Goal:
At the completion of this course participants will identify best practices for classroom management and design an electronic portfolio reflecting module activities.

This course emphasizes practical, classroom-tested techniques and strategies throughout five learning modules. Each module is structured around an Introduction, Activities, an Activity Checklist, and Discussion. You will work individually and as a member of collaborative teams to share and refine your key learning. There will be readings and activities that will require your participation in the class discussion and sharing your reflection about what you read and learn. Other activities will involve developing action plans or materials that will help you plan for professional growth. Suggested activities will include options appropriate to your level of experience.

While online education is highly flexible and designed to meet your schedule, you will need to set and meet deadlines as part of your weekly assignments and collaborative work. Additionally, your peer learners will depend on you for timely feedback as you interact via discussion boards and work together on small group tasks.

Learning Outcomes

Modules

Introduction Module - Orientation/The Role of Classroom Management
Discovering the critical role classroom management plays in teaching and exploring the research behind it

Module 1 - Organizations, Rules and Procedures in the Classroom
Developing time-saving procedures and routines

Module 2 - Discipline/Behavior Management
Questioning, developing contracts, using logical consequences, developing an internal locus of control, and increasing student self-direction and on-task behavior

Module 3 - Teacher-Student Relationships
Examining how teacher-student relationships can be improved and maintained

Module 4 - Mental Set
Exploring the "frame of mind" of effective classroom managers

Module 5 - Getting Off to a Good Start
Discovering how an effectively managed classroom is first established

Participation
Participants will:

• Participate in a online class discussion;
• Review and discuss online background reading materials;
• Complete course activities including those that involve setting goals or developing materials that will help you plan for professional growth;
• Complete an electronic portfolio.

You will be able to customize activities to your specific personal growth needs.

Collaboration
During each activity, you are encouraged to share your thoughts, ideas, and questions with other participants. Participants may share drafts of works-in-progress for peer feedback and discuss ideas and suggestions before submitting the final copy of each project.

Feel free to use these world time tools when you are communicating with participants who live in different time zones. WORLDTIME

Class Discussion
Many of the course instructional concepts are developed through discussion using our online discussion board. It is important that you check into the class discussion board several times a week.

The discussion board's most vital use is to exchange ideas with other participants. You will be asked to complete postings for each module. These will include reactions to readings, discussing the topic/issue of the week, sharing information and resources with classmates, or responding to a problem posted by peers or your instructor. Some assignments will be submitted directly to the instructor.

Self-Reflection
At the conclusion of selected modules you will write a concise (250-300 word) reflection that responds to questions such as:

• What was the most valuable information that you learned in this module?
• How will you implement this information in your classroom? school? district?
• How will you share this information with parents and community?

Evaluation

Final Grade
Your final grade will be based on level of completion of module activities and online discussion.

40% - Satisfactory completion of module activities

20% - Final Project

20% - Online Discussion Postings

20% - Self-reflection

A -- Meets or exceeds the requirements
B -- Completion of most requirements
C – Minimal work is completed and criteria not met (Work must be resubmitted.)

Your instructor will provide 1:1 feedback to you throughout the course, however, any time you want to ask about your progress, send a message directly to your instructor.

Participation Evaluation
Much of the work you complete will not have a “Right or Wrong” answer. Evaluation will be based on the amount of your participation in Web-based class discussion, evidence of thoughtful discussion, questions you ask, and the completion of activities.

Evaluation of your discussion participation is cumulative and subjective based on notes that the instructor records each week.

Exemplary/Excellent

• Discussion postings respond to the module activities and include thought-provoking questions designed to elicit responses from other participants.
• Discussion postings make it clear you have read the required readings or completed the assignment.
• Postings meet or exceed the minimum number required, are straight to the point, clearly stated, and respond constructively to others' ideas.
• Discussion postings are completed during the time scheduled for the activity and discussion. (If technical difficulties or other circumstances make this difficult please contact the instructor immediately.)
• Discussion postings respond to comments/questions of other participants and enhance the class discussion.

Average

• Discussion postings respond to the module activities and include responses to others' comments in the class discussions.
• Discussion postings respond to most of the questions and assignments.
• Participation is generally within the time frame for the activity

Incomplete/Below average

• Discussion postings are below the minimum number of postings for the module or contributions are vague or merely perfunctory. For example, most of the postings are "I think so too" or "I disagree", but lack any argument that adds to the discussion
• There is excessive quoting from the readings without any real supporting evidence of individual thought or indication or having read the required readings or completed the assignments.
• Postings are completed late and interaction with peers is limited.

Project Evaluation
Projects will be evaluated using standards listed on the module rubrics or checklists. Projects will be evaluated for

• clarity,
• thoroughness
• practical application
• professionalism
• professional appearance

ADA Statement
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), students are encouraged to register with UW Stout Disability Services for assistance with instructional accommodations due to disabilities. The phone number of the Disability Services office is 715-232-2995 or contact the staff via email at this website: http://www.uwstout.edu/disability/contact.shtml

Online Attendance
In an online course, you are not required to attend at a particular location or time of day.

This course is designed as an interactive course in which you contribute and respond to the discussion postings of other students.  Plan to log in and participate in the course discussion at least 3 times each week. Your instructor has access to a login summary including the date of each entry you make to the discussion board or dropbox—this includes a response to an assignment, a posting on the threaded discussion, submission of an assignment, or participation in group work.

If your professional/personal obligations or illness require you to be absent for more than 3 days, please contact me and arrange how you will make up the work. 

Please do not "drop out" for a period of time and then expect to "drop back in" without losing points. This makes it difficult for your colleagues to complete their assignments if feedback is required.

Late Policy
As an online instructor, I prefer to be flexible with due dates. Since we haven't committed to a regular schedule of meeting in a specific place, you can "come to class" at your convenience.

But this presents a problem when class participants abandon the course calendar completely. Regular, timely feedback to classmates via the Discussion board makes this class vital, and prompt submission of assignments for assessment allows the instructor to give you the guidance you deserve to receive.

Due dates for each module are published on the course calendar at the start of the class. Work turned in within seven days after that due date will be considered on time and will receive full credit.

After seven days, work that has not been submitted will receive a zero until the work is handed in and evaluated.

Excused Makeup Work - If the late submission has been requested and approved in advance of the due date, there will be no deduction of points from the grade. An e-mail to the instructor requesting an extension of the due date is sufficient.

Unexcused Makeup Work - If you have not requested an extension prior to the assignment due date, the late assignment will be considered unexcused.

Academic Honesty & Misconduct
From the university policy: “Students are responsible for the honest completion and representation of their work, for the appropriate citation of sources, and for respect of others’ academic endeavors. Students who violate these standards must be confronted and must accept the consequences of their actions.

Definitions of academic dishonesty as provided by the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators include:

Cheating - The use or attempted use of unauthorized materials, information, or study aids in any academic exercise.

Plagiarism - The use of others’ ideas and words without a clear acknowledgement of the source.

Fabrication - The intentional and unauthorized falsification or invention of any information or citation in 1any academic exercise.

Assisting - The facilitation or assistance in academic dishonesty.

UW-Stout also considers academic dishonesty to include forgery of academic documents, or intentionally impeding or damaging the academic work of others.

Academic misconduct in the University of Wisconsin System is defined by UWS Chapter 14. “
Student Academic Misconduct / Disciplinary Procedures - UWS Ch. 14 http://www.uwstout.edu/stusrv/dean/facstaff/chp14.shtml