Syllabus

Instructor

Gerald Knezek (gknezek@gmail.com)

Texts

Campbell and Stanley. Experimental and Quasi-Experimental Designs for Research (Houghton Mifflin, 1962). ISBN: 0395307872

Urdan, T. C. (2005). Statistics in plain English, (2nd ed.). Mahwah, N.J.: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. ISBN: 0805852417

Optional:
Bracey, G. W. (2006). Reading Educational Research. Heinemann. ISBN 0-325-00858-2.

References

Poirot and Knezek. Technology in Education (The Computing Teacher, Nov 1992, pg 8-9).

McMillin & Wergin. Understanding & Evaluating Educational Research (Merrill, 1998). ISBN: 0130271675

Course Description

Interpretation, analysis and synthesis of current research in educational technology for the purpose of integrating research methodology and application to educational environments.

This course has five objectives:

  1. The student will prepare a summary of experimental research and present the summary in class.
  2. The student will write a critique of an experimental research study.
  3. The student will analyze and summarize previously prepared exploratory data in a small collaborative group.
  4. The student will classify various experimental and statistical variables, and types of experimental designs.
  5. The student will produce a research design document and present the design to the class.

Course Activities

Class activities will involve discussion of research on specific instructional/technological principles specifically focused on the weaknesses in design, as well as procedures and analysis. Class members will be expected to suggest modifications to the designs or suggest additional investigations substantiating or refuting the authors' conclusions. Each class member will be expected to come to class prepared to discuss the studies assigned.

Students will review statistical and research concepts at the beginnning of the semester. Subsequently, the instructor will distribute a study or students will locate studies to summarize or critique.

  1. For each study summarized, each student will prepare a one-page review for distribution to the class.
  2. For the critique the student is expected to hand out appropriate notes or use visual aides as well.
  3. Individual presentation of analysis of data and research designs will come during the latter portion of the class. These should apply concepts and principles conveyed during the earlier portions of the class.

Grading

The class lectures will cover the assigned reading materials. Selected topics and assigned projects will also be discussed in class. There will be a midterm exam, final exam, and projects during the semester.

A total of 100 points for the course will be allocated as follows

Written Article Summary 15 points
Article Critique 15 points
Written Data Analysis/Design Paper 30 points
Presentation 8 points
Attendance/Participation (at least 3 meetings) 12 points
Exam (due July 15, 2006 - 11:00 pm) 20 points
Total 100 points

Letter grades will be the higher grade resulting from the following two standards:

>=90 A Top 10% A
>=80<90 B Next 20% B
>=70<80 C Next 40% C
>=60<70 D Next 20% D
<=59 F Last 10% F

Meeting Information

We will be holding face-to-face lectures and discussions. Those who are not able to attend face-to-face may participate in the CRG 3D online learning environment sessions scheduled for Dr. Jones' class (courseweb.unt.edu/gjones). Dr. Knezek will provide further information on the listserv or via direct email.

June 10 9 am - 1pm Matthews Hall 308
June 17 9 am - 1pm (Article Summary due) Matthews Hall 308
June 24 9 am - 1pm (Article critique due) Matthews Hall 308
July 15 9 am - Noon (Working Lab, Optional) Matthews Hall 308
Aug. 5 9 am - 1pm (Final Projects/Presentations) Matthews Hall 308

Participant Expectations/Requirements

  1. Access to an Internet browser, an Internet service provider and e-mail will be necessary for those enrolling in this course. A Real Player plug-in is needed and can be downloaded at www.real.com.
  2. E-mail access is required as well.
  3. All are expected to participate in discussions in person or via E-mail and within the CRG environment.
  4. There will be three assignments plus one exam and a research paper/presentation.

Contact Information

E-mail is the best method to contact us, since I check my e-mail multiple times daily. Electronic mail is also an extremely effective system for setting up appointments -- it is frequently possible to set up a meeting on shorter notice than the 24-hour minimum notice that is required when making appointments through the departmental office staff. Students may leave voice mail at 940.565.4195 for non-urgent messages or call the CECS Program office at 940.565.2057 during regular office hours. 

Dr. Gerald Knezek
Office: Matthews Hall Room 316H (Lab in Matthews 322E)
Phone (940)565-4195
E-Mail: gknezek@gmail.com

Office Hours: by appointment.

Class Attendance

Attendance and punctuality are professional behaviors expected of educators. Educational or Instructional technology is not "doing computer projects" - it is much more. Hence, you need to be in class for discussions and learning activities.

Due dates, for all assigned materials, will be announced in advance. Changes, on the assignment's requirements or due dates may be announced at later dates, in class, therefore attendance to all classes is necessary. It is the student's responsibility to keep up with these updates and to have all assignments ready on time. If you miss a class, YOU are responsible for what occurred, please make arrangements with classmate for notes, hand outs, etc. Any student, who has to be absent on an assignment's due date, may arrange to have the assignment submitted early.

You must notify your instructor in advance if any exam is to be missed. If an exam is missed without prior notification, 20% will automatically be deducted from the exam grade. Make-up exams must be taken outside of regularly scheduled class time. Any missed exam must be made up within one week of the scheduled time. Date and time to be determined by the instructor upon student request.

Academic Ethics

Students are expected to create and edit their own assignments and take tests without outside assistance. This is a programming class and it is acceptable to ask for help from others after you have put forth significant effort to debug written code that is not working correctly and when testing your software. However, asking for help in debugging does not mean you have someone rewrite your code. All work is expected to be your own. Cheating and disciplinary action for cheating is defined by the UNT Policy Manual Code for Student Conduct and Discipline. Cheating is an act of academic dishonesty. It is defined and is to be handled as follows:

"Plagiarism and cheating refer to the use of unauthorized books, notes, or otherwise securing help in a test; copying tests, assignments, reports, or term papers; representing the work of another as one's own; collaborating without authority, with another student during an examination or in preparing academic work; or otherwise practicing scholastic dishonesty."

Although there are other possibilities, you should expect that the penalty that will be assigned for such infractions will include a failing grade in the course and a recommendation that you be denied a degree. You are expected to conform to all policies of the University of North Texas and work within the honor code.

As defined by the United States Copyright Act, it is your responsibility to clearly identify all elements in your work that are not "original works of authorship". You are expected to strictly obey the provisions of all laws of the United States and the State of Texas in the completion of all course activities, taking particular notice of the provisions of the United States Copyright Act (Title 17 United States Code). This law provides that you may legally use, within certain limitations, certain copyrighted materials in the context of research and scholarship. Do not confuse your ability to legally copy materials under the ñfair useî provisions of the Copyright Act with the ability to claim that such a copy is an original work of authorship.

For more information on academic dishonesty, please refer to your current student catalog.

Americans with Disabilities Act Compliance

The Department of Technology and Cognition complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act in making reasonable accommodations for qualified students with disabilities. This university will adhere to all applicable Federal, State, and local laws, regulations and guidelines with respect to providing reasonable accommodations as required to afford equal educational opportunity. It is the student's responsibility to contact the faculty member outside of class to make any arrangements involving special accommodations and/or the Department ADA Representatives: Dr. Bertina Hildreth and Dr. Cathie Norris. Their offices are in Matt 316. You may schedule an appointment by call (940) 565-2057.

EEO/ADA on Discrimination

The University of North Texas does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability or disabled veteran status in its educational programs, activities, admissions, or employment policies. In addition to complying with federal and state equal opportunity laws and regulations, the university through its diversity policy declares harassment based on individual differences (including sexual orientation) inconsistent with its mission and educational goals. Direct questions or concerns to the equal opportunity office, (940) 565-2456, or the dean of students, (940) 565-2648. TDD access is available through Relay Texas: (800) 735-2989.

For more information on EEO/ADA, please refer to your current student catalog.