Syllabus
Reading Schedule
Grading Policy
Go-Post Discussion
Compare & Contrast Paper
Term Project

EDPSY 528

Achievement Motivation

in Education

Winter 2009

Wednedays 4:30-6:50pm, Miller Hall 316

Preparation for Class: GoPost

Class sessions will focus on discussion of the assigned readings. To prepare for class, read the assigned readings for that date. Use the General Analytic Questions (see link on the left) to focus your reading and critique. Then log on to the GoPost discussion board (above) and participate in the thread for the week. We will use the online discussion to jump-start our in-class discussion of the readings.

There are two sections of the board: Clarification questions and Conceptual Discussion & Critique.
  • If you have a question about the meaning or use of a term, statistical procedure, example, etc., post a question to the Clarification section. We will all keep an eye on that section and try to help clarify things for each other.
  • Everyone must post at least one substantive entry into the Conceptual Discussion section by noon on Monday of each week (feel free to participate more -- this is a minimum). This is the space for discussion of the ideas, approaches, frameworks, and methods of the readings assigned for the next class session. A substantive entry puts forth a new idea about the readings or extends someone else's post by questioning, critiquing, or extending it with new material. The discussion should focus on the meaning and implications of a reading or the set of readings, making connections among them and between the current theoretical perspective and others, and bringing your own perspectives to bear on the claims made by the authors (and your classmates). I encourage you to check in often and respond to each others' posts, making this a discussion rather than a serial presentation of views.
I will monitor the discussions and participate sparingly. On Monday I will take a look at the whole discussion and use it to plan our in-class activities for Wednesday.

Grading

Participation in the Conceptual Discussion section of GoPost is worth 25% of your course grade. There are 8 weeks of readings. If you make a substantive post each week, you will earn a 4.0 for this portion of your grade. If you miss one week, you will earn a 3.0. If you miss two weeks, you will earn a 2.0. I will monitor the discussion more closely during the first week or two and let you know whether or not your post is sufficiently substantive -- earlier posts will get earlier feedback and a chance to add more.