and are completion requirements for courses at CCV. A student's failure to meet attendance requirements as specified in course descriptions will normally result in a non-satisfactory grade.

• In general, missing more than 20% of a course due to absences, lateness or early departures may jeopardize a student's ability to earn a satisfactory final grade.
• Attending an on-ground or synchronous course means a student appeared in the live classroom for at least a meaningful portion of a given class meeting. Attending an online course means a student posted a discussion forum response, completed a quiz or attempted some other academically required activity. Simply viewing a course item or module does not count as attendance.
• Meeting the minimum attendance requirement for a course does not mean a student has satisfied the academic requirements for participation, which require students to go above and beyond simply attending a portion of the class. Faculty members will individually determine what constitutes participation in each course they teach and explain in their course descriptions how participation factors into a student's final grade.

Accessibility Services for Students with Disabilities:

1. Provide disability documentation to the Accessibility Coordinator at your academic center. https://ccv.edu/discover-resources/students-with-disabilities/
2. Request an appointment to meet with accessibility coordinator to discuss your request and create an accommodation plan.
3. Once created, students will share the accommodation plan with faculty. Please note, faculty cannot make disability accommodations outside of this process.

Academic Integrity