General Studies (GNST) 501.35 - Lecture 01
Research in Selected Topics
Collaborative Learning & Peer Mentoring
Fall 2007
MON 18:30-21:00

Instructor:	Dr. Tania S. Smith
Office Location:	SS 326
Office Phone:	220-7774
E-Mail:	smit@ucalgary.ca
Web Page:	http://www.ucalgary.ca
Office Hours:	TR 10:30-11:30

Additional Information

By application only.  This course includes a 40-hour practicum as a peer mentor.  Pre-term planning meetings and events are occasionally scheduled at other days and times, in lieu of class time.  This course uses Blackboard and a Website to post ongoing announcements, grades, and course information.

Course Description

A practical course in supporting peers with their learning processes using a facilitative, collaborative approach. The course will provide background useful in both the classroom and in the professional workplace, and will also enhance students' learning of their own field of study through their interaction with other students. Students will become familiar with learning theories and learning processes through readings and assignments, and will receive practical experience by helping learners in a Communication and Culture course under the supervision of that course's instructor. Activities may include facilitating discussion in classrooms or online, discussing topics for term papers, organizing and assisting study groups, or coaching peers in their oral presentation or writing skills.

Objectives of the Course

• to build skills in mentoring, discussion facilitation, collaborative learning
• to understand and apply theory related to collaborative learning and mentoring
• to better understand the social contexts and challenges of university undergraduate teaching and learning
• to enrich one's understanding of the subject area of the course in which one is mentoring

Textbooks and Readings

Rabbitte, C., Robinson, S, and Smith, T. Curricular Peer Mentoring: A Handbook for Undergraduate Peer Mentors Serving in Courses. pre-publication edition. Available at Bound & Copied

Course Pack of readings (ask the cashier at Bound & Copied in MacEwan Hall), online readings and handouts, and readings supplied by other students.

Assignments and Evaluation

-- 5% Proposal. (September 28)

-- 30% Reflections. (As scheduled) Each reflection is a short, informal piece of writing. You will respond to specific ideas in readings and critique, elaborate or apply them to your own experience and knowledge. You will also do peer observation & reflection on two other classmates' mentoring, and a reflection on survey results.

-- 5% Public Presentation & Discussion Event. (Week of Nov 5-9, TBA)

-- 30% Portfolios. (Midterm October 26; Final Dec 17) Portfolios are due in two instalments, graded separately and worth 15% each. They are a collection of evidence, such as weekly logs, survey results, and email communication, that assists the instructor to assess your practicum participation & growth.

-- 20% Final Report. (Draft Nov 28; Final Dec 17) The score for the final report includes a required draft (of 2/3 length) and required in-class oral peer review of drafts. Penalties for a late draft or no peer review participation will be applied to your final report's score.

-- 10% Class Participation  Including class attendance and discussion, any activities which replace class time, responsibility and consultation with the instructor as necessary, and a community midterm potluck and/or final social.

It is the student's responsibility to keep a copy of each submitted assignment.
Note: Most of the assignments are handed in electronically by email or Blackboard, as directed on assignment descriptions and the schedule posted on the course website. Please return Portfolio assignments directly to the instructor in paper form if possible.  If it is not possible to do so, a daytime drop box is available in SS110; a date stamp is provided for your use. A night drop box is also available for after-hours submission. Assignments will be removed the following morning, stamped with the previous day's date, and placed in the instructor's mailbox.

Registrar-scheduled Final Examination:  No

Policy for Late Assignments

Assignments submitted after the deadline may be penalized with the loss of a grade (e.g.: A- to B+) for each day late.

Collaboration

Students will read and review drafts of each other's writing. Students will also collaborate openly with the course instructor and host instructor, documenting all significant communication via email carbon-copied to both instructors. The evidence of the quality, regularity, and ethics of your tutoring interactions will impact your individual grade on related assignments and participation components, so if you encounter problems, communicate promptly with both instructors to work on an acceptable solution.

Mentoring Ethics

Students will be required to sign an Ethics Guidelines document which outlines the ethical responsibilities and limitations of the peer mentor's role http://www.ucalgary.ca/~smit/GNST501/Ethics.htm.  Failure to follow ethics guidelines may result in grade penalties to the relevant assignments.   

Instructor's Research

To improve the quality of teaching in this subject area, your instructor occasionally analyzes data about student learning that is gathered naturally in the course of teaching, and may present these findings at conferences or in academic publications. Unless you give signed consent, data specific to your course work and participation will not be included in such research. During course evaluation time, or after the course is over, the instructor may hand out consent forms or email you a request to use your work outside of the course. You are free to decline participation or withdraw participation at any time. Any signed consent forms will not be seen by the instructor until after the final grades have been submitted.

Writing Skills Statement

Faculty policy directs that all written assignments (including, although to a lesser extent, written exam responses) will be assessed at least partly on writing skills. For details see www.comcul.ucalgary.ca/info. Writing skills include not only surface correctness (grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, etc) but also general clarity and organization. Research papers must be properly documented.

If you need help with your writing, you may use the Writing Centre.  Visit the website for more details: www.efwr.ucalgary.ca

Grading System

The following grading system is used in the Faculty of Communication and Culture:

A+/A (4.0); A- (3.7); B+ (3.3); B (3.0); B- (2.7); C+ (2.3);
C (2.0); C- (1.7); D+ (1.3); D (1.0); F (0)

The score of A+ will be awarded to students whose course work average is A if they also have an excellent class participation record.

Plagiarism

Using any source whatsoever without clearly documenting it is a serious academic offense. Consequences include failure on the assignment, failure in the course and possibly suspension or expulsion from the university.

You must document not only direct quotations but also paraphrases and ideas where they appear in your text. A reference list at the end is insufficient by itself. Readers must be able to tell exactly where your words and ideas end and other people's words and ideas begin. This includes assignments submitted in non-traditional formats such as Web pages or visual media, and material taken from such sources.

Please consult your instructor or the Writing Centre (SS 106, efwr.ucalgary.ca) if you have any questions regarding how to document sources.

Students with Disabilities

If you are a student with a disability who may require academic accommodation, it is your responsibility to register with the Disability Resource Centre (220-8237) and discuss your needs with your instructor no later than fourteen (14) days after the start of the course.

Students' Union

For details about the current Students' Union contacts for the Faculty of Communication and Culture see www.comcul.ucalgary.ca/su

"SAFEWALK" Program -- 220-5333

Campus Security will escort individuals day or night -- call 220-5333 for assistance. Use any campus phone, emergency phone or the yellow phone located at most parking lot booths.

Ethics

Whenever you perform research with human participants (i.e. surveys, interviews, observation) as part of your university studies, you are responsible for following university research ethics guidelines.  Your instructor must review and approve of your research plans and supervise your research.  For more information about your research ethics responsibilities, see the U of C Research Ethics "Information for Applicants," sections 3.0 to 9.0, inclusive: http://www.ucalgary.ca/UofC/research/html/ethics/info_undergrad.html

Schedule of Lectures and Readings

To be posted online on the course website at http://www.ucalgary.ca/~smit/GNST501/Schedule.htm, and subject to revision (revisions will be announced in class, on Blackboard, and will be flagged on the schedule).