SETON HALL UNIVERSITY
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION AND HUMAN SERVICES
Department of Education Leadership, Management and Policy

 
 
Course Title:
 



Professor:
 
 


Cybernetic Research for Educational Administrators 
ELMP 7770
 

John W. Collins, Jr., Ed.D. 

Seton Hall University

Department of Education Leadership, Management and Policy 

421 Kozlowski Hall

South Orange, NJ 07079

Office: (973) 275-2823 
Email: collinjo@shu.edu 
 

Office Hours:

Monday & Thursday 2:30 - 5:00p.m. or by appointment. 
Textbooks:

Edyburn, D. L. (1999).  The electronic scholar: Enhancing (educational) research productivity with technology. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.

 Trochin, W.M. (2002). The Research Methods Knowledge Base (Second Edition). [On-line] Available: http://www.socialresearchmethods.net/kb/index.htm

Catalog Description:

This is a cybernetics-based research course that combines research with currently available technology for educational decision-makers.  Topics and hands-on activities will include educational administration-specific applications: databases, data mining, Internet resources, search engines, research design issues, and microcomputer software programs. Class will have multiple opportunities to work directly with these applications using campus microcomputer labs. Prerequisite: EDAS 7768 or 7769 or permission of professor.
Course Objectives:

Students are expected to become proficient with the use of the technology to conduct educational research for their educational administration duties and responsibilities.  Specific outcomes listed below are aligned with program objectives within the department, NCATE accreditation standards as outlined by ISTE, and the ISLLC standards for school leaders.  Skills and competencies include: 
     
    • Demonstrate skill in the application of technologies for research and data analysis. (NCATE 1.2.[Building&District] Assessed within portfolio)
    • Knowledge and understanding of:
    • 1. information sources, data collection, and data analysis strategies, using on-going studies. (NCATE 1.4 [Building&District], 2.2 [District] Assessed within the midterm)
      2. the role of technology in promoting student learning and professional growth. (NCATE 2.2 [Building&District] Assessed within the journal)
      3. current technologies that support education research functions.
      4. professional code of ethics in using technology for research.  (NCATE 5.1, 5.2, 5.3 [Building&District] Assessed within all coursework, against professional ethical norms - esp. 10 Commandments of Computer Ethics)
    • Process and engage in activities that use:

    • 1. assessment data related to student learning are used to develop the school vision and goals.  (NCATE 1.2 [Building&District] Assessed with portfolio)
      2. relevant demographic data pertaining to students and their families in developing the school vision and goals.  (NCATE 1.3 [Building&District] Assessed with portfolio)
      3. technologies that are adapted in teaching and learning.  (NCATE 2.4 [District] Assessed with portfolio)
      Demonstrate capacity to assess the strengths and weaknesses of individual research studies.
    • Effective communication. (NCATE 3.2 [Building] Assessed with portfolio)


    Further, this course is designed to develop the following six thinking skills:
     

    •  knowledge
    •  comprehension
    •  application
    •  analysis
    •  synthesis 
    •  evaluation, 


    focusing on the last three higher order faculties.
     

Course Evaluation:

 
Percentage of Grade
  • Self-Reflection in Professional Journal 
10%
 
  • Participation in all class discussions 
10%
 
  • Teamwork and hands-on use of microcomputers
20%
 
  • Midterm Assessment
30%
 
30%
Disabilities Act Disclosure

 

 

Under the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Civil Rights Restoration Act, students at Seton Hall University who have a disability may be eligible for accommodations in this course. Should a student require such accommodations, he or she MUST self-identify at the Office for Disability Services (DSS) Room 67, Duffy Hall, provide documentation of said disability, and work with DSS to develop a plan for accommodation. The contact person is Mrs. Linda Walter at (973) 313-6003.
Additional Recommended Readings:

  Ackermann, E. C. & Hartman, K. (1999).  The information specialist's guide to searching and resesearching on the Internet and the World Wide Web. Wilsonville, OR: Franklin.

Ackermann, E. C. & Hartman, K. (1997). Searching and researching on the Internet and the World Wide Web. Wilsonville, OR: Franklin.

Basch, Reva. (1999).  Researching online for dummies.  Indianapolis, IN: IDG Books Worldwide.

Berstein, P. (1998). Finding statistics online : how to locate the elusive numbers you need. Medford, NJ : Information Today, 1998.

Bradley P. (1999). Internet power searching: The advanced manual.  New York: Neal-Schuman Publishers.

Brown, M.N. & Keeley, S. (2001). Sociology on the Internet: Evaluating online resources. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Merrill of Prentice Hall, Inc. 

Butler, J. A. (1999).  Cybersearch: Research techniques in the electronic age. New York: Penguin.

Calishain, T. & Nystrom, J. A. (1998). Official Netscape guide to Internet research (2nd ed.). Research triangle Park, NC: Ventana.

Condliffe-Lagemann, E. & Shulman, L.S. (Eds.). (1999). Issues in education research : problems and possibilities. San Francisco : Jossey-Bass Publishers.

Ekman, R. & Quandt, R.E. (1999). Technology and scholarly communication. Berkeley, Calif. : University of California Press

Gilster, P. (1994).  Finding it on the Internet: The essential guide to Archie, Veronica, Gopher, WAIS, WWW (including Mosaic), and other search and browsing tools.  New York: Wiley.

Glesne, C. & Peshkin, A. (1998). Becoming qualitative researchers. New York: Addison-Wesley Longman, Inc.

Gould, C. (1998).  Search smart on the World Wide Web: Tools and techniques for getting quality results. Berkeley, CA: Library Solutions Press.

Grabe, M. & Grabe, C. (2000). Integrating the Internet for Meaningful Learning. New York: Houghton Mifflin Co.

Hacker, D. (1999). Research and documentation in the electronic age. New York: Bedford Books.

Kennedy, S.H. (1998).  Best best Internet: reference and research when you don't have time to mess around. Chicago: American Library Association.

Krathwohl, D. R. (1998).  Educational & social science research: An integrated approach. New York: Addison-Wesley Longman, Inc.

Kurland, D.J, Palombo, P.J., & Messere, F.  (1996). Introduction to the Internet for electronic media: Research and Applications. New York: Course Technology, Inc.

McMillan, J.H.& Wergin, J.F. (1998). Understanding and evaluating educational research. Upper Saddle River, N.J. : Merrill.

Merriam, S.B. (1997). Qualitative research and case study applications in education. San Fransico: Jossey-Bass Publishers.

Milner, A. (2000).  Internet: Browsing the Web. New York: Dorling Kindersley.

Morville, P. (1999).  The Internet searcher's handbook: Locating information, people, and software. New York: Neal-Schuman Publishers.

Munger, D. (ed.) (1999). Researching online. New York: Longman.

Murphy, J. & Louis, K.S. (Eds.). (1999). Handbook of research on educational administration : a project of the American Educational Research Association (2d.ed.). San Francisco : Jossey-Bass Publishers. 

Paul, N. (1999).  Great scouts!: Cyberguides for subject searching on the Web. Medford, NJ: Information Today.

Pfaffenberger, B.  (1996). Web search strategies. New York: MIS Press.

Seidman, I. (1998). Interviewing as qualitative research: A guide for researchers in education and the social sciences. New York: Teachers College Press.

Selnow, G. W. (1998).  Electronic Whistle-Stops.  Westport, CONN: Praeger Publishing.

Sharpe, C. C. (2000).  Patent, trademark, and copyright searching on the Internet.  Jefferson, NC: McFarland.

Shepherd, Robert D. (1998). Introduction to computers and technology. St. Paul, MN: EMC Paradigm Publishing, Inc. Also has interactive Website:
[On-Line] http://www.emcp.com/intro_pc/icthomepage.htm

Wienbroer, D. R. (2000). The  McGraw-Hill guide to electronic research and documentation. New York: McGraw-Hill College Div.