Office Hours: Mon. – Thur. – 9:30 to 10:30am; Mon. & Wed. – 1:00 – 2:00pm;

Friday by appointment only

Course Description: Development of skills essential for contemporary human service professionals including the ability to work productively in groups using various methods of electronic technology and electronic communication.

Purpose/Goals of Course/Course Objectives: Develop a detailed study based on research found via the internet and make a professional presentation of this information to the class. The student will gain valuable hands-on experience by:

· Using computer software for professional communications including E-mail, the Internet, MS Word, Excel, and Power Point.

· Working collaboratively in diverse teams to accomplish shared objectives.

· Practicing public speaking and making professional multimedia presentations.

· Developing information/data management skills.

· Developing leadership skills, teaching skills, and cooperative learning skills.

Required Text: No text required

Readings may be posted on the instructor’s home page or placed on reserve in the library.

Requirements for successful completion of this course: Cooperative learning is characterized by emerging insight, knowledge, and competence exhibited by ALL members involved in the process. To that end, the achievement of a skill by each member of the collective contributes toward a more fully functional unit. To attain this goal, individual achievement is only half the battle. The other half consists of coaching, encouraging, and promoting skill attainment in others. In preparation to become human service professionals you will be expected to learn new skills AND be able to teach others the skills you have learned.

Assignments:

Active participation. Worth 30 points

You will receive points for overall class participation, specifically for working together in your groups. The class will divide into six groups of four. Groups will be permanent throughout the course. It is expected that all of your course work will be completed with input from your group.

Six Assignments. Worth 15 points each (90 points)

Students will be required to complete an assignment that demonstrates competency in each of the following six areas: Internet searches, MS Word, Excel, Power Point, Combining Your Skills, and Web Page construction. Each student will hand in their own individual assignments, however, it is expected that all of these assignments will be completed with the input, help, and encouragement of all your group members.

Assisting others in learning a new skill (self-assessment). Worth 70 points

On seven random days throughout the course I will distribute a short questionnaire asking you to rate the level of assistance that you feel you have given to others in your group that week. Each self-assessment will be worth 10 points. As aspiring human service professionals I trust your self assessments will be honest and fair. There will be no make up for absences.

Group member’s assessments (peer assessment). Worth 40 points

At four random times during the course you will be asked to make a list of all your group members, including yourself. Do not put your name at the top of this paper! It is anonymous. Next to each group members name (including your own name) you will assign a score of 0 to 10 indicating how well you feel this group member has encouraged and promoted skill attainment in others and has worked cooperatively to contribute to the group. Each student will receive the average of the scores assigned by all group members. Here you are assessing your own, and each others performance. As aspiring human service professionals I trust your assessments will be honest and fair. NOTE: If you are absent on the day of a group assessment your points will be completely determined by your group members. There will be no make up for absences.

Final presentation Worth 120 points

The majority of the class involves group members working together on the construction and delivery of a professional research presentation. Presentations should be at least 15 minutes long, but no more than 25 minutes long. Each group will pick an issue, topic or concern that is related to human development. After approval by the professor the group will research that topic via the internet. Using primarily internet sources, and all the technical skills you have accumulated (whether in this class or not), each group will deliver a professional presentation using PowerPoint that illustrates how human development is influenced by their chosen topic area (i.e. how drug use during pregnancy affects infant development). You may use a case study approach, making up a person and showing how his/her development was influenced by your chosen topic. OR you may want to give a technical report listing what past research has found, OR you may want to focus on interventions that address your chosen issue/concern. Substantial class time has been allocated to group work on these presentations. The instructor will grade your individual contribution to the presentation and grade the overall group presentation. In addition the class will be assigning points to each presentation.

Attendance/Participation. Regular attendance and meaningful, cooperative participation is

required. You will be expected to attend all classes and to arrive on time. If you find it impossible to do so, please discuss this with your professor. Students may receive a lower grade if several classes are missed. If for any reason you are having a problem with the course, please take it upon yourself to contact your professor.

GRADES

*Evaluation*	Possible points
Active participation in class (attendance helps!)	30
Six assignments (6 x 15)	90
Self-assessments (7 x 10)	70
Peer assessments (4 x 10)	40
Final presentation (this is over 1/3 of your grade!) Instructor’s assessment of your individual contribution Instructor’s assessment of your groups presentation Class-wide evaluation of your groups presentation	50 50 20
Total…	350

Percentage of total points possible:

94 – 100 A 90 – 93 A- 87 – 89 B+ 84 – 86 B 80 – 83 B-

77 – 79 C+ 74 – 76 C 70 – 73 C- 60 – 69 D < 60 F

Disability Statement

Penn State is committed to providing access to a quality education for all students, including those with documented disabilities. If a student has a disability and wishes an accommodation for a course, it is the student's responsibility to obtain a University letter confirming the disability and suggesting appropriate accommodation. This letter can be requested from the Campus Disability Contact Liaison. The contact at Shenango is Dr. Jane Williams, Director of Student and Enrollment Services in SH201. Students are encouraged to request accommodation early in the semester so that, once identified, reasonable accommodation can be implemented in a timely manner.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is defined as the pursuit of scholarly activity in an open, honest, and responsible manner and is a basic guiding principle for all academic activity at The Pennsylvania State University. Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, cheating, plagiarizing, fabrication of information or citations, facilitating acts of academic dishonesty by others, submitting work of another person or work previously used without informing the instructor, or tampering with the academic work of other students. Penalties for academic dishonesty are outlined in Policies and Rules: A Handbook for Students, and may lead to disciplinary sanctions including a failing grade for the course.

TENTATIVE COURSE AGENDA

Dates

Topic

August

Introduction

Assignment to groups, introduction to computers, apply for web space Assignment 1:Electronic searches – using the internet for research

(readings will be on reserve in the library) (due September 8)

September

Work on assignment # 1, and work with Webmail

Assignment 2: MS Word (due on September 15)

Assignment 3: Excel (due on September 29)

Assignment 4: Power Point (due on October 8)

October

Assignment 5: Combining all your newly learned skills

First 8 family presentations, 7 minutes each!

Second 8 family presentations, 7 minutes each!

Last 8 family presentations, 7 minutes each!

Assignment 6: Web page construction (due Nov. 10)

November

During these weeks guest speakers may demonstrate other computer skills, such as Eudora, Webmail, and Angel

Meet in class to work on class presentations

Meet in class to work on class presentation

24 & 26

Thanksgiving break

December

Meet in class to work on class presentations

First 3 groups give their presentations (extra 5 points for going first)

No class – last groups prepare their presentation

Last 3 groups give their presentations

No class during finals week!

Office Hours: Mon. – Thur. – 9:30 to 10:30am; Mon. & Wed. – 1:00 – 2:00pm;

Friday by appointment only

Course Description: Development of skills essential for contemporary human service professionals including the ability to work productively in groups using various methods of electronic technology and electronic communication.

Purpose/Goals of Course/Course Objectives: Develop a detailed study based on research found via the internet and make a professional presentation of this information to the class. The student will gain valuable hands-on experience by:

Required Text: No text required

Assignments:

Possible points

Active participation in class (attendance helps!)

Peer assessments (4 x 10)

Final presentation (this is over 1/3 of your grade!)